Looking for ways to support and honor U.S. military servicemembers and veterans who protect our security and freedom? You may have a Legion member who is currently serving overseas that you can send care packages to but, if you don’t have a specific name of someone to send to then please use the following information.
In years past, you could wrap up a care package and mail it to “Any Service Member” for the holidays, but with increased mail restrictions, the Pentagon is asking people to help through financial contributions, letter-writing and e-mail, purchasing authorized pre-made care packages, or volunteering time through non-profits.
Below are links to programs that offer aid to our military — everything from care packages to emergency services to military family support. Show your pride in our armed forces today, either by purchasing a gift or card for a servicemember, or donating to programs that support our military.
Cards, Letters, Gifts, and Care Packages
In addition, the U.S. Postal Service is no longer accepting “Any Service Member” or “Any Wounded Service Member” letters or packages. Mail to “Any Service Member” that is deposited into a collection box will not be delivered. The following charitable organizations help send gifts, cards, and care packages to our troops:
The Billy Blanks Foundation - The Billy Blanks Foundation was founded by the creator of Tae Bo. One of the foundations many projects is sending care packages to U.S. Servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Adopt a Platoon - Support the troops through gifts and sponsored mail.
Any Soldier - Sponsor care packages to servicemembers in Iraq.
Army and Air Force Exchange Services - Purchase gift certificates for active and hospitalized servicemembers.
Blue Star Mothers - Organizes postcards to troops and care packages, and is currently petitioning Congress for reduced air fares for servicemembers.
Books for Soldiers - Donate books, movies, and more.
Cell Phones for Soldiers - Donate your old cell phones, which pay for calling cards for our troops.
Commissary Gift Certificates - Give the gift of groceries — buy or donate gift certificates.
DefendAmerica - Send a virtual thank-you card.
A Million Thanks - Collects emails and letters of appreciation for our armed forces.
Operation Air Conditioner - Help pay for air conditioners and heaters for the troops.
Operaton Dear Abbey - Send greetings and messages of support.
Operation Give - Donate toys to be given to the children of Iraq.
Operation Gratitude - Contribute to care packages sent to our servicemembers.
Operation Homefront Hugs - Contribute to care packages, or adopt a servicemember.
Operation Troop Aid - Provide care packages for our deployed U.S. Servicemembers.
Operation Uplink - Donate a calling card to help keep servicemembers in touch with their families.
Operation USO Care Package - Sponsor a care package for $25.
Treats for Troops - Purchase care packages for Soldiers.
Help with Mailing Packages
Instructions on Sending Mail to Servicemembers - Straight from the U.S. Postal Service, instructions and recommendations on sending individual mail to servicemembers.
Click here for some ideas of things to send in your care packages
Dear Supporter of the Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans
Did you know that one-third of the adult homeless population is veterans? Is this how we support the brave men and women who have served our country with honor and dedication? I believe this is a disgrace. We have an obligation to ensure they have the support necessary to live a productive life after their military service. About 1.5 million other veterans, meanwhile, are considered at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.
Why are veterans homeless? In addition to the factors influencing all homelessness - extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income and access to health care - a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, which are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks. A top priority for homeless veterans is secure, safe, clean housing that offers a supportive environment free of drugs and alcohol.
What seems to work best? The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans states that “The most effective programs for homeless and at-risk veterans are community-based, nonprofit, ‘veterans helping veterans’ groups. The programs that seem to work best feature: transitional housing with the camaraderie of living in structured, substance-free environments with fellow veterans who are succeeding at bettering themselves.” This is exactly what Housing for Homeless Veterans provides for the men and women who participate in our program.
What can I do? Support programs like The Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veteransprogram. We are a nonprofit ‘veterans helping veterans’ organization that partners with the VA’s program for homeless veterans. Our program is designed to enhance the quality of life for the veteran and their families by providing clean transitional housing; help them become productive taxpaying citizens again by securing a good, decent job. Our homes are located in Moon Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Our vision is to give homeless veterans a second chance at the American dream.
