American Legion News

Legionnaire helps teen get GED to join Marines

Source: September 9, 2024

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For nearly 10 years, Legionnaire and Army veteran Jim Lindenmayer has been providing a hand up for homeless veterans living in Cherokee County, the sixth largest veteran community in the state of Georgia with over 16,000 veterans. Lindenmayer is director of the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program, which provides help with food, housing, clothing, Veteran Affairs benefits claims and more. It's because of his experience that Lindenmayer was introduced to a homeless teenager who wanted to serve in the U.S. Marines.

However, there was an issue. The teenager to did not meet a requirement of the U.S. Marines to join – a high school diploma or equivalent of.

Life for 18-year-old Alex Williams of Canton, Ga., has not been easy. He has lived in and out of foster care, group homes and with family members due to his parents being unable to care for him and his siblings. And early in his senior year at Cherokee High School in Canton, Ga., Williams dropped out.

"It all just wore me down," Williams told Joseph Bennett with the Cherokee Tribune. "I lost any sense of purpose. I didn't know what goals to set for myself or where to turn. I wanted discipline in my life, and I thought I could find that in the Marines."

It was with hopes that Lindenmayer could help Williams get his GED.

Lindenmayer, who also serves as a service officer for American Legion Post 45 in Canton, said that "with Alex coming into our (CCHV) program we wanted to make sure that 1. he understood what and how we could help him; 2. we were going to treat him as if he was like any other veteran and not a homeless kid; 3. we were going to introduce him to the Marine Corps with the help of the local Marine Corps League; 4. his moving forward was all up to him – we could help but he had to do the work; and 5. what we do is not charity. Rather, we pay things forward."

Lindenmayer introduced Williams to the Marine Corps League, the nonprofit FOCUS that conducts classes for the General Education Development test and many others who could help him along his path to military service. And through CCHVP, the cost of Williams to live in a motel while he studied, food, GED fees and other incidentals were all covered.

"As a former Army officer, I treated Alex just like I would have had he been in my troop," Lindenmayer said. "I informed him of our expectations and that we were there to help. I also made it known that he had to do the work and prep for the exams."

A Marine veteran who was a teacher helped prep Williams for the four GED exams, while Lindenmayer never left his side. "I would call him daily or pick him up from the hotel and bring him to the Legion post to test prep so that we knew he was on tract," said Lindenmayer, who spent three weeks with Williams.

And for Williams to understand what his new life and family in the Marines will be like, the Marine Corps League Detachment 1311 from Woodstock, Ga., invited him to one of their events to meet and talk with other Marines. Rich Sabo, detachment commandant of the Marine Corps League in Cherokee County, also spoke with Williams "so that he could keep the Marine point of view alive with Alex," Lindenmayer said. "By about the second or third week, Alex realized that our discussions of the military as being a family, but a different special family, started to ring true with him."

As pressure remained that Williams passed all GED exams, Lindenmayer worked it out with FOCUS to obtain word of his passing as boot camp was quickly starting.

Williams passed. But he wasn't quite in the clear.

"The Marine Corps required hard copies of his diploma and all we had was a screen shot of his passing and qualifying as a GED graduate." Lindenmayer drove Williams to downtown Atlanta on a Friday afternoon to pick up a copy of his transcripts and diploma. "While I was driving us back to his hotel, Alex took pictures of his transcript and diploma and texted it to his recruiter."

On Friday, Aug. 30, during their one of many lunches together, Williams informed Lindenmayer that he was leaving for Marine Corps training in Paris Island, S.C., in two days. "Over that weekend I called him and reinforced that he needed to run 3 to 5 miles a day to get ready, and also to make sure that he was not afraid of taking the next step."

Williams left for boot camp on Sept. 1.

"We are waiting to hear of his mailing address so those of us, over 25 who helped him, could check on his status," Lindenmayer said. "We are already planning on taking a road trip to his graduation from boot camp in mid-December."

Prior to leaving for boot camp, Lindenmayer hosted a luncheon with a Marine Corps cake for Williams to celebrate his achievements.

"It was to show him that people cared about him maybe for the first time in his life," Lindenmayer said. "He did the work. He did what we asked him to do, and he passed all expectations and tests we put him through. I saw it as a celebration of his next life and new family – the Marine Corps. It was a great win for our team and program to see him move forward.

