LEGION REPORTS
Department Membership Summary
Post Membership Summary
SAL REPORTS
Detachment Membership Summary
Squadron Membership Summary
Weekly Reports – August 2, 2019
Florida Tax Free Holiday
Save with no sales tax and free shipping.
Florida’s Tax Free Weekend starts tomorrow, August 2nd, and ends Tuesday, August 6th. The American Legion, Department of Florida’s online Flag & Emblem store is happy to participate in this great cost savings for our veterans and supporters.
As an added bonus, we are offering FREE SHIPPING ON EVERYTHING during this event as well! Just enter the code SHIPFREE at checkout.
Only select items are available tax free, per state tax guidelines. This will be a great time to save when ordering your 2019-2020 Commander’s polos and other apparel.
Plan to order for your tax exempt Post or Business? Create your account on our online store, and then email your tax exempt status form, along with the email you registered with, to emblemsales@floridalegion.org and we will update your account to tax exempt for all your current and future orders.
100% of our net profits benefit The American Legion, Department of Florida and Programs.
OBJECTIVE: ORLANDO
Department Commander Rick Johnson has implemented “OBJECTIVE: ORLANDO” for all Area and District Commanders.
Each Area/District Commander must first recruit 3 new members to move their tank from the Brigade Support Area into position on the battle map.
As the Area/District Commanders reach their membership goals, their tank will advance closer to Orlando. If the Area/District fails to meet their membership goal, they will be moved to the Maintenance Area for support. Once back on track, they may resume their position.
Bragging rights to the first Area/District Commander to complete OBJECTIVE: ORLANDO.
Weekly Reports – July 26, 2019
Alma Zeller
Alma L. Zeller, 1993-1994 Past Dept President
It is with great sadness to announce Past Department President Alma Zeller passed away July 17, 2019. A celebration of life is scheduled for July 27, 2019 from 2:00-5:00 pm at American Legion Post 67. The address is 14901 W. Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, Fl. 33818.
Because of Alma’s lifelong dedication to veterans her family has chosen to have donations go to our new Department Scholarship for female veterans (The Norma Kerkow Female Veterans Scholarship). Donations can be sent to Department Headquarters at P.O. Box 547917 Orlando, Fl. 32854. Please write in the memo: Norma Kerkow Female Veterans Scholarship.
Sympathy cards and condolences can be sent to Alma’s son Jeff and his wife Cindy who have been looking out for Alma’s care since before she left North Miami Beach.
Jeff & Cynthia Zeller
18902 134th Way North
Jupiter, Florida 33478
Dan Reffitt
It is with deep regret that we report the passing of Post 321 Commander, Dan Reffitt, of Cooper City, FL on July 22, 2019. Dan was a member of the Department Finance Committee. 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.
Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers in this time of grief. Condolences may be sent to, Ingrid Kerbler, at 8963 SW 53rd St., Cooper City, FL 33328.
***UPDATE (7/30/19)***
A Celebration of Life for Dan Reffitt will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at Post 321, 9081 SW 51st Street, Cooper City, FL at 1:00pm.
Weekly Reports – July 19, 2019
Northern Area Ball
Northern Area Commander, Marie Conti, is pleased to announce the Northern Area Ball will be held on March 21, 2020 at the American Legion Post 155 in Crystal River.
Please check the Department calendar closer to the event for additional details.
Post 383 Renovation
The American Legion Post 383 in Old Town has been closed for a few weeks due to health and safety issues. The Post has been completely renovated and is pleased to announce its Grand Reopening on Sunday, July 21 at noon, preceded by Installation of new officers.
Veterans Needed for Research Study
James Wersal is a PhD student at the University of Florida located in Gainesville and a combat Veteran who served with the Texas Army National Guard. He is currently assisting with recruitment for a research project that is studying driving performance and behaviors for returning combat Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) / Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) / and Operation New Dawn (OND).
The research is funded by the Department of Defense in collaboration with the North Florida / South Georgia Veteran Healthcare System. The benefit of this study is that it’s mobile within the North FL / South GA Healthcare region, clinics/hospitals.
Irene Graham
**UPDATE** We are pleased to announce that Irene has been released from the rehab center and is now back at home.
Many of you who attended this year’s Department Convention may have noticed the absence of one very important lady… Irene Graham, Membership Director.
