Blackwell-Frazier American Legion Post #142 Hominy, Oklahoma

National Commander Fang Wong chats with House Speaker John Boehner.

As part of his lengthy recent visit to Capitol Hill, National Commander Fang A. Wong, along with American Legion Legislative Director Tim Tetz, met with Rep. John Boehner, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Despite his full calendar, Boehner set aside a few minutes to chat informally with Wong.

Boehner, a member of American Legion Post 218 in Middletown, Ohio, and two-time speaker at the Legion’s national convention, sat down with Wong for a relaxed 15-minute conversation. During their meeting, Wong had one request: Would Boehner do what he could to fast track “The American Legion Charter Modernization Act (S.1639)” in the House?

The bill amplifies the legal autonomy of Legion posts and departments and allows for centralized collection of membership dues. Since the Legion is a congressionally chartered organization, all changes to its charter – which dates back to 1919 – must be approved by Congress and signed into law by the president of the United States.

The Legion charter change act passed the Senate late on the night of the Boehner-Wong meeting. Boehner said he felt the House version, introduced this past summer, wouldn’t have any problems moving quickly through the House.

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Araceli Alarcon

The Department of Veterans Affairs is extending retroactive traumatic injury benefits to servicemembers who suffered qualifying injuries during the period Oct. 7, 2001, to Nov. 30, 2005, regardless of the geographic location where the injuries occurred.

Effective Oct. 1, the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Traumatic Injury Protection benefit, known as TSGLI, will be payable for all qualifying injuries incurred during this period. This retroactive benefit is payable whether or not the servicemember had SGLI coverage at the time of the injury.

The Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2010, passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in October of 2010, removes the requirement that injuries during this period be incurred in Operations Enduring or Iraqi Freedom – welcome news for the many servicemembers who suffered serious traumatic injuries while serving stateside or in other areas outside of OEF/OIF during this time period who previously were not eligible for TSGLI. Continue reading →

Legion family members attend the 2011 Children & Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Sept. 16-18. Photo by Tom Strattman

>>>From the National Organization.

The American Legion’s fifth annual Children & Youth Conference, held Sept. 16-18 in Indianapolis, focused on the overall well-being of today’s youth, especially military children. Between presentations from Child Welfare grant recipients to Legion financial assistance programs, Legion family attendees walked away with ideas on how to better protect and support our nation’s children and youth. Continue reading →