LEGION REPORTS
Department Membership Summary
Post Membership Summary
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.
The American Legion and The Hawthorne Gardening Company team up to support wounded, ill and injured veterans in local communities
INDIANAPOLIS (July 24, 2019) — The nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization and a leader and pioneer in the gardening industry will join forces to help veterans overcome the mental and physical wounds suffered during deployment. The American Legion announced today that The Hawthorne Gardening Company will support its Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW) program, which provides supplies and equipment that play an important role in the rehabilitation and quality of life for wounded warriors and veterans.
“Today’s veteran is recovering from illnesses and injuries in traditional and non-traditional ways,” said American Legion National Commander Brett P. Reistad. “Some of the more creative ways aren’t included in military and VA budgets. Whether it is loose-fitting sweat suits to cover their healing wounds, fitness equipment to rebuild strength, or a fun outing that helps them reintegrate into society, The American Legion, with incredible support from companies like Hawthorne, is filling a need.”
To kick off the relationship, Hawthorne and The American Legion will host a respite event in August in Tacoma, Washington with 500 veterans and their families. The gift from Hawthorne will also be used to support additional emergent grant requests through the end of 2020.
“Support for our nation’s veterans is a responsibility we all share,” said Chris Hagedorn, senior vice president and general manager of Hawthorne Gardening Company. “More than ever, our country’s veterans need our support and The American Legion’s Operation Comfort Warriors program is able to provide recovery items such as services that are tailored to the individual needs of service members. This is especially important to me as a member of a family with military roots as well as a proud employer of military veterans.”
Each year The American Legion awards approximately 25 grants that provide support at military hospitals, warrior transition units and VA medical facilities across the country. For more information about the Operation Comfort Warriors program visit legion.org/ocw.
About The Hawthorne Gardening Company
Hawthorne Gardening Co. is a house of brands that provide an incredible array of tools for a multitude of gardening needs, and yet, all share one mission: to help people live happier, healthier lives through the basic tools we offer. We have always been a brand that does what is best for the environment first and the people that is living in it. Our company is dedicated to creating high-quality products founded in social and environmental responsibility. We create engaging consumer experiences and products with the ease and innovation to empower more people to garden — no matter where they chose to grow.
Contact: Cheryl Hall
Email: agency@legion.org
Massachusetts Student Elected President of the 2019 American Legion Boys Nation; Montana Student Elected Vice President
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 23, 2019) – Two prominent leaders emerged from Boys Nation Tuesday night.
Lou Acevedo, of Gardner, Mass., was elected president of The American Legion Boys Nation at Marymount University for the 2019 program. During the election, which was run as a mock presidential campaign, Acevedo won against the delegate from Kentucky, Jack Cogbill.
Boys Nation, a signature program of the nation’s largest veterans’ service organization, provides an intensive week-long, hands-on education in American politics and the legislative system for a select group of high school students each year.
An incoming senior at Monty Tech Regional High School, Acevedo plans on attending the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to become an engine officer in the Merchant Marines or a machinist/mold maker.
“Giving somebody a trade is giving somebody a chance,” Acevedo said. “I don’t know where I’d be without my trade and my skills now.”
Also elected Tuesday night was Boys Nation Vice President Thomas Penley of Helena, Mont. He defeated Ryan Dudley of Connecticut.
Two representatives from each of the 50 Boys States represent their home state or, in the case of the District of Columbia, their district as a senator. The senators caucus at the beginning of the session, organize into committees and conduct hearings on bills, allowing delegates to learn the proper legislative procedures according to the U.S. Senate. Activities include mock party conventions, legislative elections, debates, speeches and visits to Capitol Hill and other historical sites. Delegates will also visit the offices of their state’s respective members of Congress and present bills of their own creation.
Since Boys Nation began in 1946, a number of its graduates have been elected to public office, including presidents, congressmen, state governors and state legislators.
Media contact: Andy Proffet, wproffet@legion.org
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.