"I am glad Alex was a great kid and did not let what has happened to him in his life be a crutch or stumbling point moving forward with his life. He may not have had the best family life growing up, but he has a new family that is pulling for him and wants only what is best for him."

Next article: Five Things to Know, Sept. 9, 2024

George Fox, ‘Immortal Chaplain,' receives memorial marker at Arlington

Source: September 9, 2024

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Of everything he ever did, Army Chaplain (1st Lt.) George Fox is most remembered for his final act: removing his life vest and handing it to a frightened soldier as their transport sank into the icy North Atlantic on Feb. 3, 1943.

One of four Army chaplains – a Methodist minister, a Reformed pastor, a Catholic priest and a rabbi – who gave their lives that night to save others, Fox is revered as a model of faith, courage and sacrificial love.

"When we were small, my grandfather was a larger-than-life figure to us, and someone we should all aspire to be like, to walk in his shoes to the best of our ability," said Lisa Murray Hirbour, the youngest of Fox's nine grandchildren. "I think all of us do carry that with us now."

On Sept. 4, the chaplain's family joined Army officials in reflecting on his legacy during a special service at Arlington National Cemetery, where Fox received full military honors following the installation of a memorial headstone last spring.

Maj. Gen. William "Bill" Green Jr., the Army's chief of chaplains, recounted Fox's exceptional military career, which began as a stretcher bearer in World War I. He joined the service at 17 "not with a romanticized notion of heroism, but rather with a simple burden to care for others above himself," Green said. "Ultimately, this was his selfless service to others that set him apart."

On the Western Front, Fox braved gunfire, artillery barrages and mustard gas to bring wounded men to safety, earning the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.

After the war, he had the opportunity to pursue a career in finance but chose instead to become an itinerant Methodist preacher. He and his wife, Isadore, served communities in Illinois, New Hampshire and Vermont while he studied theology, and in 1934 he was ordained.

"They lived on basically nothing," Hirbour said. "The kids went to bed hungry a lot, but that didn't dissuade him from his calling."

When the United States entered World War II, Fox volunteered to serve as an Army chaplain. He went on active duty the same day his son, Wyatt, joined the Marine Corps.

"He was already a decorated soldier, with a family to care for and a parish to pastor," Green said. "And yet knowing better than most the horrific toll that wars exact on human souls, he made a decision to return to the battlefield, not for glory, but to share Christ's presence with others in the midst of what he knew would be humanity's most trying and sometimes darkest moments."

What happened next is a story told and retold. USAT Dorchester, packed with 902 military and civilian personnel, en route to Greenland. The constant threat of a U-boat attack. A sudden explosion, followed by chaos, confusion and fear. And in the middle of it, Fox – with fellow chaplains Father John Washington, Rabbi Alexander Goode and the Rev. Clark Poling – urging calm and comforting those unable to escape. They were last seen with arms linked, braced against the slanting deck, praying and singing hymns.

Over the next two decades, the Four Chaplains – also called the "Immortal Chaplains" – were memorialized nationwide in chapels and sanctuaries, sculptures and stained glass, paintings and plaques. A viaduct in Ohio was named for them, and a swimming pool at a veterans hospital in the Bronx. In 1960, they were posthumously awarded the Four Chaplains' Medal, which has the same weight and importance as the Medal of Honor.

Only recently, though, has there been a push to count the chaplains among the fallen at America's most sacred burial ground.

Bill Kaemmer, director of the Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation, said his goal is for each to have a memorial marker at Arlington by the end of 2025, the 250th anniversary of the Army's Chaplain Corps.

In 2021, Kaemmer joined Arlington's staff as a cemetery administrative specialist. Curious to know how Fox, Washington, Poling and Goode were represented at Arlington beyond plaques to their respective faiths on Chaplains Hill, he learned that only Goode had a headstone in the memorial section, installed in 1998.

"Once I realized that was an option, I thought it would be right to move forward," he said. "If I accomplish nothing else in my time as director, helping get all four into Arlington would be a big deal. I think it's nice closure for the families."

