Mid-Winter Topic: Plight of Women Vets

Verna Jones

By Dorolyn Perry
NY American Legion Press Association

Women veterans deserve the same benefits as their male counterparts, and more needs to be done for the homeless woman vet and the wounded female warrior. That was the message that Verna Jones brought to the Auxiliary's Mid-Winter Conference, held Jan. 25-26 in Albany. Jones is director of the American Legion National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission.

Arkport Soup Cook-Off Breaks Fundraising Record

ARKPORT, N.Y. — The Arkport American Legion's ninth annual soup cook-off held Jan. 27 at the Legion set a fundraising record, the Hornell Evening Tribune reported Feb. 11. 

Auxiliary member and event committee chair Crystal Henshaw said the cook-off raised $1,250, breaking last year's record of $1,000.

Quilts for Soldiers in Afghanistan

By Bradd Vickers

NORWICH -- It was sad when Karen Kamsoke’s nephew Kurt Buchta, deployed to Afghanistan as a company commander of 71 soldiers, was told about 13 of his soldiers that don’t get anything from home. Kurt asked Karen if she would consider adopting the 13 soldiers by sending packages and letters, etc., and could she possibly make quilts for them. Karen, not thinking of the time frame and work, said “of course.”

Students Help Legion Provide Food for Vets

UTICA -- Thanks to a food drive by the National Honor Society at John F. Kennedy Middle School, the American Legion's Utica Post 229 donated 14 boxes of non-perishable food to the Central New York Veterans Outreach Center in Utica on Nov. 16.

 "The students wanted to help veterans, and we know the Outreach Center works directly with homeless and jobless veterans," noted Utica Post 229 Vice Commander Jim George, who is coordinating a Legion food drive for both the Outreach Center and the Community Food Bank.

Legion Comes to Aid of Hurricane Victims

INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 29, 2012) – With Hurricane Sandy/"Monster Storm" expected to cause billions of dollars in damage, Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion may be eligible for financial assistance through the Legion’s National Emergency Fund (NEF).

National Commander Visits Western New York

National Cmdr James Koutz

Canandaigua, N.Y., Oct. 28 — During a visit Oct. 27 to the Canandaigua VA Medical Center, American Legion National Commander James E. Koutz spoke about one of the biggest issues facing veterans: employment,  the Messenger Post reported.

“When they left, they had jobs,” he said. “When they come home, there are no jobs for them. We have got to make sure they’re taken care of.”

The American Legion assists veterans in finding jobs through job fairs, with over 200 held last year.

Legion Post 150 and VFW Host Wounded Warriors

TOWN OF ULSTER — American Legion Post 150 in Kingston and the Kingston Veterans of Foreign Wars post treated 10 wounded warriors and their families to a weekend getaway in the Hudson Valley Oct. 5-7.

The Afghanistan and Iraq veterans came from Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia. The Legion and VFW together raised close to $9,000 to spend on the warriors and their families at area restaurants and attractions, the Kingston Freeman reported.