Join us July 3, 2021 at the Orlando World Center Marriott when “Old School McDaniel” squares off with “New School Comer“. The Main Event will take place following General Session on Saturday, at approximately 2:ishpm. You don’t want to miss this!
Place your wagers (aka Donations) now on who you think will reign supreme. https://www.floridalegion.org/mainevent
DISCLAIMER: Match is for entertainment purposes only. No one will be harmed during this mockery….or at least we hope not.
Join us July 3, 2021 at the Orlando World Center Marriott when “Old School McDaniel” squares off with “New School Comer“. The Main Event will take place following General Session on Saturday, at approximately 2:ishpm. You don’t want to miss this!
Place your wagers (aka Donations) now on who you think will reign supreme. https://www.floridalegion.org/mainevent
DISCLAIMER: Match is for entertainment purposes only. No one will be harmed during this mockery….or at least we hope not.
Department Membership Summary
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*Currently these are the only SAL Reports available through the new MyLegion.
The American Legion, Department of Florida is pleased to announce “THE MAIN EVENT” to be held at Department Convention, Orlando World Center Marriott on Saturday, July 3, 2021, following General Session in Crystal H.
“Old School McDaniel” will square off in an epic boxing match with “New School Comer“. These men have something to prove, and they’ll battle it out for your viewing pleasure!
McDaniel taunts, “Comer is going down!” Confident Comer answers, “Bring it on old man!”
McDaniel, weighing in at an undisclosed weight, will be coached by his loving wife Cathy. McDaniel has already began preparing for this challenge… by shopping for the appropriate attire and looking up moves on YouTube.
Comer, also weighing in at an undisclosed weight, will be coached by his loving wife Cyndi. Comer says he doesn’t need to prepare for this challenge, because “McDaniel is old and decrepit and would never stand a chance against his youthful prowess”.
Stay tuned to our Facebook page to see how this fight builds up over the coming days, as these fighters prepare for a real smack down.
On Thursday, July 1, 2021, the fighters will have their one and only public interview during the Legion Family Kick-Off and Bittersweet Retirement Event to be held in Crystal J1..
We ask you… which of these do you think will reign supreme?
Place your wagers now at floridalegion.org/mainevent …but what we really mean is make a donation to who you think will win. All donations will be split evenly between the Commander’s Charities, PROJECT: VetRelief and COTA.
Be there or not, but you’d really be missing out!
Department Membership Summary
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*Currently these are the only SAL Reports available through the new MyLegion.
Department Membership Summary
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Detachment Membership Summary*
Squadron Membership Summary*
* SAL Reports not yet available
Memorial Day is a solemn day of remembrance observed the last Monday of May each year, honoring members of the United States Armed Forces who died while in service of the United States of America. This year Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 31. In accordance with the U.S. Flag Code [U.S.C. Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 7(m)], on Memorial Day the flag of the United States is to be displayed at half-staff from sunrise until noon only, then raised briskly to the top of the staff.
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* SAL Reports not yet available
The president of the United States has issued a proclamation for display of the United States flag at half-staff until sunset on May 30, 2021, as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless act of violence perpetrated on May 26, 2021, in San Jose, Calif.
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the 2021 Memorial Day Proclamation, honoring our nation’s fallen service members. The U.S. and Florida flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to noon on Memorial Day in their memory.
The 153rd Anniversary of Memorial Day is also an opportunity to honor our Gold Star Families and display the Honor and Remember Flag to embody the respect and gratitude our state has for these families.
Memorial Day is Monday, May 31.
INDIANAPOLIS (May 24, 2021) – A central Florida television station, an Illinois newspaper and a popular website will receive The American Legion’s Fourth Estate Award during the 102nd National Convention of the nation’s largest veterans organization in Phoenix, on September 2.
The Fourth Estate Award has been presented annually by The American Legion since 1958 for outstanding achievement in the field of journalism. Nominations in 2021 were considered in three categories: broadcast, print and online media. They were selected by the organization’s Media & Communications Commission earlier this month and announced today.
Taking top honor in the broadcast category is the ABC Action News (WFTS-TV) I-Team in Tampa, Fla. In a comprehensive series titled “The Price of Protection…Problems with Court-Ordered Guardianship,” the E.W. Scripps-owned station examined problems with many of Florida’s court-ordered guardians who victimize vulnerable seniors while profiting from their care. The reporting is believed to have influenced the firing of an agency head by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and reforms passed by the state’s legislature.
Daily Herald of Arlington, Heights, Ill., is being recognized in the print category for its series articles about deceased veterans who died with no relatives willing to arrange funerals. The articles quickly went viral, prompting hundreds of people from the Chicago area to show support and attend memorial services for the veterans, which included military honors.
The Fourth Estate Online Media Award is going to Military.com, a previous recipient of the award. Reporter Gina Harkins was the first to report of a Marine Corps proposal to close its recruit depot at Parris Island, S.C. The proposal was short-lived as several members of South Carolina’s congressional delegation voiced strenuous opposition to any plan that would close the historic facility. Rep. Joe Wilson cited Military.com’s reporting as a direct cause of The Parris Island Protection Act.