The request for a memorial marker must be made by the oldest next of kin. Already in touch with Fox's family, Kaemmer volunteered his help if they wanted to start the process.

"At the time, my mother (Mary Fox Murray, Fox's daughter) was still alive," Hirbour said. "We lost her last year. But I still thought, ‘They're all going to smile down on us if we can get this done."

Lost and damaged military records added a wrinkle, but with the guidance of an Army casualty assistance officer, Hirbour gathered and submitted the required documentation. Within months, a marker was approved and a date set for a long-overdue memorial service.

According to Kaemmer, Fox's headstone stands about 10 yards from Goode's. "If the other two come within a year, they might actually be next to Chaplain Fox's," he said.

Members of the 3rd Infantry Regiment – the Old Guard – conducted Fox's funeral honors as they would a traditional burial. A casket team folded a U.S. flag and presented it to Hirbour, followed by the firing of a three-volley salute and the playing of taps.

"Today we honor Chaplain Fox's memory and example, as our Army has done for over 80 years," Green said. "And we pray that the members of our Chaplain Corps, both present and future, may always be found as faithful to their sense of calling as Chaplain George Fox was to his."

After his remarks, Green gave Hirbour an Army challenge coin bearing the image of the Four Chaplains. "We remember them every day," he assured her.

Six of Fox's grandchildren were present, along with other family and friends.

"All of us were gratified to know his legacy is alive and well in the military and in the country, because we think this country needs heroes now more than ever," Hirbour said. "What they did was truly brave and should be recognized, although my grandfather himself would wonder what all the fuss was about."

American Legion National Commander Jim LaCoursiere attended the service with American Legion Auxiliary President Trish Ward and Sons of The American Legion National Commander Joseph Navarrete.

"The memorial service for the Rev. George Fox was touching and special, as The American Legion has never forgotten the heroism of the Four Chaplains," LaCoursiere said. "Without thought or hesitation, they gave away everything – life vests, gloves, jackets – to save others. Their actions demonstrate loyalty, unity and valor, and are a symbol for veterans and their families. Their memories live on through the American Legion Family."

In 2024, 1,764 American Legion posts conducted or participated in Four Chaplains Day ceremonies.

Fox himself was an active member of The American Legion. His last assignment was pastoring a church in the mill town of Gilman, Vt., where he joined Walter G. Moore Post 41. He served as historian and chaplain for the American Legion Department of Vermont, and was in charge of the wreath-laying at the state's 1939 Armistice Day ceremony.

His wife, the Rev. Isadore Fox, was the first ordained minister to serve as the American Legion Auxiliary's national chaplain (1970-1971). She also served as a unit president. In the February 1971 issue of the Auxiliary's National News magazine, the other Rev. Fox wrote of the Four Chaplains story, "It has become the symbol of brotherhood throughout our great land. It is a call to love in a sacrificial way for the benefit of mankind to the end that they may have a better world in which to live."

In 2023, as the Fox family looked into the possibility of a memorial marker, a huge effort was underway to save the chaplain's former church in Gilman. After over a decade of it sitting vacant, Methodist trustees put the building up for sale, and local American Legion members led a fundraising campaign to buy it. Contributions poured in from the community, the Chapel of Four Chaplains, members of the Fox family, American Legion posts and departments, Auxiliary units, SAL squadrons, various veterans service organizations and individual donors across the country. A large donation from the late Mary Fox Murray secured the purchase.

"The American Legion was incredibly important to both of my grandparents," Hirbour said. "We are forever indebted to them."

The Rev. George L. Fox Memorial Chapel is both a nondenominational house of worship and a museum. "I've got all the artifacts that my grandmother held for 40 years, and then my mother held for another 40 years," Hirbour said. "I want them to be properly displayed so people can come and see what Vermont treasures they were."

The plan is for the chapel to eventually host chaplain training and retreats, too.

Most of all, Hirbour wants to fulfill her grandmother's dream – "a chapel in memory of my grandfather, where people can come and reflect and pray in whatever fashion they want. A place where everyone is welcome and everyone is worthy, because that was their ministry. They didn't exclude anyone. We want to carry on the legacy of our grandparents and what they stood for in this life.

"We want to be there for everyone."

