National Convention
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
August 27, - September 2, 2010
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to attend the 92nd American Legion National Convention. We have a great opportunity to save money while traveling in style to the convention with the Pennsylvania Department Bus Trip. This will give you the chance to save a little money and travel to the convention without any worries.
Click Here for more information about the bus trip to the National Convention.
The Pennsylvania delegation will be staying at the Doubletree Hotel Milwaukee City Center. The hotel reservations must be made through Department Headquarters. The room rate is $119.18 including tax for a king size bed room and a double room (2 beds). After 2 people there will be an additional occupant in room rate at $15.00 each. A rollaway bed can be rented at $10.00 a day.
The room amenities include: iron, ironing board, tv with HBO, hair dryer and coffee pot. The hotel amenities include a check in time of 3:00pm. The convention center is cater-corner from our hotel, which is a short walk of about 200 feet. There is a nice restaurant in the hotel and about a dozen or more within a couple of blocks of the hotel. The hotel also has a fitness center and outdoor pool. Parking is $15.00 a day valet only in and out anytime fro no extra charge.
The Doubletree Hotel Milwaukee City Center is approximately 15 minutes from the airport depending on time of day and day of the week. Our nationalorganization has arranged airport ground transportation services for the National Convention through Go Airport Connection. In order for attendees to receive the $21 round trip fare to/from the Milwaukee Airport they must book at least 24 hours in advance through the customized portal. Here is the link to the portal for The American Legion Family to book from. http://goairportconnection.hudsonltd.net/res?USERIDENTRY=ameleg&LOGON=GO
The cit rate from the airport to any downtown hotel is $25.00 for a taxi cab regardless of how many persons you can safely get in the vehicle. Travel time is approximately 15 minutes. All major car rental companies are available at the airport.
Pennsylvania Delegate Registration is in our Doubletree Hotel Milwaukee City Center Hotel lobby across form the registration desk.
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Friday, August 27 - 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
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Saturday, August 28 - 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
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Sunday, August 29 - 9:00 am to 12 noon or as required
There is a convenience store right across from our hotel (food, beer, liquor, soda, etc.,) A Dunkin Donuts, Quizno’s, Subway are all 200 feet from the hotel. West Town Market Liquors and other items, IMAX Planetarium are 1 block away. The bus station and Amtrak train station are three blocks from the hotel. Butch’s Steak House is on the corner across from the rear of the hotel. The Grand Avenue Mall is 2 1/2 blocks from the hotel. The Harley Davidson Museum is 1 mile away. The Potawatomi Casino is 1 mile away and the Irish Pub is 3 blocks from the hotel.
Handicap information for wheelchair and scooter rentals. The handicapped attendees of our delegation that will require a scooter or wheelchair may contact the following:
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Accessibility Home Medical & Rehab 414-543-1114
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Discount Mobility Products, LLC., 414-321-3500
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On The Go Mobility 414-375-4682, 7289
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MetroCare 800-227-3820
The Pennsylvania caucus breakfast meeting will be held Monday, August 30, 2010 at 7:30 am in the main Ballroom 1st floor of the Doubletree Hotel. Starbucks coffee & assorted chilled juices, bakery basket, scrambled eggs, bacon & sausage links, country style potatoes, melon slices & berries will be available for each Pennsylvania American Legion delegate in attendance at this meeting.
The parade will be Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 4:00 pm. We will meet in the hotel lobby at 2:30 pm. We do not have the parade route yet. Our hotel is supposedly right on the parade route so we may not need transportation. We will update this information as things are finalized.
The Pennsylvania Party will be in the Doubletree Hotel in the main Ballroom 1st floor after the Parade party. Sunday, August 29, 2010 at approximately 6:00 pm final time will be announced. The party is for all delegates and guests. The menu will include baked chicken, roast beef, vegetable medley, au gratin potatoes, salad, rolls, dessert, coffee, tea and milk.
The National Commander’s Dinner is Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm at the Milwaukee Convention Center.
All persons receiving a Department call-in or who are going to sign as a delegate at our Department roll calls, MUST register through our Department Headquarters and stay in the contracted housing. Any exceptions must be cleared with the Department Commander / Adjutant prior to our departure to the convention city.
Looking to seeing you in Milwaukee Wisconsin for the 92nd National Convention!
