WASHINGTON (Jan. 3, 2011) - As more women serve in the armed forces, the number of women veterans - currently about 2 million - will also grow. Yet only about 25 percent of that population is using the VA health-care system.
The American Legion is launching a two-month, worldwide online survey Jan. 5 to find out why.
“Conducting this kind of survey is very important to us,” said Jimmie Foster, national commander of The American Legion. “After analyzing the data we’ve collected, the Legion will be better qualified to make specific recommendations for congressional appropriations, VA programs and facilities, and to increase public awareness of issues facing women veterans.”
Verna Jones, director of the Legion’s division of veterans affairs and rehabilitation, added, “In order to strengthen our advocacy role, we need to conduct a comprehensive survey of women veterans about their experiences and attitudes concerning health care provided by VA, private practitioners, and other health-care providers.”
Jones said that results from the survey will be used to refine The American Legion’s outreach methods, enhance its written and oral testimony to Congress and federal agencies, and to ultimately improve the delivery of women veterans’ benefits, programs and services.
“The survey will also help to identify unmet needs among women veterans, and guide the Legion’s development of specific remedies and recommendations,” said Denise Williams, the organization’s assistant director of health policy. “Then we can offer them to VA as specific actions to eliminate specific health-care problems faced by women veterans.”
The survey will be conducted by ProSidian Consulting in Charlotte, N.C., which specializes in strategic business issues. Its list of clients includes the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and other federal agencies.
Survey questions will cover ten aspects of health-care service quality: reliability, responsiveness, competence, access, courtesy, communication, credibility, security, tangibles and understanding the customer.
The survey was developed by American Legion specialists on women veterans issues. “We understand the sacrifices of women and their role in serving America,” Jones said. “We recognize that women, like their male counterparts, are returning home with illness, disease, injuries and the invisible wounds of war.”
Jones said The American Legion believes the survey’s results “will be a major component in being able to understand the needs of women veterans, and allow us to assist in providing the services needed.”
Women veterans are encouraged to participate in the survey by visiting www.legion.org. It becomes active on Jan. 5 and will remain online until early March, after which analysis of the results will begin.
WASHINGTON (Jan. 19, 2011) - Jimmie L. Foster, national commander of The American Legion, met with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki in Washington on Jan. 18, getting a VA progress report on several vital issues. Foster said the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, was “relaxed, informal, warm and friendly.”
The state of VA’s disability claims process was a chief item of discussion. More than a million benefits claims are reportedly awaiting VA approval. Compounding the backlog is a significant increase in the frequency of claims filing. This is due to an influx of Iraq and Afghanistan campaign servicemembers now coming home, and the recent addition of several medical conditions related to Vietnam-era exposure to toxic chemicals.
“It’s a great challenge,” Foster said. “Secretary Shinseki says VA processed about 900-thousand claims this past year, but received 1.1-million more - with 1.45-million expected this year.”
But Foster reported that VA is attacking the problem aggressively. “The Secretary says they’ve instituted a ‘training the trainer’ program - as the Legion encouraged some time ago - and is adopting the VA regional offices (ROs) that process claims right the first time as models of efficiency for the remaining ROs.”
Electronic medical records that facilitate “instant” and secure transfer of patients’ medical data from the military to civilian world (and from one facility to another) are cutting-edge health-care technology being pioneered by VA. Foster said that Shinseki sounded a little disappointed with progress in this area.
“He’d like the technology to be perfected a bit faster, but says VA and the Department of Defense are working together diligently to make a seamless, universal electronics records system fully operational,” Foster said.
During The American Legion’s 2009 National Convention in Louisville, Shinseki announced his department’s vow to end homelessness among veterans within five years. As to the state of this ambitious project, Foster reported, “Secretary Shinseki eagerly accepted the Legion’s offer of support in this area. I told him that, for instance, a local Legion post can be of great aid in identifying and tracking a homeless veteran, getting him or her the health care they need and leading them, literally, home. The Secretary indicated that the Legion’s involvement in helping end the homeless veteran crisis could be invaluable.”
Matters of Post 9-11 G.I. Bill education for veterans and the greater than average incidence of joblessness among veterans were also discussed. “Secretary Shinseki said VA itself now employs two percent more veterans than it did when he took office and he intends to increase his department’s veteran hiring rate much more,” Foster said.
At meeting’s end, Foster said the Secretary expressed gratitude to The American Legion for its ongoing role in improving the lives of America’s veterans, in partnership with VA. He also “thanked us for what he knows we will do in the future.”
Past National Commander Geiger
Past National Commander John H. Geiger, an icon in The American Legion for decades, passed away early this morning after a lengthy battle with an illness. He was 85 years old.
