On Nov. 17 via a virtual streaming ceremony, The American Legion will present its Patriot Award to Dr. Mike Haynie and Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families. To view the ceremony at 10 a.m. ET Nov. 17, click here.
The Patriot Award is given by The American Legion to recognize great deeds and exemplary acts of service; previous recipients include former Indiana Gov. and Purdue University President Mitch Daniels, former Secretary of Defense Dr. Robert M. Gates, Vietnam War U.S. Army combat nurse Diane Carlson Evans and South Korean multinational electronics leader Samsung.
Following the presentation of the award, American Legion Past National Commander Fang Wong and Dr. Haynie, IVMF’s founder and Syracuse University’s Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives & Innovation, are scheduled to discuss topics including higher education for veterans, training for transitioning veterans and the challenges associated with being newly disenfranchised from service. To submit a question in advance for the discussion, click here
Alexander Hamilton understood. “Justice and humanity forbid the abandoning to want and misery men who have spent their best years in the military service of a country or who in service had contracted infirmities which disqualify them to earn bread in other modes,” the architect of America’s financial system said.
The men and women who have earned the title “veteran” during modern times are a much more diverse group than the continental troops that Hamilton led during the Revolutionary war. But nonetheless, the sentiment is still valid.
The organization that I lead, The American Legion, believes no veteran should be abandoned. We believe veterans have earned the opportunity to thrive. To succeed. To live the American dream. In short, veterans are our nation’s greatest asset.
Veterans Day, November 11, can be traced back to the 1918 armistice which ended World War I. That great moment which was intended to usher in a new era of world peace, also occurred in the middle of a global pandemic.
The veterans of a century ago did not have a state-of-the art health care system to respond to their wounds and ailments. They did not have a GI Bill to help them obtain higher education or home loans. They did not have veterans’ preference laws to help ensure meaningful job opportunities. But they did have a brand new organization of wartime veterans known as The American Legion. It was the advocacy of this group that would help veterans achieve all of these things and much more.
Today’s veterans are hurting once again. Military suicides have increased 20 percent this year. Veteran-owned businesses have closed or struggled immensely during the pandemic-related shutdowns. Instead of returning to the warm embrace of an appreciative nation, veterans feel even more isolated as they come home to a society changed by social distancing and a healthcare system that is at times overwhelmed by the coronavirus.
Patriotic citizens often ask The American Legion about the appropriate way to honor a veteran. The simplest way is to thank one. Flying the American Flag on Veterans Day or donating to a veterans charity are also appreciated gestures. Those in a position to do so should consider hiring veterans, which not only benefits the job-seeker but is often a smart business move.
The American Legion has developed an extensive Buddy Check program, in which we encourage our members to regularly communicate with their fellow veterans. We are simply telling our brothers and sisters-in-arms that we appreciate them and that we are there for them. We offer to help those in need. We listen to their concerns as comrades with a common bond.
Our Buddy Checks have resonated. Both houses of Congress are now considering bipartisan legislation which would raise awareness about suicide prevention among veterans by promoting these peer wellness checks. It would establish a Buddy Check week and direct the secretary of Veterans Affairs to consult with nonprofit organizations, mental health experts and members of the Armed Forces to develop and implement education opportunities on conducting effective and appropriate checks.
So, if you’re looking for another way to honor veterans this Veterans Day, you might want to contact your representative and senators. Ask them to support S. 4657 and H.R. 4290 to enact a federally-backed Buddy Check program.
“Someone in your life needs to hear that they matter. That they are loved. That they have a future. Be the one to tell them.” an Army veteran said this year. Unfortunately the words were the final ones shared by Ronnie McNutt, who live-steamed his suicide on social media.
Did you catch his final plea? “Be the one to tell them.”
That, more than anything else, is the best way to honor a veteran.