Irene underwent surgery for a broken hip on Friday, June 28th. She is currently at Rosewood Rehab Center, 3920 Rosewood Way, Orlando, FL Room 217A and is accepting visitors. Please call Irene before visiting at 407-538-8232. She is doing physical therapy daily and is eager to go home. Get well cards can be sent to 3889 Gloucester Way, Orlando, FL 32808.
Please keep Irene in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. Any new information will be communicated to you through email as well as posted on the website.
Weekly Reports – June 20, 2019
Post 273 Packing Event
Tampa Bay Troop Support once again held their Packing Event at Post 273. Commander Jim White presented Susan & Dave Dabney a donation toward postage. Dozens of volunteers included members of our Post Family and Boy Scout Troop 431 from Seminole.
Weekly Reports – June 14, 2019
DeLand Veteran receives help
Michael Beaven, alongside the entrusted DeLand Police Department Detective, visited the 82 year old DeLand veteran who was scammed of over $50,000. We presented him a check for $18,300, but are still collecting donations. We got an online donation this morning, and received a call from Jim Bowers in the panhandle. Jim’s post did an event on behalf of this veteran and are presenting checks at the Convention (~$2,000).
Enjoy a few photos that were taken. We are still not releasing his name though. I guess the Daytona News Journal was also there, so I’ll be looking for another news article soon.
Click here for Daytona Beach News Journal article.
Weekly Reports – June 6, 2019
LEGION REPORTS
Department Membership Summary
Post Membership Summary
SAL REPORTS
Weekly Reports – May 31, 2019
Weekly Reports – May 23, 2019
PROJECT: VetRelief Collecting Donations for Deland Veteran
PROJECT: VetRelief, a program of The American Legion, Department of Florida, is collecting donations to aid the 82-year-old U.S. Coast Guard veteran, from Deland, FL, who captured headlines after falling victim to a scam. For complete details, please read the story below.
PROJECT: VetRelief is proud to work with the Deland Police Department in an effort to aid this veteran. All donations will go directly to the veteran. PROJECT: VetRelief is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Two Arrested in Exploitation of Deland Veteran
(DeLand, FL) – Two people have been arrested in a scam to steal money from a DeLand veteran.
On May 8, DeLand Police officers were contacted by the Veterans Crisis Center in reference to an elderly man advising that he wanted to kill himself because he had no money left in his bank account.
When police arrived they made contact with the 82-year-old U.S. Coast Guard veteran, who was still on the phone with the Crisis Center. After speaking with the victim and gathering the facts, it was determined that Jessica Henry, 31, and Gregory Dushan, 28, knowingly obtained funds – more than $50,000 – and property from the victim.
According to the investigation, the victim told detectives that he had met Henry about three years ago and gave her money to feed her kids and for transportation to take them to school.
Then six months ago, Henry contacted the victim and told him she had been arrested and needed money to pay for a urine test administered by her probation officer. A male, later identified as Dushan, then got on the phone and demanded money for probation costs. The victim said Dushan would call him daily and demand sums of money from $150 to $1,000, threatened the victim with jail time if the victim did not pay and also threatened to seize the victim’s vehicle. Eventually, the victim gave Henry his vehicle so it would not get seized again. It has since been recovered.
Both suspects in this case intentionally coerced and deliberately deceived the victim causing him to deplete his bank account to support their drug habit, according the investigation. The victim was then notified by the bank that his account had a negative balance, which prompted him to want to kill himself because he felt this was his only solution.
The investigation revealed that Dushan and Henry spent more than $500 per day of money they stole from the victim to support their drug use.
As a result of the investigation, DeLand Police arrested and charged Henry and Dushan with exploitation of an elderly person between the amounts of $20,000 and $100,000. Dushan faces an additional charge of impersonating a correction/probation officer.
Additionally, the victim advised detectives that he received death threats prior to the Dushan’s arrest Wednesday advising that he needed to drop the charges on Henry or he would be killed in a half-hour. Police are still looking into the threats made against the victim at this time and more charges could be filed.
Both subjects were transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail where they remain in custody.
Date: 05/15/2019
Media Contact: Chris Graham
386-626-7117
grahamc@deland.org
Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://volusia.crimewatchfl.com/delandpd/42614/post/two-arrested-exploitation-deland-veteran