Last week we learned that in June 2017, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 was passed by Congress in conjunction with the American Legion. This legislation gave the VA Secretary the authority to terminate the employment of VA employees who do not hold the standard of the VA’s missions, to help our veterans.
Then on August 16, 2017, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 — also known as the “Forever GI Bill” because it removes time limits for veterans who wish to use it for college, was signed into law by President Donald J. Trump.
On August 23, 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed the Veterans Appeals and Modernization Act of 2017 onstage at the 99th American Legion National Convention. This is the first time in history a U.S. president used an American Legion National Convention stage to sign a bill into law.
This week we find that in August 2017, Denise Rohan of Wisconsin was elected national commander, the first woman to hold the role in the Legion’s history.
Then on January 31, 2019, the American Legion’s Temporary Financial Assistance Program completed a record- breaking month of cashgrant disbursements. Of the $1,030,163 delivered to military and veteran families, most was distributed to U.S. Coast Guard families with children at home who were affected by the 35-day federal government shutdown.
In March 15-17, 2019, the American Legion celebrated its 100th birthday in Paris, France, throughout the United States and around the world.
Paris was chosen because it was the birthplace of the American Legion when members of the American Expeditionary Force convened for their first caucus.
These were war weary veterans of WWI. The Paris Caucus appointed an executive committee of 17 officers to represent troops in France. Similarly, a St. Louis Caucus was formed in the United States and also appointed 17 officers.
The two combined into what we now know as the American Legion.