Posts across the country step up veteran-to-veteran outreach to support those at high risk around Veterans Day
INDIANAPOLIS (October 29, 2020) — As COVID-19 cases rise and the holidays approach, The American Legion is activating its Buddy Check program to save veteran lives through peer support check-in calls. The nation’s largest veterans organization is also urging Congress to pass the Buddy Check Bill which will make wellness checks a national priority for the Department of Veterans Affairs. With military suicides up 20% over this time last year, Legionnaires will make thousands of check-in calls to at-risk veterans across the nation, to offer support and access to health and wellness programs in the week surrounding Veterans Day and into the weeks ahead.
“The American Legion knows from 100 years of experience that it’s veteran-to-veteran contact that can make the difference for someone in a crisis situation,” says James W. “Bill” Oxford, national commander of The American Legion. “So, we’re putting some muscle behind this effort and giving our members the tools they need to reach out to fellow veterans in their hometowns who may be hard hit by the triple whammy of the pandemic, isolation and the holidays.”
The American Legion is also urging Congress to unanimously pass the Buddy Check Bill introduced with bi-partisan support from Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Doug Jones, D-Ala.; and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H. The legislation will require VA to establish a “Buddy Check Week,” as well as provide educational opportunities, materials and references for veterans to learn how to conduct personal wellness checks. The bill also compels VA to expand resources for the Veterans Crisis Line to handle any potential increased volume during the designated week.
“Veterans are in crisis, and we need Congress’ help to take this program to the next level and stem the tide of suicide among our nation’s veterans,” Oxford said. “We need all hands on deck and all boots on the ground to fight for our nation’s veterans, just like they fought for us.”
The Buddy Check program encourages Legionnaires to make contact, lend a listening ear, and direct their peers to critical services. For Buddy Check information, visit legion.org/buddycheck. For urgent help, contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.
Carlos Solis is a friend of The American Legion, Department of Florida, and we are proud to introduce you to his new single written and sung by Solis. We hope that you enjoy and will share with other Patriots.
Genre:
Jazz, Big Band, Swing, Bossanova, Pop,, Latin Jazz
Members:
Carlos Solis – Acoustic Guitar/Singer Songwriter, Richard Bravo – Drums, Jackson King – Keyboard/Vocals, Charlie Santiago – Percussion, Michael Levine – Piano, Pedro Navarro – Electric Guitar, Camilo Valencia – Saxophone/Ewi, Jorge Dobal – Horns/Trombone, Julio Diaz – Horns/Trumpet
About Carlos Solis
Born in Havana Cuba, Carlos Solis arrived in Miami with his family in 1961 at the age of 6 fleeing the Communist regime in his home country. He grew up in the Little Havana area of Miami, in a very rough neighborhood and went to five different schools. Things changed for him through music and the influence of several police officers. He started writing playing and recorded at several studios in Miami and also appeared on several TV Shows. In 1977 he married and decided to put down the guitar, go to work and try to start his own business. They wound up owning several successful businesses. In 2007 his wife Sandy was diagnosed with breast cancer. They sold their business and he stayed with her 24/7. They purchased an RV and did some traveling to keep her in good spirits as she was going through surgery, chemo and radiation. This inspired him to start writing again and he reunited with some old friends, most Grammy and Emmy winners. The main song on the first CD he wrote for her is called “You’re Not Alone”. The second CD Sailing was released and Pandora gave him his own station the Solisbravo band radio.
His new single USA was written for the love and appreciation he has for this country.
David C Miller | USMC | Disabled Vietnam | Combat Veteran | American Legion Hospital Representative Bay Pines VAMC | National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Council for Florida
Congratulations to Dave Miller on his special recognition from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office on October 3, 2020. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri presented Miller with a certificate in recognition of outstanding service and dedication to his Neighborhood Watch Community.
Miller was very concerned about the youth and elderly in his community, especially with recent storms, the COVID pandemic and rising crime rates. Being a man of action, Miller enlisted a few veterans to start patrolling the neighborhood, exchanging contact information among them, and partnering with the local Sheriff’s Department to perform safety checks during the night.