Next article: 2024 national convention award recipients

2024 national convention award recipients

Source: September 6, 2024

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During the 105th American Legion National Convention in New Orleans in August, awards were presented to individuals, companies, groups and Legion departments in meetings, on the convention floor and during competitions.

Distinguished Service Medal: Jack Miller

Patriot Award: Michael Rodriguez

James V. Day "Good Guy" Award: Jay Glazer

National Concert Band Contest: American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, Tonawanda, N.Y.

National Color Guard Contests:

Advancing/Retrieving Colors: Newport Harbor Post 293 (Newport Beach, Calif.), 92.35

Military: Newport Harbor, 92.5

Open: Jackie Robinson Unit 252 (Los Angeles), 85.35

NJROTC Open: West Caldwell High School NJROTC Warriors (Lenoir, N.C.), 101.0

Overall Champion: Newport Harbor

National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year: Cpl. Nicholas DeFelice, Owings, Md.

National Firefighter of the Year: Capt. Daniel Rawson, Delta Junction, Alaska

Fourth Estate Awards:

Broadcast: KARE 11 NBC (Minneapolis), "Broken Promises"

Print: Louisville (Ky.) Courier Journal, "Safer Sidelines"

Spirit of Service Awards:

Air Force Airman 1st Class Vernica Challenger

Army Sgt. Mayann Santiago

Coast Guard Petty Officer Richard Galbierz

Marine Corps Sgt. Davinsky Theodore

Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Jesyka Ware

Navy Petty Officer Pablo Rodriguez Jr.

Space Force Sgt. Christopher Paradine

National Recruiter of the Year: Patricia E. Liddell, Midland, Ga.

District Commander Race to the Top Award:

Milton R. Chatham (Texas) – Category 1, District 2

Stuart L. Scott (Florida) – Category 2, District 3

Gary S. Ely (Georgia) – Category 3, District 9

Murray S. Hall (Maryland) – Category 4, District 6

100% Department Awards: Arizona, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Latin America, Maryland, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia

Gen. Henri Gouraud Trophy: Category 1, Florida; Category 3, Maryland; Category 4, Virginia; Category 6, Puerto Rico

Department Commanders of the Year: Michael A. Raymond, Florida; Mark L. DeVirgilio, Hawaii; Douglas L. Huffman, Idaho; Peter P. Cruz, Latin America; Carmen I. Rosario, Puerto Rico; Betty Lynch, Rhode Island; Sondra Dickerson, Virginia

Culture of Growth Department Award: Arizona, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Latin America, Maryland, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia

Second Century All-Time High Department Award: Puerto Rico, Latin America

All Target Dates Department Award: Hawaii, Idaho, Latin America, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Virginia

Henry D. Lindsley Trophy: Puerto Rico

Jerry L. Hedrick Membership Award: Puerto Rico

O.L. Bodenhamer Trophy: Puerto Rico

Consolidated Post Reporting Department Award: Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Wisconsin

Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Employee of the Year: Adam Colone, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Veterans Employment Awards:

Wolverine Services, Fort Cavazos, Texas, medium category

HumCap, Plano, Texas, small category

Outstanding Employment Service Local Office of the Year: Workforce Solutions of Central Texas

Outstanding Employer of Enhancing the Lives of Disabled Persons: Bobby Dodd Institute, Atlanta

100 Percent Americanism Award: Delaware

Daniel J. O'Connor Americanism Trophy: Ohio

Ralph T. O'Neil Trophy: Nevada

Frank N. Belgrano Jr. Trophy: Missouri

Child Welfare Foundation (CWF) Garland Murphy Award: Pennsylvania

CWF Udie Grant Legacy Award: Arizona

CWF Meritorious Achievement Award: Wyoming

CWF Excellence Award: Wyoming

CWF Garland Murphy Award – Riders: Florida

CWF Udie Grant Legacy Award – Riders: Arizona

William F. Lenker National Service Trophy: Florida

Educator of the Year Award: Chad Johnson, Jobs for American Graduates (JAG) coordinator, Lyman High School, Presho, S.D.

