Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Fwd: State Legacy Runs already bringing big money for scholarship fund



Thank You,
Gary DeMars, 1st Vice Commander - District 17


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: The American Legion <cs@legion.org>
Date: Wed, Jun 27, 2018 at 10:32 AM
Subject: State Legacy Runs already bringing big money for scholarship fund
To: Gary DeMars <gary@demars.me>



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State Legacy Runs already bringing big money for scholarship fund
Several American Legion departments already have staged in-state Legacy Runs as they gear up toward what could be another record-breaking fundraising national ride.
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Service. Patriotism. Camaraderie.
The American Legion Legacy Scholarship
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This email was sent by: The American Legion National Headquarters
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Indianapolis, IN 46204




Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Support disaster victims with NEF contribution



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Support disaster victims
with NEF contribution

Dear American Legion Family and Friends,

When I was growing up, I lived in Elkader, Iowa, along the Turkey River. It was a wonderful place to be raised. To this day, I still have fond memories of our home, schools and community.

As adults, we traveled back to Elkader for a weekend visit with my parents and other family members during the summer of 1991. What started out as a simple storm turned into torrential rains which caused the Turkey River to flood its banks.

With lessons learned from an earlier flood, we hurriedly moved things out of the basement and wrapped the furnace and other appliances in plastic to save them. Then came the evacuations.

Upon returning to survey the damage, we saw that the floods got up to about three feet on the first floor of the house, rendering our work in the basement useless. We tore out carpet and floorboards, cut into the wall boards, threw away a lot of damaged items, and started bleaching anything we could to save it.

Our experience with a natural disaster is not unique. One can happen anytime and anywhere. As summer begins, so does a new hurricane season. And, if this year is anything like last year, millions of Americans will find themselves in the wake of dangerous storms.

That's why The American Legion National Emergency Fund (NEF) stands ready to help Legionnaires, Sons of The American Legion members and posts that have been affected by natural disasters like hurricanes, floods and others.

Last year, hundreds of NEF grants were distributed to help our brothers and sisters recover in the immediate aftermath of such tragedies. The grants – up to $3,000 for individuals and $10,000 for posts – are available due to the kindness of donors. To contribute to NEF grants for this season's victims of natural disaster, please visit www.legion.org/donate.

These grants provide much-needed immediate financial aid for those in need of food, clothing, shelter or gasoline after a natural disaster. In the past, NEF donations have helped those recovering from large-scale disasters like Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy and smaller incidents of flooding, tornadoes, wildfires and more.

In our family's case, we lost precious mementoes from the Turkey River flooding. However, we gained valuable memories as we worked together to save my parents' home.

While Legion Family members cannot replace the memories of those affected by future natural disasters, we can support them through our generosity. Please consider a donation to NEF today.


Family First.


Denise H. Rohan
National Commander
Service. Patriotism. Camaraderie. Join Us
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Indianapolis, IN 46204




District Membership Award



I have attached a photo of an award our District received at the State Convention. My name is on it but our whole team made this happen, and I thank you and your Officers and members for making this happen. Our District came in number two in the State for membership attainment, and we have set the bar high.  Two Districts came in at over 100%, and we were one of them. The first District in the metric was District 1. The 2019 membership cards are ready to ship so be on the lookout for them.

Thank You,
Gary DeMars, District 17 1st Vice Commander

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Flag symbolizes America’s hopes


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Flag symbolizes America's hopes

Dear American Legion Family and Friends,

While Americans are divided on many political issues, most people – especially those in our American Legion Family – hold a special reverence for the flag of our nation.

For the flag does not symbolize perfection but it does conjure images of the hopes and dreams of those who built this country. Whether it's the Apollo 11 crew planting Old Glory on the surface of the moon or New York firefighters raising the flag amidst the rubble of the World Trade Center, the Stars and Stripes make an emphatic statement about American determination and exceptionalism.

Ninety-five years ago, The American Legion chaired a National Flag Conference in Washington.  Representatives from 68 other patriotic, fraternal, civic and military organizations joined us at Memorial Continental Hall for the purpose of drafting a code of Flag etiquette. President Warren G. Harding charged the group with an important task.

"I hope you succeed in formulating a code that will be welcomed by all Americans and that every patriotic and educational society in the Republic will commit itself to the endorsement and observance and purpose of the code that you adopt here today," Harding said.

They were enormously successful. In two days, the assembly came up with 15 rules for the proper use and care of the U.S. flag. Texas and New York made flag code instruction required curriculum in their schools. During World War II, Congress adopted the code as public law.

But still, much work needs to be done. In 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that flag desecration was "free speech," despite laws in 48 states and the District of Columbia which said otherwise. In response, The American Legion has been working tirelessly to correct the flawed ruling by championing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution which would grant Congress the authority to protect Old Glory from such vile acts.

Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark, re-introduced H.J. Res. 61, which would do just that. So would its companion measure, S.J. Res. 46, introduced by Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont.

Past polling by the Citizens Flag Alliance indicates that most Americans want to see their flag protected. Moreover, every state legislature has appealed in writing to the U.S. Congress to pass the flag amendment and send it to the states for ratification.

The National Flag Conference made history in 1923. One of its participants was Samuel Gompers, the legendary president of the American Federation of Labor.

"To us," Gompers said, "the American flag means more than even its colors in themselves portray. It means the leadership of the democratic and humane struggle that has been carried on through all the ages.

"It is a struggle that continues to this day. And it is for this reason that we must continue to wave the flag at every opportunity. 


Family First.


Denise H. Rohan
National Commander