Miller went a step further by also setting up protocols for those who may need medical assistance or help obtaining food and supplies or even getting to stores. Miller says, “it’s almost like our buddy system in the military when I served in the United States Marine Corps.”
Miller and residents of his neighborhood can now relax with more confidence that they are prepared for any disastrous events, emergencies, or social injustices.
Miller has been helping veterans at the VA and in his community for more than thirty years. “I took an OATH in the military to protect my Country from ALL ENEMIES both FOREIGN and DOMESTIC as long as I live. God Bless our Country and ALL Americans”, states Miller.
Congratulations, Dave Miller, we thank you for your continued service and dedication. You are a shining example among us.
Congratulations to Department Historian, Edward Lewis, for winning first place in the 2020 contest of The American Media Alliance, in the “Visual Media Campaign-Department” category.
Lewis was selected out of nearly 100 entries in this year’s contest. Judging was initially set to take place at the National Spring Meetings, National Convention or Fall Meetings, but with the current pandemic, National Headquarters staff served as judges, approved by a three-member TALMA task force and by the full commission at the last virtual commission meet.
It is with great sadness as we mourn the loss of our brother and friend, Ernie Florig. Ernie played a vital role in The America Legion, Department of Florida 5th District for many years and for that we are forever grateful and will never forget his faithful service and sacrifice.
VIEWING:
October 13, 2020 – 6-8pm at Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home, 3600 3rd St S Jacksonville Beach, FL (904) 249-1100
FUNERAL MASS:
October 14, 2020 – 11am at St. Paul’s Catholic Church located at 435 1st Ave N Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 (904) 249-2600
INTERMENT:
Interment Ceremony 1:30pm at Jacksonville National Cemetery – 4083 Lannie Rd, Jacksonville, FL (904) 766-5222
INDIANAPOLIS (October 2, 2020) – American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford issued the following statement regarding the announcement that President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19:
“The American Legion extends its heartfelt prayers that President Trump and the first lady have a full and speedy recovery from COVID-19. Our nation has accomplished remarkable feats in its history. We have prevailed against powerful enemies. We can, we must and we WILL defeat this dread disease that has caused so much pain and damage worldwide.”
With a current membership of nearly two million veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 12,000 posts across the nation.
The American Legion, Department of Florida is please to offer an online Post Service Officer course on Friday, October 30, 2020, from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The class is a one (1) day course, to be held through Zoom, led by qualified instructors from The American Legion and Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.
To attend, you must pre-register, no later than Tuesday, October 20, 2020. The course has limited availability, and attendance is free of charge, to those interested in becoming a Post Service Officer.
This is one in a series of virtual courses being held by the Department of Florida, please follow us at facebook.com/floridalegion and visit our website at floridalegion.org to stay informed.
Dept of Human & Health Services Dept of Veteran Affairs Dept of Defense Convalescent Plasma / HiG Group
Today we are announcing the launch of a nationwide effort to help those who are currently suffering from COVID-19 by collecting convalescent plasma from Americans who have recovered from the virus.
What is plasma? Plasma is a liquid component of blood. When it is collected from patients who have recovered from COVID-19, it is known as COVID-19 convalescent plasma.
A group of investigators from several institutions have shown that convalescent plasma is safe for use in patients, and they are collecting and analyzing data to determine how effective it is.
Plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients has antibodies that can fight the disease in patients who are currently sick.
Donating your plasma will not weaken your body’s ability to fight off the virus that causes COVID-19.
To reach every possible donor, we are joining forces with The Fight Is In Us an existing national plasma collection effort. We are also working with the OneBlood, Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers, and multiple federal agencies and state, local, community officials in cities and counties across the country to help donors find a collection site near them.
We are encouraging anyone who has fully recovered from COVID-19 for at least two weeks to donate their plasma. The good news for those who need treatment is that recovered individuals can donate their plasma more than once, because your body replenishes the plasma in your blood.