Next article: Riders chapter bringing Be the One, suicide awareness to its community

Riders chapter bringing Be the One, suicide awareness to its community

Source: September 5, 2024

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During the past two years, American Legion Riders Chapter 53 in Hillsdale, Mich., has participated in Suicide Prevention Month projects in other area communities. But this year the chapter wanted to bring the issue of veteran suicide directly to local residents.

So since Sept. 1, its Legion Riders have been placing 22 flags and 22 solar lights each day on Post 53's property to represent the number of veteran suicides that have occurred nationwide for years. The same number of flags and lights will be placed daily by Post 53 American Legion Family members.

The Chapter's The Ongoing Cost of War display will stay up through Oct. 1 and is an opportunity to create a discussion about veteran suicide, as well as the Legion's Be the One program to reduce the number of veteran suicides.

Chapter 53 had assisted with similar light displays in Hudson in 2022 and in Clayton in 2023. "It was after helping in Clayton that I knew that I wanted to bring the light display to our Legion in Hillsdale," Chapter 53 Director and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 53 member Angela Snyder said. "It was so moving. When you see that yard filled with 660 lights and make that connection – that's 660 souls that has been lost this month. It resonates throughout the month, but when you see that final count, it just really hits home."

Chapter 53 has received support from the post's Legion Family, Michigan nonprofits, a local business and other anonymous donors to supply the lights and flags. Each light represents a person who has died by suicide, while the flag represents that person's military service.

In addition to placing the flags and lights daily, every Tuesday at dusk throughout the month the chapter invites the community to come watch the lights come on and then discuss veteran suicides and ways to reduce them.

"That's kind of why we're out here doing this: to elevate this communication," Snyder said. "I think it's important for each of us, as a Legion member – and it doesn't matter what hat you wear, whether you're a veteran, you're a Son, you're an Auxiliary member, a Rider member – I think it's all of our responsibility to Be the One. Each one of us are responsible for anyone we come into contact with. That's kind of our job within the Legion: to be there. To truly be setting the tone."

But the display also is meant to start a conversation with Post 53. "I feel it's important for our Riders chapter to be doing this, sponsoring this as our contribution to our post home, because I wanted our living vets to see the lights and know that we see them," Snyder said. ""I feel it's especially difficult for the older generation: whatever World War II veterans we may have and our Vietnam War vets. These guys came from that quiet era. They weren't treated well when they came home, and they don't talk about what happened … as much as the younger vets.

"Our commander's a (Global War on Terror) vet, and those guys were trained to decompress, if you will. They were trained to talk about things. But our older guys, I think it's harder for them to get to open up. That's why I felt it was important for us to have something like this to open up that conversation for our older veterans, to get them to feel safe talking about things."

When Suicide Prevention Month comes to an end, Post 53 will host a ceremony on Oct. 1 in front of the display. The ceremony will end with a retirement of unserviceable American flags.

To learn more about The American Legion's Be the One veteran suicide prevention program, click here.

Next article: An expanded MCON conference highlights Be the One

An expanded MCON conference highlights Be the One

Source: September 5, 2024

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The second annual MCON conference will take place in Las Vegas at the end of October. As a founding sponsor, The American Legion has a special 100% off discount for members.

The mission of MCON is to create community, facilitate connection and improve the well-being of those who served and their families.

MCON will be held Oct. 24-27 at The Expo at World Market Center, 435 S. Grand Central Parkway in Las Vegas. The schedule is being updated regularly at this link. The event will also be livestreamed. Use code LegionMCON to register here for free.

A daylong Military Impact Summit will take place on Friday, Oct. 25. Separate registration is required (click here to do so). Among the highlights will be a presentation by American Legion Chief Marketing Officer Dean Kessel on Be the One, the organization's primary mission to reduce the number of suicides among veterans and servicemembers. Topics of other presentations during the summit include career transitioning, veteran entrepreneurship, corporate branding and more.

Over the weekend, the conference will feature various speakers, panel discussions and activities for military families. Among the speakers scheduled to appear:

• Rudy Reyes, a conservationist, writer, actor, motivational speaker and former Force Reconnaissance Marine. He is best known for portraying himself in the HBO miniseries "Generation Kill."

• Connor Matthews, also known as "The Controller," embodies the American hustle. His transition from six years as a distinguished Air Force combat controller to a formidable UFC fighter showcases his resilience, persistence and heart.