Geiger, elected national commander on the closing day of 53rd National Convention in Houston, led The American Legion during the 1971-1972 year. A resident of Des Plaines, Ill., he was a member of Hiram J. Slifer Post 135 in Chicago. He was a member of the Legion for 66 years, first joining Minden, Iowa, Post 437 in 1945 while serving overseas.
A retired architectural engineer, Geiger was a World War II U.S. Army veteran, serving in the 11th Armored Division. He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge.
The American Legion was founded on four pillars: Americanism, Children and Youth, National Security, and Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation.
But Department of New York Adjutant Richard Pedro says there is a fifth pillar that was just as important to the organization – Past National Commander John H. Geiger, who passed away early Monday morning in Illinois at age 85.
“People always talk about the four pillars of The American Legion,” said Pedro, whose friendship with Geiger spanned five decades. “But he was a pillar himself. He meant that much to The American Legion.”
Pedro served on the National Commander’s Advisory Committee with Geiger from 1978 to 1999; the pair roomed together during numerous national conventions and other meetings. “His love, outside of his family, was The American Legion,” Pedro said. “He was very astute when it came to Legion history and Legion programs. But beyond that, he was just a brilliant guy. He was an exceptional person, and his word was solid. It was his bond.”
Pedro and Geiger were rarely seen outside of each other’s company at national events, joined by Past National Commander Jake Comer. The Legion’s national commander from 1987-1988, Comer said the loss of Geiger is difficult for several reasons.
“He was a great friend to me,” Comer said. “But we have lost a major leader of our organization. It will take a long time before someone steps up to the plate like John did. Here was a guy who would walk down the hall after a (National Executive Committee) meeting, and he would stop and talk to anyone who had a question or needed help. He would try to help in any way he could. (Pedro) and I depended on him tremendously.”
Comer said when he first started participating in the Legion on the national level, Geiger already was an icon. “I would see him, and I was in awe of him,” Comer said. “He already was up on a pedestal, as far as the way I saw it. He was The American Legion, from as long as I’ve been involved in the organization.”
Geiger served as national commander from 1971 to 1972. During his tenure, he traveled to Europe and the Far East, receiving briefings from U.S. and South Vietnamese military leadership during a stop in South Vietnam. He testified in front of Congress on several issues, including not dismantling or absorbing the Veterans Administration into a national health-care plan, and not granting blanket amnesty to Vietnam War draft dodgers. Geiger called for no amnesty to be granted while the war was ongoing, and then for a case-by-base review following the war.
Geiger also urged every Legionnaire to write three letters – one to their U.S. representative and one to each of their senators – calling for improvements to the GI Bill for Vietnam War veterans.
Even after leaving the office of national commander, Geiger, continued to have a strong presence in the NEC for years. It was that presence that stood out to Past National Commander Ronald F. Conley.
“As you became involved in the NEC, you saw John as a man who always maintained a level head, and who looked at every situation with an open mind,” Conley said. “He always said that if you were making a decision, was it for the good of The American Legion? He was able to steer you, not tell you want to do.”
Geiger urged Conley to seek out young people within the Department of Pennsylvania who would benefit the Legion. He advised Conley to always keep his suit coat buttoned in order to maintain a strong personal appearance.
“When I first walked into the Resolutions Subcommittee room (after longtime committee chairman and Past National Commander E. Roy Stone had passed away), it was strange not seeing Stone there,” Conley said. “It’s going to be that way going into the NEC room and not seeing John there.”
Past National Commander William E. Galbraith, who led the Legion from 1967-1968, said Geiger had an energy about him that “made him want to continue to improve things within The American Legion. He was one of the great leaders of this organization. It’s a tremendous loss.”
Past National Commander Marty Conatser, also an Illinois Legionnaire, said Geiger was a mentor to everyone in the department. “He was the one who prepared me to be national commander. He always told me to ask the question, ‘Is it good for The American Legion, above all else.’ That’s what he cared about. Not if it was good for John Geiger, not if it was good for someone else. That’s a rare quality in today’s world. He always put the organization first.”
Geiger felt that love of the Legion for decades. In a 1971 interview with The American Legion Magazine, he said, “I was so raised in veterans work and Legion work that I felt at home. I was just born to do it.”
Longtime Utah National Executive Committeeman Bill Christofferson met Geiger in 1959 at a meeting in Indianapolis when both were department commanders. “He and I just hit it off, for some reason,” Christofferson said.