Donating is easy and safe and takes between 90 minutes and 3 hours. The collection process uses sterile tubing and supplies for each donation which are discarded after each collection and are never reused.
There are hundreds of FDA licensed donor centers and hospitals across the country where plasma can be donated.
If you are willing to step up to help other Americans, you can find your nearest donor centers on the website The Fight Is In Us. We hope you can contribute to our country in this time of need.
Overall Objective
Overall Objective
The objective of messaging/announcements is to communicate
Information about CCP and the rationale behind need for patients who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate Convalescent Plasma (CCP) as a POTENTIAL treatment for COVID-19
Who could be eligible donors, explain the need, and address common questions/concerns
How to donate – available resources for information, locating nearest plasma collection centers
Strategy and actions of USG in driving awareness and facilitating CCP collections
Clinical Context: The clinical evidence on efficacy of CCP as a potential treatment for patients infected with COVID-19 is STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. Currently there are limited treatment options that directly combat the virus. Convalescent plasma offers one potential way to help patients fight the disease. As there are no FDA approved treatments for this disease, CCP is being clinically evaluated to determine its efficacy for treatment of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma
COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma
What is COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma?
Plasma is a fluid & protein component of blood. When it is collected from patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus disease, it is known as “COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma” or “CCP”. COVID-19 patients develop antibodies – proteins developed by the immune system to help fight infections, which then circulate in the blood plasma for a period after the patient has recovered from the virus. This plasma (the fluid containing antibodies, other proteins) can be collected from a recovered patient and transfused into the blood of a sick patient to help them combat the virus.
Why is CCP important to fight COVID-19?
Currently there are limited treatment options that directly combat the virus. Convalescent plasma offers one potential way to help patients fight the disease. As there are no FDA approved treatments for this disease, CCP is being clinically evaluated to determine its efficacy for treatment of COVID-19.
How effective is CCP to fight COVID-19?
Studies investigating the efficacy of CCP are ongoing. Early results from the FDA’s Expanded Access Program show that CCP is safe for use in patients, but more data is being collected and analyzed to determine its efficacy.
Donor Eligibility & Questions/Concerns
Donor Eligibility & Questions/Concerns
Who can donate?
People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 for at least 14 days are encouraged to consider donating plasma. Individuals must have had a prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a clinical test and meet other donor criteria for blood or plasma donation, as specified by the collection facility.
Can people who are asymptomatic to coronavirus disease donate?
CCP sourced from people who are asymptomatic to coronavirus disease could be helpful in fighting COVID-19 as well. Therefore, asymptomatic individuals are encouraged to consider donating plasma. Individuals must have had a prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a laboratory test and meet other donor criteria for blood or plasma donation, as specified by the collection facility.
Can people who are unsure if they are infected by COVID-19 donate?
Individuals who are unsure if they are infected are recommended to get tested for COVID-19. To donate CCP, individuals must have had a prior diagnosis of COVID-19 and meet other donor criteria for blood or plasma donation, as specified by the collection facility.
Can individuals who were not infected with COVID-19 still donate blood?
People who have not been infected with COVID-19 are encouraged to continue donating blood or plasma for other medical purposes to help blood centers across the country cope with rising demand for blood supply.
Will I lose my immunity to COVID-19 if I donate my plasma?
Donating plasma does not significantly weaken your body’s immune system or its ability to fight off the virus that causes COVID-19.
How safe is plasma donation?
Thousands of people safely donate plasma every day. The collection process uses sterile tubing and supplies for each donation. The tubing and supplies are discarded after each collection and are never reused. Blood does not come in contact with the collection machine. Donors can visit the blood centers and source plasma collector websites for more information about safety precautions available at collection facilities
What precautions are donor centers taking to ensure the safety of donors from re-infection?
In addition to regular precautions and safety mechanisms, several extra precautions are taken to prevent re-infection of COVID-19. These are a few of the extra precautions that donor centers take:
Pre-entry screening for COVID-19
Following social distancing guidelines
Enhanced personal protective equipment used by staff
Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures
Donation Process
Donation Process
Where can plasma be donated?