Click Here for a printer friendly version of the General Information for the National Convention
The American Legion Operation Comfort Warriors is up for a $250,000 grant from Pepsi. Please take a couple of minutes to vote and then let your family, friends and co-workers know to vote too!
Click Here to vote for Operation Comfort Warriors
Goals
- Provide items for the troops not normally covered by the government.
Overview
Operation Comfort Warriors is a campaign by The American Legion to provide comfort items such as DVDs, calling cards, portable electronics, clothes, puzzles and other gifts to U.S. military troops recovering in hospitals and warrior transition units.More than 35,000 men and women in the U.S. military have been injured as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Operation Comfort Warriors is not political in any way. Its intent is to support the military troops, regardless of whether one supports the wars or not.The comfort items will not make our wounded warriors “whole again” but it does show that we care and appreciate their sacrifice. So far, The American Legion has successfully delivered more than $200,000 in comfort items to recovering troops at facilities across the United States. All administrative and marketing costs are paid for by The American Legion’s national budget, so every cent of donated money goes directly to helping the troops.
Idea linksHow will the 250K be Used? |
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| This grant will not cover any marketing or administrative costs. Those expenses will be paid for by The American Legion. Comfort items will be intended to improve the morale of the troops and will not include items normally paid for by the government or provided by the military health care system. | |
| $ 250000 | Comfort Items |
Spend a special evening honoring two great commander. Our Department Commander Joseph Socha will be escorting the National Commander Clarence Hill throughout our state in March.
Click Here for the dinner in the east at the Thomas W. O’Connor American Legion Post 602 on Monday March 15th, 2010.
Click Here for the dinner in the central section at the American Legion Post 594 in Middletown on Tuesday March 16, 2010.
Click Here for the dinner in the west at the Edwin Scott Linton American Legion Post 175 on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010.
The national commander is the executive head of The American Legion, with full power to enforce provisions of the Legion’s constitution, bylaws and resolutions of the national convention, which meets each year to govern the organization. Each national commander serves a one-year term, after which a new one is elected at the convention; five national vice commanders are also elected annually.
Commander Hill is of Martins Ferry, Ohio, was elected national commander of the 2.5 million-member American Legion on Aug. 27, 2009, in Louisville, Ky., during the 91st National Convention of the nation’s largest veterans organization.
He attended Buckeye Boys State in 1967 and was commissioned from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1972, having earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a history major.
He served 19 of the following 24 years on sea duty and retired as a captain in 1996. His afloat service included one frigate, two destroyers, two cruisers, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 12 in Mayport, Fla., and the Sixth Fleet in Gaeta, Italy. He served as officer-in-charge of a PT boat, commanded the Naval Communications Station United Kingdom in Thurso, Scotland, for three years, and the guided missile frigate USS McInerney (FFG-8) for two years, including combat operations during Operation Desert Storm. Ashore, he earned two masters degrees, one from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., and the other from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.
Clarence Hill’s Programs
A Legionnaire of 27 years, Hill is a life member and three-time commander of Post 316 in Atlantic Beach, Fla., a member of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 316 and a life member of Legion Riders Chapter 316. He attended the National American Legion College in 2000 and was an instructor in 2001. He was Florida’s department commander from July 2002 to July 2003, achieving an all-time-high in membership. He served for three years as the national chairman of the National Security Commission. He is married to the former Liz Robinson of Thurso, Scotland. They have three children and six grandchildren.
Visit Clarence Hill’s Web site
The American Legion praised the Supreme Court on Monday for vacating and remanding an appeals court ruling that would have ordered the release of photographs of detainees allegedly being abused by their U.S. captors. The Supreme Court ordered the Second U.S. Court of Appeals to take another look at the case due to a recent change in federal law, advocated by The American Legion, that allows the government to withhold the release of the photographs.
“This is a victory for our troops,” American Legion National Commander Clarence Hill said. “Too often, images are used to inflame tensions in the Middle East and are used as propaganda by terrorists. Whether these pictures depicted torture or not, we may never know. But we do know that the president, some members of Congress and many military leaders believed it would put our troops at greater risk. This may be a defeat for the ACLU, but it is a victory for America.”
In a May 8 editorial in The Wall Street Journal, then-National Commander David K. Rehbein asked, “A picture may be worth a thousand words, but is it worth the life of a single American soldier? Is any photograph worth the life of your Marine Corps daughter? Or your neighbor’s deployed husband?”