In order for the American Legion to finance this program, we are asking for your support. We will be sponsoring a dinner on January 14, 2012 at the Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport, Moon Township. There will be a cash bar beginning at 5:30 pm with dinner following at 7:00 pm. Dinner tickets are $25.00 per person and include a program book. Ads can be placed in the program book at the following prices:
Full Page - $70 (of which $50 can be used for a tax write off)
1/2 Page - $50 (of which $30 can be used for a tax write off)
1/4 Page - $40 (of which $21 can be used for a tax write off)
Please make checks for dinner tickets and ads payable to: PA American Legion Housing for Homeless. Mail to:
Ron Conley 709 Hope Street Pittsburgh, PA 15220The remodeling and upkeep of these homes is the responsibility of the American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans, Inc. We need your support! Thank you in advance for your consideration and support.
Sincerely,
Ronald F. Conley, President
PA American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans, Inc.
Just an idea - Take this letter to the company you work for and ask for a donation. Or, you could take the letter to companies that you patron asking them to support this cause.
The First Lady has requested that military children from around the globe create holiday cards supporting their parent and send them to The White House to be displayed with the holiday decorations no later than Nov. 16.
The White House is honoring American heroes this holiday season and would like to include the personal contributions in their finishing touches on the White House decorations.
“We are asking kids like you, from military installations around the world, to create a holiday card that represents your parent who is serving our nation,” said First Lady Michelle Obama in a personal letter to military children. “I encourage you to use your imagination, and include words, pictures, and drawings to create a holiday card that honors your brave mom or dad.”
Military children should submit 5″ by 8″ handmade holiday cards with words of appreciation for their military parents, as well as pictures and drawings. The child should be sure to include their mother or father’s name, branch of service and command in the card.
Participants are asked to send holiday cards to the following address, along with information from where they are sending it: Reservation 1, Attn: Social Office, P.O. Box 8070, Washington, DC, 20032.
“Thank you for helping with this fun project, and most of all for your family’s courageous service to our nation,” added Obama. “I look forward to seeing the results of your creativity!”
November is Military Family Appreciation Month.
Throughout November will should recognize and honor military families in various ways. We can join together with other community leaders, businesses and installations to team up and sponsor special activities: open houses; Family Fun Nights; dinners; festivals; and sporting-event nights.
The Army has a campaign for Military Family Appreciation Month, with a theme of “Taking Care of Those Who Care for You,” aims to thank Army families for their sacrifices.
In April 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched a national initiative, named Joining Forces, that calls on all sectors of America to join forces in supporting and honoring service members and their families. “This campaign is about all of us, all of us joining together as Americans to give back to the extraordinary military families who serve and sacrifice so much every day so we can live in freedom and security,” the first lady said. “Military families are strong and resilient, and they don’t complain,” she added. “But this same strength may cause Americans to overlook these families’ immense sacrifices. Working together we’re going to make sure our military families are never forgotten.”
What is your Post and your community going to do for the families of the men and women serving our country?
The United States Postal Service and Military Postal Service Agency have released deadlines to ensure packages arrive to Military and State Department post offices overseas by Dec. 25, 2011.
Deadlines to ensure arrival by Dec. 25 are:
Nov. 12 for parcel post mail
Nov. 26 for space-available mail
Dec. 3 for parcel airlift mail
Dec. 10 for priority mail and first-class mail, letters and cards
Dec. 17 for express mail military service
The Military Postal Service Agency highly encourages customers to mail packages on or before the dates for the specific mail category in order to avoid unplanned transportation delays. Not all Military or State Department post offices are eligible for Express Mail Military Service therefore, customers should plan accordingly. “Express Mail Military Service is not available for holiday packages and mail going to Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Faye Slater, the deputy director of the Military Postal Service Agency.
The Military Postal Service provides mail service around the world to Department of Defense and most Department of State locations. Mail is moved on commercial and military aircraft and commercial sealift vessels to nearly 2,000 military post offices located in over 85 countries.
SEOUL, Oct. 27, 2011 — While U.S. troops are concerned about how the country’s budget issues will affect them and their families, service members take their profession seriously, the nation’s top military officer said. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Gen. James D. Thurman, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, for a press round table with reporters accompanying Panetta’s visit.
Asked about the preponderance of pay-and benefit-related questions service members have asked during town hall meetings with the secretary both here and in Japan, Dempsey said troops are naturally keeping an eye on the nation’s economic issues. “I think it puts them exactly in line with their fellow citizens around the United States,” the chairman said. “I think they’re very well-informed. They recognize the issues facing us as a nation economically, and wonder what it’s going to mean for them.”