There are hundreds of FDA licensed donor centers and hospitals across the United States where plasma can be donated. Donors can donate at blood centers – American Red Cross or America’s Blood Centers, such as OneBlood. Donors can also give at source plasma collectors. Donors can find their nearest donor centers by visiting one of the links on the FDA website or thefightisinus.org.
How many times can a donor donate?
Individuals who have fully recovered from COVID-19 and are willing to donate their blood plasma are encouraged to donate as many times as allowed by the donor center. Donor centers may have additional guidelines. Generally, an individual can donate their plasma multiple times, based on guidelines from donors and the collection center. We encourage donors to donate as many times as possible to maximize CCP availability. Consulting a doctor is recommended to address any concerns or to seek additional guidance.
How long does it take?
Depending on the collection facility, a CCP donation takes between 90 minutes and 3 hours . Return visits for additional donations can often be quicker as the donor’s information is already in the system.
FAQs: USG Strategy Efforts to Encourage Donation & Collection
FAQs: USG Strategy Efforts to Encourage Donation & Collection
How is the US Government raising awareness?
Efforts were initiated across three main streams:
A broad-based national awareness effort is being pursued, through FDA website and The Fight Is In Us campaign to promote awareness on CCP donation, provide donor resources and directions to the collection centers for donation
Multiple USG agencies and external stakeholders like state / local / community officials, leaders and celebrities are being engaged to explore mechanisms to engage patients / donors at a local / community level.
Furthermore, external organizations are also being engaged to help with direct donor outreach – to known confirmed recovered patients (e.g., associations of providers/physicians, commercial payers, public health and contact tracing agencies, etc.).
Is there enough collection capacity to handle donations?
The USG is coordinating with major blood / plasma collection centers, hospitals and source plasma collectors across public and private sectors to monitor and assess collection capacity needs. Active steps are being taken to expand collection capabilities in prioritized hotspot areas to cover white spaces and make collection centers accessible to areas with high density of donor population.
How is USG expanding collection capabilities?
In hotspot areas with high incidence of infections and high density of potential donor population, collection capacity is being expanded along two fronts:
Current capacity is being maximized by expanding existing collection facilities for blood / plasma collection, academic medical centers and hospitals
New capacity is being created through temporary collection centers and fleet of mobile collection units – to extend accessibility to potential donors
What areas should be prioritized to encourage donation?
Areas with high population of eligible donors – those who have recovered from COVID-19 and meet regular plasma donation criteria, are being prioritized. As the rates of incidence of infections (over past ~8 weeks) keep evolving across the country, the priority areas are updated. Initial focus includes 15 hotspot areas with a high density of potential donors. Within these priority areas, local awareness campaigns and direct donor outreach are planned to maximize CCP awareness and donations.
Interment for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Ruth Bader Ginsburg will occur today, Sept. 29, at Arlington National Cemetery in a private ceremony. The United States flag should return to full-staff display at sunset today, with the exception of any states having a governor’s half-staff order in place for other observances.
A phone call routed to a non-crisis line helped save the life of a veteran sitting in a parking lot contemplating suicide.
“I was the right person at the right time for him to reach,” said Dave Lydon, a 16-year Legionnaire and a four-year service officer at Flagler County Veterans Services in Bunnell, Fla. “My life experiences helped me that day. Because if you get that call, it can be shocking. It’s a lot of responsibility to make sure he doesn’t take that firearm and end it there.”
The Vietnam veteran making the distress call was unfortunately on the phone for 15 minutes being transferred several times, “which could mean life or death,” Lydon said, before the final transfer to veterans service office – Lydon’s phone. “It may be divine intervention that I was the right person on that day to pick up. I feel blessed that I was able to help him that day. He needed somebody to listen to him.”