“The American Legion has always respected important role of a free press,” said James W. “Bill” Oxford, national commander of The American Legion. “The American Legion would not be nearly as effective without media coverage of our positions and programs on the national and community level. The Fourth Estate Awards represent the best of the best. These award winners are being recognized for outstanding works of journalism that not only stand far above normal media reporting, but have also resulted in outcomes that have positively impacted the lives of people and issues. Our 2021 award winners reflect that. These committed journalists have devoted long, hard hours into investigating, researching, writing and producing reports that have truly made a difference.
“I will be honored to present each of these deserving recipients with our highest recognition of journalistic accomplishment, The American Legion Fourth Estate Award, at our national convention this summer,” Oxford said. “They are all credits to their profession.”
Previous winners of the award include CNN, CBS, USA Today, ABC News, C-SPAN, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and Life Magazine, among others.
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* SAL Reports not yet available
It is with deep regret that we report the passing of Past Central Area Commander Joseph Edward Pauly of Winter Haven, Florida, born in Saint Clair, Michigan, who passed away on May 11, 2021 at the age of 68. Joseph is survived by: his wife Katherine “Kit” Pauly; his children, JJ (Krissy), Kami and Steven; his grandchildren, Jacar, Ely, Andrew (Hailey), Kaley, Emily, Hannah and Hayden (Jaxson); his great grandchildren, Marcus, Jayson and Elijah; and his siblings, Ruth Ann, Gloria, Herbie and Rick. He is also survived by nieces and nephews. There are no details regarding services at this time, but any new information will be communicated to you through email as well as posted on the website.
Joseph was a U.S. Air Force Vietnam War Era Veteran and a member of Winter Haven Post 8 with 34 continuous years of membership. Joseph served as Post Commander (1993-1994), 7th District Commander (1995-1997) and Central Area Commander (1997-1998).
If you would like to send your condolences, you may do so through her wife, Kit Pauly, at 410 Taylor Ave., Winter Haven, FL 33880-1450.
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This year Americans are observing both Peace Officers Memorial Day and Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 15th. Peace Officers Memorial Day gives honor to peace officers who have died, or who have been disabled, in the line of duty. Armed Forces Day pays tribute to the men and women serving in our nation’s military. The U.S. Flag Code is a codification of rules and customs pertaining to the display of the flag of the United States for use by civilians or civilian groups/organizations as may not be required to conform with regulations promulgated by executive departments of the government of the United States. In accordance with U.S.C. Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 7(m) of the U.S. Flag Code, the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. The American Legion encourages Americans to display the flag of the United States on May 15, 2021, to honor the patriotic service of the United States military, while also pausing with bowed head to give remembrance to those peace officers and their families having made the ultimate sacrifice.
Congratulations to Johnny Castro and Bruce Carl for placing 1st in their categories and to Dennis Mallon for placing 2nd in his category. We appreciate your hard work and dedication!
From National: The Race-to-the-Top competition has concluded. The first place winners in each category will receive a trip to the 2021 national convention along with their guest. Second place winners will receive a $500 check for their efforts and third place winners will receive a check for $375. We would like to congratulate the following district commanders on a job well done.
May I extend to you congratulations on your Honorable Mention Award in the Department Visual Media Category from The American Legion Media Alliance. No one deserves this recognition more than you. Great Job.
For God & Country,
William D. (Bill) Kelly
SAL NEC
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WASHINGTON (April 29, 2021) – Stating that “time is of the greatest essence,” American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford wrote to President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and called on the administration to speed up the processing of visa applications for interpreters who assisted U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Oxford explained that he sent the letters because of the dire consequences that interpreters face. “A Michigan Legionnaire who served in Afghanistan described the situation in stark terms. Interpreters who are discovered by the Taliban will be swiftly beheaded. The unlucky ones will have to watch their families die first,” he said. “While we welcome an end to these endless wars, we must never abandon the brave Afghan and Iraqi allies who took great personal risk to assist our military with its missions. We must not leave them behind. They have earned safe passage to America.”
Oxford directed his Washington staff to work with the Biden administration on the best way to fix what has been described by Brown University as a “slow and inefficient” processing program that takes over two years. In his letters to Biden and Blinken, Oxford noted that Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients “go through the strictest vetting and approval process of any category of person coming to the U.S. already, but we must balance security concerns with a commitment to those who fought alongside us.”
The American Legion foresaw this issue in 2018 when its National Executive Committee unanimously passed Resolution No. 16, which called for Congress and the president to recognize Afghan and Iraqi SIV recipients who “stood shoulder to shoulder” with U.S. troops and diplomats.
Oxford further promised that “The American Legion will not let this go. Military equipment is being removed from Afghanistan right now. But people are our greatest asset. We urge every American to contact their congressional delegations and insist that they prioritize the protection of our heroic allies and their families.”
It is reported that former Vice President Walter Mondale’s funeral services are being scheduled for September. Flags at the White House and U.S. Capitol have been returned to full-staff.