[foogallery id=”20398″]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
S.21 and H.R. 367, the “Pay Our Coast Guard Act”
Contact your Senators and Representative today
The American Legion must continue to serve as a powerful voice for veterans. Our voice in our nation’s capital is only as strong as our membership allows us to be. The American Legion’s Legionnaires, Auxiliary members, and Sons of The American Legion are the heart and soul of our organization.
Today, we need your help in contacting your members of the Senate and House of Representatives. Please use the prepared message or your own letter to ask them to cosponsor and pass S.21 and H.R. 367, respectively. Your member needs to encourage congressional leadership to bring the Pay Our Coast Guard Act to the floor for a vote, and to promise to vote for this legislation, to ensure our members of the Coast Guard do not go without pay ever again.
Members of the US Coast Guard should never find their pay jeopardized because of partisan unrest in Washington D.C. There is a constant and real threat, because of any government shutdown, that without the action of Congress, the Coast Guard may not be able to pay their members. With the current political climate, we need Congress to take immediate bipartisan action. A select number of members of Congress have come together in bipartisan fashion to introduce S.21 and H.R. 367, the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, in this 116th Congress.
Earlier this year, the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history came to an end, stopping what had been more than a three-week gap since more than 41,000 active-duty members of the U.S. Coast Guard had been paid. The American Legion’s Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) program was able to provide more than $1 million in non-repayable grants to approximately 1,713 Coast Guard families with 3,170 children.
TFA grants, like the ones distributed to Coast Guard families affected by the shutdown, are made possible through donations to The American Legion Veterans and Children Foundation at www.legion.org/donate. The foundation supports veterans and military families in need, as well as American Legion service officers who provide free VA benefits and health care assistance to veterans.
Contact your Senator and Representative today to tell them to pay the Coast Guard!
“The brave members of our Coast Guard risk their lives defending us daily, just like their sister services in the Department of Defense…. Whether they are performing rescues during a hurricane or stopping drug traffickers at sea, members of the Coast Guard regularly perform heroic and lifesaving tasks on our behalf. They should not have to worry about bills and living expenses just because Congress and the White House cannot agree on a budget.” – Brett P. Reistad, National Commander
Legion Announces Recipients of 4th Estate Journalism Awards
INDIANAPOLIS (May 17, 2019) – A San Francisco Bay-area television news station, a community newspaper and an influential online media outlet will receive The American Legion’s Fourth Estate Award during the 101st National Convention of the nation’s largest veterans organization in Indianapolis, on August 29.
The Fourth Estate Award has been presented annually by The American Legion since 1958 for outstanding achievement in the field of journalism. Nominations in 2019 were considered in three categories: broadcast, print and new media (Internet). They were selected by the organization’s Media & Communications Commission on May 6 and announced today.
Taking top honor in the broadcast category is San Francisco NBC-affiliate KNTV. In a comprehensive series titled “Failure to Report: Sex Abuse Victims Silenced,” the stationed examined allegations of sexual abuse made by student of a private high school in San Jose. As a result of the station’s reporting, the school revised its policies on the handling of abuse accusations, two teachers were put on administrative leave and the school’s president resigned.
The Republican of Springfield, Mass., is being recognized in the print category for its profile of World War II Army Nurse Corps veteran Louise Fleming. “There is another side of war, a time when beauty appears,” the feature said. The piece, authored by managing editor Cynthia Simison, highlights the distinguished service by Fleming and fulfills The American Legion’s longtime goal of promoting the honorable nature of military service.
The Fourth Estate New Media Award is going to Military.com. Reporter Oriana Pawlyk wrote about an Air Force policy prohibiting its pilots from using the HIV-preventative drug Truvada, despite its approval for use by members of other military branches. Shortly after the report was published, 14 members of Congress signed a letter to the Air Force secretary. The service soon after reversed its policy.
“As a veterans organization, The American Legion cherishes the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment and the special role that a free press plays in our society,” said Brett. P. Reistad, 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. 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 in Indianapolis this summer,” Reistad 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.
The American Legion was founded by World War I veterans in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through nearly 13,000 posts across the nation.