The editorial garnered mentions in Time Magazine, blogs and other media. As Rehbein appeared at a media event in the Capitol with U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn to criticize the pending release, The White House announced it had reversed its earlier decision to release the photographs that were requested by the American Civil Liberties Union.
“We are still very much at war,” Hill said. “The American Legion is calling on all Americans to remain aware of that and remember that our troops are in harm’s way and need all the support that their fellow citizens can offer. The American Legion will always oppose any efforts to undermine our troops. It’s one thing to say that you support the troops. It’s another thing to mean it.”
- American Flag to be half staff
WASHINGTON (November 6, 2009) — The leader of The American Legion says his organization is reaching out to victims of the tragedy at Fort Hood, Tex., where the rampage of a lone gunman - an Army officer - reportedly killed 13 people and wounded 30.
“As the nation’s largest veterans’ service organization, and the one with the greatest number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, we have the resources to assist the newest generation of warriors.”
“We invite those who have been touched by this horrific experience to make use of the Legion’s services to military families and active-duty servicemembers,” said Clarence Hill, national commander of The American Legion.
”We are also initiating outreach through our local Legion posts to families and individuals at Fort Hood who have been affected by this event.”
American Legion posts are part of a nationwide Family Support Networkthat provides hands-on assistance and emotional support to servicemembers and their families.
At the national level, The American Legion offers aid through its Temporary Financial Assistance program to distressed military families with minor children suffering monetary difficulties.
“Financial assistance can be a great comfort in times of turmoil,” Hill said. “It can help with temporary daycare costs, travel expenses for family members and other burdens so that families can concentrate on caring for loved ones - healing wounds both physical and emotional.
Another Legion program that helps our troops is Operation Comfort Warriors. It provides clothing, personal and recreational items to wounded servicemembers during their recovery. “Up until now most, but not all, of those we have aided have been servicemembers who have suffered injuries in our theaters of war,” Hill said, “but those who were hurt in this tragedy at Fort Hood should, and will, receive our help as well.”
Hill won’t speculate on the motive for the Fort Hood shootings. “We will reserve comment until the Army’s investigation is complete,” he said. “Once all the facts are assembled and analyzed, The American Legion will lend its aid and advocacy to the Army, the Department of Defense and lawmakers to help prevent tragedies such as this.”
Those touched by the Fort Hood event seeking assistance from The American Legion are invited to call 1-800-504-4098 or email familysupport@legion.org.
With a current membership of 2.5-million wartime veterans, The American Legion is the nation’s largest veterans organization. It 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 14,000 posts across the nation.
National Commander Clarence Hill’s Veterans Day PSA
INDIANAPOLIS (September 4, 2009) - “Outrageously irresponsible,” is how the leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization characterized the Associated Press’s decision to release a photo of a dying US marine taken in Afghanistan.
“The lack of compassion and common decency shown by the Associated Press in releasing this photograph is stunning,” said American Legion National Commander Clarence E. Hill, a retired Navy captain. “Lance Corporal Joshua Barnard is a hero who gave his life for his country. His family is understandably offended. I have asked the American Legion state commander in Maine to reach out to his family. Indeed everybody in The American Legion stands with his family.”
The photo shows Bernard bleeding after being struck by a rocket=propelled grenade in a Taliban ambush Aug. 14. Before the photograph was publicly released, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates asked Thomas Curley,, AP’s president and chief executive officer to refrain from transmitting the image. “Out of respect for his family’s withes, I ask you in the strongest of terms to reconsider your decision I do not make this request lightly. The issue here is not law, policy or constitutional right - but judgement and common decency.”
“Secretary Gates was right,” Hill added. “The issue is judgement and common decency. There is some information, some actions that occur, that are simply to private, too personal, and too tragic to be intentionally broadcast into the homes of millions. For families with loved ones overseas, the fear of what might happen tois a near constant companion. This photo not only keeps open the wounds of war for the Barnard family, but it also increases the fear for the families of those who are still facing the reality of sudden death every day.”
Hill called for a review by the Department of Defense of the rules governing embedded media. “This should never have occurred in the first place, nor should it be allowed to occur again,” Hill said. “Ironically, when I visited Camp Delta at Guatanamo, the photographer was prohibited from taking images showing the faces of detained terrorists. yet, photographers are allowed to shoot photographs of fallen American heroes? Where is the common sense? Where is the common decency?”