The chairman said the secretary and he have been clear in telling the troops that changes to benefits such as retirement will be grandfathered and will not change for those now in uniform. “These young men and women who have signed up under a certain set of circumstances and commitments — we’ll meet those commitments,” Dempsey said. Troops’ financial concerns don’t detract from their professionalism, he added. “They also recognize they’re over here to make sure they are as well-prepared as they can be for whatever we might ask them to do,” Dempsey said. The chairman added when troops get the chance to speak with their senior leaders, they also ask “all the questions you’d want them to ask” — including what lessons have been learned from 10 years of war and how the force structure will change.
On his way here, Dempsey stopped at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska to meet with troops. The first question they asked, he said, were on benefits. “But if you stick around long enough, the questions get around to what it means to be a Soldier, a Sailor, an Airman, a Marine,” he said. Thurman said based on what he sees here daily, troops’ concerns about budget cuts don’t seem to be affecting morale. “We’ve got a threat to the north. We have a well-defined mission. And I don’t detect anything that degrades any morale and our willingness and readiness to fight,” he said. Thurman added he couldn’t be more proud of the combat-seasoned force he commands. “I think, as General Dempsey said, they’re very smart, intelligent, and they’re asking some of the key questions that they see [from] the news,” he said. Both generals will join the secretary today in the 43rd Security Consultative Meeting here, an annual gathering of U.S. and South Korean senior military leaders. The meeting will conclude the secretary’s week-long visit to Asia, during which he has engaged with military leaders from Indonesia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan and South Korea.
Karen Parrish, American Forces Press Service 2011-10-28
The American Legion Riders would like to invite you to participate in the 1st Annual Veterans Benefit Chili Cook-Off on May 14, 2011 at the Lawn Fire Company in Lawn, PA from 1:00pm to 9:00pm.
Get ready to get your Chili on …
We would like to invite your organization to participate in the 1st Annual Chili Cook‐off benefit for Veterans. This fund raising event is organized by members from combined American Legion Rider Chapters to maximize our fundraising potential. The top priority for this event is to raise monies to assist with the purchase of a bus for the Lebanon VA Hospital. The current bus is a 1973 vintage that is in desperate need of replacement. In the event that monies raised exceed the amount required to complete the fundraising for the bus the remaining funds will be used to construct and furnish rooms at the Lebanon VA Hospital to assist patients transition back into life after surgeries.
The structure of the event is as follows:
Preliminary Cook-off events
Each organization will hold their own Cook-off event to determine their entries in three categories, Best Overall, Most Unique and People Choice. It will be up to each organization to organize and promote their event. Some suggestions on how monies from each event can be raised are:
$20 – Entry Fee
$10 – Admission Fee
$$$ – 50/50 Raffle(s)
Fund Raising potential would be as follows (minimum estimates):
5 entries @ $20 each = $100
50 paid admissions = $500
50/50 Raffle(s) = $100
Totaling $700
** We are asking that each organization make a minimum donation of $500 with their entry. Additional donations WELCOME!! Donation for entry into the finals can be made in one of two ways:
- A check in the amount of $400 sent directly to the Lebanon VA Hospital in support of the Bus Fund. Checks sent directly to the Lebanon VA Hospital should be sent to address below. A copy of the canceled check in the amount of $400 or letter from the Hospital representative acknowledging receipt of funds to accompany Chili Finals Cook-off registration form. In addition a donation of $100 is provided with Finals event entry form. Check to be made out as outlined on the registration form. The $100 is needed to assist with up front finals event start-up costs.
- A donation in the amount of $500 sent with the Finals event Registration form.
If you are not part of an organization or your group is too small to organize a preliminary chili cook-off event contact one of the event planners below (Final Cook-Off event) for information on participating organizations to “team” with.
If you organization plans on participating in the 1st Annual Veterans Benefit Chili cook-off please contact one of the final cook-off event planners below as soon as possible. This information will be needed to pass along to smaller organizations or individuals that would like to participate but do not have the resources to do so.
Final Cook-Off event
Organizing and promoting of this event will be done by the main event planners:
Larry Smith (Smitty) ALR Chapter 56 Lititz, PA and Frankie Buchanan Vice President ALR Chapter 185 Mt. Joy, PAIf you would like information on how you can help with this event please contact one of the two individuals above.