• Marcus and Amber Capone. Marcus, a retired Navy SEAL, is the co-founder and CEO of TARA Mind, a public benefit corporation whose mission is to expand safe and equitable access to psychedelic-assisted therapy for anyone struggling with a mental health condition. Amber, his wife, is the co-founder and executive director of VETS Inc., a pioneering 501(c)(3) organization providing resources, research, and advocacy for U.S. Special Operations veterans seeking psychedelic assisted therapies abroad.

• Ramón Colón-López, who served in the Air Force for 33 years. In December 2019, he became the fourth Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the most senior enlisted servicemember in the U.S. Armed Forces.

• Tish Stropes, an Air Force spouse, is the vice president of Strategic Initiatives for Fisher House Foundation. The foundation oversees a network of comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay at no cost while a loved one receives medical treatment. Tish is responsible for Fisher House's involvement with Warrior Games and Invictus Games.

• Former Army Ranger Dave Reid, a symbol of resilience, leadership and relentless pursuit of excellence. As the Vice President for the Robert Irvine Foundation, he channels his extensive military experience into aiding veterans and first responders, serving as an influential advocate and key connector to the community he holds dear.

Next article: Looking forward to another great SAL year

Looking forward to another great SAL year

Source: September 5, 2024

Articles

Hello, American Legion Family.

When I took the stage in New Orleans as the new National Commander of the Sons of The American Legion, I was honored to have so many members of my family there with me to celebrate. But I was also honored to have so many members of my Legion Family celebrating with me as well.

My slogan is "Todo es posible con Dios y la familia," or "Everything is possible with God and family." I firmly believe that emphasis on family is going to make this year a great one for the Legion Family as a whole.

I look forward to serving with and supporting American Legion National Commander James LaCoursiere Jr. and American Legion Auxiliary National President Trish Ward this year. As Commander LaCoursiere said in his speech at the National Convention, we will let the world know that we are the voice for veterans.

I look forward to visiting detachments across the country over the next year and seeing how the SAL is supporting our veterans and our communities. I can't wait to see your stories and successes in person, but also to follow those stories and successes through our monthly national e-newsletter, which includes the printable Millennium; online at Legiontown.org/Sons and Legion.org/Headlines/Sons; and on the SAL Facebook page. Remember, it's important we share our stories so that the Legion Family and those outside our walls realize all we do for our veterans and communities.

And I look forward to all of us continuing to find ways to Be The One to end veteran suicide. If you haven't taken the Be The One training being offered by The American Legion and Columbia University, I encourage you to look at the upcoming schedule and find a session that works for you. Ninety minutes to save a life. Go to Legion.org/BeTheOne to register for a session.

Let us continue to grow. Let us continue to contribute to the Veterans & Children Foundation, the Child Welfare Foundation, and The American Legion's other programs that help our veterans and youth. And let us make 2024-25 yet another historic year for the Sons of The American Legion.

"Everything is possible with God and family"

Joseph Navarrete

SAL National Commander

Next article: Senators push $15M bill to study birth defects in children of veterans exposed to toxic chemicals

Senators push $15M bill to study birth defects in children of veterans exposed to toxic chemicals

Source: September 5, 2024

Articles

The generational effects of chemical warfare agents and other hazardous materials on the descendants of service members would be evaluated under a bill to fund $15 million in research on birth defects identified in the children and grandchildren of toxic-exposed veterans.

The Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act would commission multiple studies that look at the connections between toxic exposures of service members in combat zones and severe disabilities that were later diagnosed in their descendants.

The bill is included in two separate appropriations bills for the Defense Department and the Interior Department that have advanced in the Senate. House lawmakers have not offered a companion bill.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee's subpanel on defense, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., co-sponsored the research legislation, which would fund multiple studies by federal agencies and nonprofit organizations.

"While there has been some research on the link between birth defects and generational exposure to toxins and chemicals, there has yet to be comprehensive, government-led studies into the effects of toxic exposure on descendants of toxic-exposed veterans," according to a statement from Tester's office.

The funds would support the Toxic Exposures Research Program and build knowledge on the generational impact of chemical exposures on military members and their descendants, according to Tester, who also is chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

"This bill aims to empower the toxic exposures research group to conduct more vital research related to toxic exposure," Rubio said.