With a membership of 2.5 million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs.
The Legacy Run raised over $600,000 for the American Legion Legacy Scholarship. The fourth annual American Legion Legacy Run motorcycle tour roared out of Indianapolis from Aug. 18-23, looping through at least seven states and finally ended in Louisville, Ky., the site of the Legion’s 91st National Convention. Hundreds of Riders gathered together to raise money for academic scholarships for the children of servicemembers killed on active duty since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. ROUTE INFORMATION
The Legacy Run will went east this year, moving from Indiana into Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and finally into Kentucky. The Legacy riders joined the other riders in Louisville to lead the 91st Annual National Convention Parade on Sunday, Aug. 23.
· Mon, Aug. 17, 2009
-Run event and rally, Post 64, Indianapolis
-Road captain briefings, late registration
· Tue, Aug. 18, 2009
- Indianapolis to Wheeling, WV
- I-70E
- Day stop at Wright Patterson AFB Museum
· Wed, Aug. 19, 2009
- Wheeling, WV to Front Royal, VA
- I-70E/US119/US30; I-70E/US522 South
- Day stop at Flight 93 Memorial
· Thu, Aug. 20, 2009
- Front Royal, VA to Charleston, WV
- I-81 South; I-64 West; US 60 West
· Fri, Aug. 21, 2009
- Charleston, WV to Louisville, KY
- I-64W
- Arrival ceremony
· Sat, Aug. 22 to Sun, Aug 23, 2009
- Rider activities, runs, and events
- Annual National Convention Parade
The Legacy Run stopped in Shanksville to honor the heroes of Flight 93. National Commander David Rehbein addressed the Riders as well as Past Department Commander WJ “Sandy” Sandell of Pennsylvania. Commanders Rehbein and Sandell as well as National Executive Committeeman Richard Coccimiglio presented a wreath in honor of Flight 93.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Aug. 27, 2009) - A retired U.S. Navy captain has been elected national commander of the nation’s largest veterans organization.
Delegates to The American Legion’s 91st National Convention here chose Clarence Hill of Jacksonville, Fla., to lead the 2.5 million-member organization of wartime veterans for a one-year term.
The new national commander plans to increase The American Legion’s outreach efforts using social media networks and other technologies. His goals also include diversifying The American Legion by recruiting more minorities and increasing awareness of issues effecting women veterans. While veterans from any war era will always be welcome in The American Legion, Hill plans to expand outreach efforts to Vietnam era, post-Vietnam era and current War on Terrorism veterans.
A native of Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, Hill graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He served 19 of the next 24 years on sea duty and retired in 1996. His afloat commands included officer-in-charge of a PT boat, one frigate, two destroyers, two cruisers, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 12 in Mayport, Fl, and the Sixth Fleet in Gaeta, Italy. He commanded the Naval Communications Station United Kingdom in Thurso, Scotland, for three years, and the guided missile frigate USS MCINERNEY (FFG-8) for two years, including combat operations during Operation Desert Storm. Ashore, he earned two masters degrees, one from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Ca., and the other from the Naval War College in Newport, RI.
A 27-year Legionnaire, Hill is a Life Member and three-time Post Commander of American Legion Post 316 in Atlantic Beach, Fla. He is a dual member belonging to SAL Squadron 316. He attended the National American Legion College in 2000 and was an instructor in 2001. He was department commander for Florida from July 2002 to July 2003, achieving an all-time-high in membership. Hill earned eight “Gold Brigade Awards” for recruiting 50 or more members of The American Legion in a single year. He served for three years as the national chairman of The American Legion National and Homeland Security Commission and belongs to The American Legion Riders.
Cmdr. Hill took the oath of office along with five other national officers. Serving as national vice commanders are Eugene A. Schumacher of Aberdeen, S.D.; James C. Morris of Cardington, Ohio; Dr. Gordon B. Browning of Chestertown, Md., Mark A. Avis of Palmer, Mass., and Morris M. Bentley of Grangeville, Idaho.
National Historian James T. Higuera of Arcadia, Calif., National Chaplain John L. Beaver of Mobile, Ala., and Paul Martel of Pierson, Fla., were appointed to their positions by Cmdr. Hill following the close of the national convention.