No individual entries will be permitted at the finals event. The only entries allowed at this level will be from participating organizations. The reason for this is to maximize fundraising potential at the local levels. For information on participating organizations contact one of the final event planners.
Monies from this event will be raised as follows:
- Registration Donations
- Admission Fees
- Refreshment sales
- T-shirt Sales
- 50/50 Raffles
- Vendor Space fees
A full financial accounting report will be provided to each participating organization within 45 days of the completion of the final event upon request.
Also included in this article you will find:
- Preliminary event planning packet. This packet will help you get your local organization cook-off underway. We have done most of the up front leg work for you developing forms, suggested rules, suggested cooking/transportation guidelines etc. Click Here for this information
- Final event information packet which includes a Registration Form, Rules, Cooking/transportation Guidelines, Supporter Package Information and Participant Liability Waiver. Click Here for this information
We hope you will join us in this effort to help meet needs at the Lebanon PA VA Hospital. LET THE TRASH TALKIN BEGIN!!
Click Here for a printer friendly version of this information
For additional information click here
Our Department Commander Pete Wasco is continuing his stand to protect the battlegrounds of the Civil War’s most crucial battle of Gettysburg. Two months ago, Pennsylvania American Legion Department Commander Pete Wasco toured through Gettysburg and he continues to stand alongside our national organization. Wasco said, “Gettysburg is to honor those soldiers who fought for this nation. It is our duty to protect the history of our nation and the unmarked graves of those who gave all.”
The American Legion’s national headquarters expressed strong opposition to a proposed gambling casino that would be located next to the battlegrounds of the Civil War’s most crucial battle.
Speaking at a Sept. 21 press conference at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., American Legion Executive Director Peter Gaytan told the audience, “Many say the issue of Gettysburg and this casino is a local issue - I say they are wrong. The history of the country is a national issue and The American Legion believes in protecting Gettysburg - protecting the honor and sanctity of the grounds that those men died and fought for.”
Gaytan’s remarks reinforced an American Legion press release issued Aug. 12, calling a plan to build a casino near the Civil War landmark a “national disgrace.” The proposed casino site is right next to land where Union and Confederate cavalry fought a bloody engagement.
The formation of a new anti-casino group, Veterans for Gettysburg, was announced at the press conference, where a group of Gettysburg citizens, some sporting “No Casino” T-shirts, stood on the Capitol’s main staircase behind the featured speakers: Gaytan, Jan Scruggs of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and historian Edwin Bearrs, who is also a decorated World War II veteran.
Veterans for Gettysburg also sent a letter to Gregory Fajt, chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, asking the board to reject a developer’s application to open a gaming facility a half-mile from Gettysburg National Military Park.
“We are not against a casino; rather, we are for Gettysburg,” the letter said. “We concur with the judgment of over 275 American historians who also voiced their concern for this project’s unavoidable conflict with Gettysburg’s place in American history.
“We stand on behalf of the millions of Civil War veterans who endured four harrowing years of combat, but are no longer with us to speak for themselves. As you would honor (veterans’) service, we ask you to remember theirs.”
Representatives of the Civil War Preservation Trust also attended the press conference. The organization’s president, James Lighthizer, applauded the formation of Veterans for Gettysburg.
In a statement, Lighthizer said that Gettysburg “holds a special place in the hearts of all Americans, but it is particularly dear to those who have felt the heat of battle. The call to military service is a tie that stretches across the generations and makes all of our nation’s veterans truly one ‘band of brothers.’”
Thanks all who Supported the USS Wasco On Oct 2 2010 for NEF Fund to raise over $2500
The National Emergency Fund has provided over $6,000,000 in direct financial assistance to Legion family members and posts. The National Emergency Fund has kept posts from closing and enabled Legion family members to begin to rebuild their homes and their lives.
The Pennsylvania American Legion Riders got behind our Department Commander Wasco and supported his project the NEF Fund.
There was a Benefit Run for the NEF will on October 2nd that started at 8:00 am. The cost was only $10 per person. We will visited many Posts including 910, 386, 998, 420, 26, 143, 730, and 733. We returned to Department Headquarters around 1:00 pm. We had an all American cookout including hamburgers, hot dogs and refreshments.
We support our Department Commander Pete Wasco’s project for the NEF and now show us what you can do to support the NEF fund.
Click Here to visit the Pennsylvania American Legion Riders website