The legislation is named after the daughter of a Vietnam-era Navy veteran exposed to Agent Orange during military service aboard the USS Ogden, an amphibious transport dock ship.

Molly Loomis of Bozeman, Mont., was born with spina bifida, a presumptive disability that has been diagnosed in the biological children of Vietnam War veterans. Spina bifida is a condition where the spine and spinal cord do not grow properly during pregnancy. Her father, Richard Loomis, died in 2013 from bladder cancer, which was presumed to be connected to his exposure to Agent Orange, according to the family.

"I try putting myself in my dad's shoes and how it might feel to face toxic exposure health issues. But then to learn your exposure could have resulted in the birth defects, disabilities, even shortened lifespans of your own children, perhaps grandchildren, too — I don't think I can fully imagine the nightmare of that," Loomis said. "Not everyone chooses to protect their country, but I'd say everyone wants to protect their children."

Service members exposed to toxic substances are more likely than the general population to develop rare cancers, heart conditions and chronic lung conditions, according to the legislation. Descendants of toxic-exposed service members also can experience lifelong medical conditions related to their parents' or grandparents' exposure to toxic substances, the legislation said.

Mokie Porter, communications director for the advocacy group Vietnam Veterans of America, described the legislation as another mechanism for funding an area that historically has been overlooked in research by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Before these Vietnam veterans pass on, they want to ensure their children are taken care of. The children and grandchildren of toxic-exposed veterans have health conditions that have not been fully addressed," Porter said. "Most of the evidence linking exposure to birth defects is anecdotal because the research isn't being done."

Porter said new research dollars also would enable studies to be done outside the VA, including universities, medical centers and other nonprofit organizations with a background in studying birth defects and chemical exposures.

The VA presumes spina bifida in biological children of certain Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides was caused by military service. People with spinal bifida can have paralysis and require extensive surgeries and medical care. But Porter said while spina bifida is the most recognized birth defect associated with military chemical exposure, the link is still considered limited for lack of scientific evidence.

A previous bill — the Toxic Exposure Research Act — that Congress adopted in 2016 had authorized research into birth defects associated with chemical exposures during military service. But the VA has refused to act on it, said Jack McManus, an Air Force veteran and president of the Vietnam Veterans Association of America.

The VA determined research was not feasible because it would focus on the descendants and not the veterans themselves, he said. McManus, a former sergeant who served from 1965-1969, said he was a crew member on planes that sprayed herbicides in Vietnam and has experienced multiple health effects, including several types of cancer, neuropathy and diabetes. He does not have children.

The new legislation would require an interagency group on toxic exposures to work to raise awareness about associations between toxic exposures and birth defects, McManus said.

The bill also would require research and current treatments for serious health conditions identified in the descendants of toxic-exposed veterans to be published on a dedicated website.

The interagency group was established two years ago under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or PACT Act. The PACT Act awards disability benefits for veterans with diseases and injuries that are presumed to be linked to toxic exposures during military service, including from burn pits, radiation and other hazardous materials.

Next article: Educators return to school, deduct $300

Educators return to school, deduct $300

Source: September 5, 2024

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LEARN HOW YOUR PLANNED GIFT CAN HELP THE AMERICAN LEGION

As students return to the classroom, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds educators that they should consider the deduction for classroom expenses. During the next few weeks, both parents and teachers face back-to-school expenses. Many parents will spend over $500 on clothes, books, computers and other supplies. Similarly, teachers who teach kindergarten through 12th grade will be purchasing many classroom materials for their students. A survey indicated that most teachers spend over $600 per year to support their students with educational supplies.

An important benefit for teachers and other educators is the above-the-line deduction for classroom expenses. The deduction for 2024 and 2023 is $300, an increase from $250 in earlier tax years. Teachers are permitted to take the standard deduction and still deduct expenses. If a teacher is married to another qualified educator and they file jointly, they may deduct up to $600 of classroom expenses. Each individually, however, is limited to the $300 amount.

Who Is an Educator? The IRS defines an "eligible educator" as a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide at a school with students from kindergarten through 12th grade. This could be a public or private school. A teacher must work at least 900 hours per year to qualify.

