Last week we learned that in December 2010, the American Legion officially began a relationship with the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) making the veteran founded insurance company “The American Legion’s preferred provider of financial services.”
Then on May 5, 2011, the American Legion established The American Legion Amateur Radio Club (TALARC) to promote emergency communications and disaster preparedness, engage youth in math and science, and facilitate public communications with our nation’s federally licensed amateur operators who are veterans.
In August 2011, The American Legion Baseball World Series was held for the first time in the tournament’s new permanent home in Shelby, North Carolina. Prior to this the tournament had rotated to different cities. Total attendance was an all-time high of 86,000.
This week we find that in October 2012, the VA guarantees its 20 millionth home loan. This stemmed from the original “GI Bill” written by The American Legion National Commander Harry Colmery in 1943 and escorted through Congress and eventually signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1944.
In August 2013 the American Legion family raised more than $1.1 million for Operation Comfort Warriors during the 2012-2013 fundraising year. This easily surpassed the $500,000 goal.
In 2014, in the midst of a VA waiting-list scandal that caused the death of many veterans waiting for care, the Legion called for resignations of several top officials, including the VA Secretary. The scandal ultimately engulfed multiple facilities and offices; the Legion kept the issue in front of the public and Congress. In August 2014 the American Legion announced that Legion family members and friends donated more than $4 million to Legion charities and programs. In July 2016, the American Legion Legacy Scholarship program was expanded to children of post-9/11 veterans who have a VA disability rating of 50% or greater. Next week we will learn about the Veterans Administration Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, the “Forever GI Bill”, and the Veterans Appeals and Modernization Act of 2017.
Until next week, please keep our military in your prayers, especially those who are in the Middle East and Ukraine.