The veteran in distress served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He shared that hearing the numbers of those deceased from COVID-19 over the radio and news reminded him of hearing the body counts of American servicemembers from the war. That, along with having to quarantine because of the virus and other life issues became too much for him.
“He didn’t feel like he was of use to anybody anymore,” Lydon said. “That’s what I hear a lot of people who are suicidal is that they don’t feel like they’re valued anymore, and I think he was feeling that way. Part of our discussion was letting him know that there’s people who need you in their life. He had a jovial attitude once we started talking, he was a funny guy. I said you know, you’ve got a good sense of humor and how do you know you’re not still on this earth – even if it’s just somebody at the gas pump that you say a kind word to who may be having a bad day thinking they have no value – but because you say a kind word it changes their whole trajectory. How do you know that’s not what you’re still here to do? Or to tell your grandkids how to live a good life.
“Fortunately, I got him past that point of what he was contemplating.”
Lydon knew the caller was in distress. “I didn’t want to scare him off the phone so I let him keep talking and little by little I would ask him, ‘Where are you?’” That’s when Lydon learned they were in the same county. The caller thought he had reached a call center in another state.
Lydon invited the caller to his office to talk. About 20 minutes later, the two were sitting together and talking about family, life, their military service and more for nearly three hours.
“He left here in much better spirits, with a different outlook,” Lydon said. “I checked with him by text that evening. He wrote back saying he was doing OK.”
The veteran made another visit recently to Lydon’s office to file a VA claim.
Lydon used life experiences when speaking with the veteran in distress – he’s a retired New York state police officer, entering his 36th year in the Air Force Reserve, and returned home earlier this year from a deployment to the Middle East where he visited 21 U.S. bases to meet the troops and check on their morale.
Lydon said the caller appreciated that he was speaking to another veteran, “that I understood. I understood the military and what veterans experience.”
Lydon shared a few reminders when you receive a call from a veteran in distress.
Be positive and be a good listener.
Keep them talking until you know you have them past that period of time where they are thinking about doing it.
Give them your time.
“Are you ready? Are you ready to get that call?” Lydon asks. “In today’s climate we talk about what are you going to do for a distressed veteran to prevent suicide. But do you really give it some thought about how are you are going to react. What are you going to say. What are you going to do if you get that call. I just feel fortunate that I have enough experience in life that I was able to handle it the way I did.
“In cases like this, they are looking for someone to convince them why not to.”
VA’s Crisis Line
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and veterans, servicemembers and their loved ones can connect in confidence with VA responders 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Here’s how:
Mary Baer, 5, 6 & 10 p.m. anchor | News4JAX | Published: September 22, 2020
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A retired Navy veteran in Jacksonville should sleep easier now that a new roof has been put over his head at his home on the Westside. You can find more about the roofing companies here.
Alton Cook’s roof was leaking, so much so that he had buckets set up around his house to catch rainwater. American Legion Post 137 coordinated the effort to fix the roof, securing supplies from The Home Depot and enlisting Golden Hammer Roofing to help put it all together. Get help from commercial roof contractors for better services.
“He was dumping out buckets,” said Sher Arbogast, a neighbor. “An 87-year-old man does not deserve to empty buckets.”
“We’ve had holes in the ceiling, tarps on the roof, trying to get everything done for a couple of years now,” said Cook’s daughter-in-law, Jeanie.
“I had a couple of tarps in the garage. I thought maybe we would just try to get the leaking to stop,” said Rita Robbs with American Legion 137. “I put a Facebook notice out, nine people showed up. It was amazing.”
But that was just a bandage. Robbs called The Home Depot, knowing the company supports veterans.
“They met me right where I was at,” Robbs said. “They covered all the OSB boards. They covered all the shingles. They covered all the felt paper.”
Then she called Golden Hammer Roofing. The local company, owned by veterans, was eager to help. There is also roof replacement services one can count on in case of roof problems.
“Our mission statement is to give back to the communities in which we work and live,” said Dania Fadeley with Golden Hammer Roofing. “And we are very happy to be able to do that.”