What Expenses Are Qualified? There are many classroom expenses that qualify. These could include books, teaching supplies, computers and software. Because there are still COVID-19 cases, the expense also may include masks, disinfectant, sanitizer and disposable gloves.

What is Not a Qualified Expense? Some types of expenses do not qualify. Expenses for homeschooling, or expenses by athletic instructors not related to their class, are not qualified.

Are Professional Development Expenses Qualified? If the teacher is qualified and spends funds on professional development courses related to their teaching area, those expenses can be counted. However, they are still subject to the $300 limit. There may be other deductions or credits (such as the lifetime learning credit) that provide greater benefits.

The American Legion's Planned Giving program is a way of establishing your legacy of support for the organization while providing for your current financial needs. Learn more about the process, and the variety of charitable programs you can benefit, at legion.org/plannedgiving. Clicking on "Learn more" will bring up an "E-newsletter" button, where you can sign up for regular information from Planned Giving.

Next article: ‘Soldier's Journey' unveiling completes National World War I Memorial

‘Soldier's Journey' unveiling completes National World War I Memorial

Source: September 5, 2024

Articles

On Sept. 13, at sunset, sculptor Sabin Howard's "A Soldier's Journey" will be unveiled during a "First Illumination" ceremony at the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The epic 38-figure, 60-foot-long bronze relief will be lighted scene by scene during a "wonderful night of music and narration," says Jari Villanueva, executive director of the Doughboy Foundation, the nonprofit partner to the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission and steward of the memorial.

The event will start at 7:15 p.m. Eastern time. The public is invited to watch in person at the adjacent Freedom Plaza, 1325 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, or online via livestream at ww1cc.org.

The U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own," will perform, followed by the ringing of a bell by Howard in tribute to the fallen. Twenty buglers dressed in World War I uniforms will play an opening fanfare.

"First Illumination" opens WWI Living History Weekend, a series of immersive events hosted by the Doughboy Foundation. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 14 and 15, visitors to the memorial can see displays of World War I vehicles by the National WWI Mobile Museum, historical presentations by authors and World War I reenactors, Douglas Taurel's one-man play "A Soldier's Journey Home" and more. The lineup also includes musical performances by the American Expeditionary Forces Headquarters Band, the Community Bands of Westmoreland County, Pa., and the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Belgium's Last Post Association will conclude each day with a ceremonial playing of bugle calls.

With the installation of "A Soldier's Journey," the National World War I Memorial is complete. And thanks to the Doughboy Foundation, it's something to experience as well as see, with the daily sounding of taps, augmented-reality mobile apps and more.

"We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning .... Remember us." For Dan Dayton, the foundation's chairman, these words by poet Archibald MacLeish on the memorial's Peace Fountain gave him an idea about how they might remember veterans daily, in a consistent way. That led him to Villanueva, America's foremost expert on the revered bugle call.

"He looked at me and said, ‘So you want to play taps at the World War I Memorial every night at 5 o'clock, rain or shine or whatever it might be, for the rest of time?'" Dayton recalls. "I said, ‘That's right.' And he said, ‘I got it.'"

Villanueva organized a Daily Taps program, recruiting buglers through the nonprofit Taps for Veterans. Volunteers have included active-duty and retired servicemembers, and even Cuban-born jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. Feb. 19 marked the 1,000th consecutive sounding of taps.

The inspiration came from Ypres, Belgium, where buglers have performed "The Last Post" at the Menin Gate for nearly a century. "It's a wonderful tradition, and now we do it here," Villanueva says.

Anyone can dedicate a Daily Taps to a veteran, on a day of their choosing, at doughboy.org.

Other ways to engage with the National World War I Memorial include the WWI Memorial Virtual Explorer and Visitor Guide apps. The first allows users to walk through a digital 3D model of the memorial from anywhere in the world. With the second, visitors can access the memorial's augmented-reality features to "place" a timeline and World War I planes, ships, tanks and other vehicles over the reflecting pool to get a sense of size and scale.

Built into both apps are Stories of Service, based on letters, memories and anecdotes about those who served in the Great War. "You can learn what they experienced, in their own words," Dayton says.

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