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.

NY Legion Commander Has Pet Peeve

New York Department leaders are making visitations around the state, sharing their vision and passion with local Legion Family members. Here's an example of such a visit -- to the 5th District's Oneida County.

Cmdr. Tim Van Patten

NEW HARTFORD -- New York Department Commander Timothy S. Van Patten has a pet peeve -- people who don't have the right perception of the Legion.

"Every once in a while someone will say, 'Do you guys do anything but sit around the bar telling war stories?'"

During a visit to Oneida County Sept. 29, Van Patten told a packed banquet hall at New Hartford Post 1376 what he says to such a question.

Buffalo's McKeever Post Donates Van to VA

Officers and members of David McKeever Post 64 in South Buffalo presented the keys to a new van to the VA Western New York Healthcare System in a ceremony this week at the Buffalo VA Medical Center.

The van will be used by the Disabled American Veterans Volunteer Transportation Network, which drives veterans to and from VA medical facilities.

Mineola Post Inducts First Woman Veteran

Yuri Karaz and Carl Marchese

MINEOLA -- Word got around that Yuri Karasz was a veteran, so when Carl Marchese met her, he made a deal: If he became commander of Mineola American Legion Post 349, she would become the first female member in the post's 90-year history, reports MineolaPatch.com.

He did, and she did, being formally inducted in an August ceremony at the village hall. State Sen. Jack M. Martins and local VFW Commander Manny Grilo were there to congratulate Karaz, a former army captain and West Point graduate.

Fang Wong Introduces Mitt Romney at Convention

Fang Wong welcomes Mitt Romney. Photos by Doug Malin

Outgoing National Commander Fang Wong of New York got to introduce Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney to the 94th American Legion Convention in Indianapolis Aug. 29.

Then, following Romney's 20-minute talk in which he pledged to make sure both veterans and the military are taken care of under his watch, Wong introduced him to Legion leaders around the stage.
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