The friendship continued for 52 years. When Geiger worked for United Airlines and was sent to work in Salt Lake City while a terminal was added to the airport, he and Christofferson used to visit Christofferson’s Legion post together. There also were trips together to the Green River in Utah, as well as Geiger’s seat next to Christofferson’s in the NEC room.
“When people from my department asked me why Geiger was sitting next to me, I told them, ‘We’re buddies,’” Christofferson said. “I could write a book on the things that John and I worked on together. I think we sowed a lot of good seeds for the Legion.”
Longtime National Adjutant and Past National Commander Robert W. Spanogle remembers his first meeting with Geiger, who was a candidate for national commander at the time. Spanogle was one of 10 Vietnam veterans that Geiger invited to National Headquarters for a meeting.
“He asked questions; we responded,” Spanogle said. “We asked questions; he listened. There was no generation gap between he, a World War II veteran, and we of the Vietnam generation, because he had been there: a World War II GI Bill student veteran earning a degree in architecture and an active member of the Legion. His love of country, his love of family, his dedication and his firm commitment to the four pillars of the Legion were clearly evident during our discussion. The values of America. This is what I remember.
“He was a senior member of the National Executive Committee and a friend. I shall miss his counsel, his mentorship, his integrity and his firm handshake. John Geiger was a man of his word. Like so many others that knew John, his legacy of leadership will serve us well as we continue the work of The American Legion. We shall miss him.”
Condolences can be sent to 758 Laurel Ave, Des Plaines, IL 60016. Memorials may be made to The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, P.O. Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206 or online here.
Donations also can be made to Pepper Family Hospice, 405 Lake Zurich Road, Barrington, IL 60010 or online.
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.
Don’t miss out on a dinner to honor National Commander Foster and Department Commander Pete Wasco. There is three dinners: one in the east of the state, one in the central section and one in the west. Make your reservation now, tickets are first come first serve! Click on the section to download the ticket reservation form.
Jimmie Foster of Anchorage, Alaska, was elected national commander of The American Legion on Sept. 2, 2010, during the 92nd National Convention in Milwaukee. Born and raised on a farm, he attended and graduated from Northeastern A&M College in Miami, Okla., with a degree in agriculture education. While there, he met and married his wife, Rehta, and started a family. After working in the textiles and grocery business, he pursued a military career.
Foster joined the Marines and was stationed at Camp Pendleton and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Upon his discharge from the Marines, he returned to school for a short time. Then, wanting to get back into action, he enlisted in the Army, ultimately retiring on Aug. 1, 1994, while stationed at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., as chief legal NCO. He returned to Alaska on the day of his retirement.
He and Rehta have two sons, Christopher and Michael, and four grandchildren. All have been active members of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion in Anchorage. Rehta is a past unit, Western District and department president in Alaska.
Foster’s 28 years of American Legion experience include offices and appointments at all levels. He is a member of Spenard Post 28 in Anchorage, where he has served as adjutant for many years and as post commander in 1989-1990. He has been the Western District adjutant for seven different department commanders.
He has served on numerous department committees, including Americanism, Citizens Flag Alliance, Economics, Employment, Internal Affairs, Legislative, Membership & Post Activities, Military Affairs, National Security and Naval Affairs, to name a few. During his term as Membership chairman, the Department of Alaska finished first in the nation on target-date membership. He served as department commander in 1999-2000.
Foster also served as Alaska’s Alternate National Executive Committeeman from 2000 to 2002, and as National Executive Committeeman from 2002 to 2006.
On the national level, he served on the National & Homeland Security Council, and the Economic, Internal Affairs and Legislative commissions. He also was vice chairman of the Subcommittee on Resolutions and, most recently, chairman of the National Legislative Commission.
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.’”
WASHINGTON (Sept. 24, 2010) – While loudly applauding its intent, leaders of The American Legion say that new federal legislation designed to bolster small business may not do enough to support veteran-owned enterprises.
The legislation being questioned by The American Legion is H.R. 5297, the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010. Introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) this past May, H.R. 5297 would create a $30 billion small business lending fund to be administered by the Secretary of the Treasury, as well as provide $12 billion in tax breaks to help small businesses.
“The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act is a terrific piece of legislation in its purpose,” says Joe Sharpe, director of The American Legion’s economic commission, “but it does very little, if anything, to correct the sorry circumstances facing service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses today.”
Government regulations require that three percent of all appropriate government contract money be awarded to eligible small businesses owned by service-disabled military veterans. Yet, to date, awards have totaled only about half that mandate.
“We are not asking for preferential treatment, but simply some legislative language that levels the playing field,” says Sharpe. “Without going into minute detail, let’s just say the current wording does not do the job.”
Jimmie Foster, national commander of The American Legion, says “Historically, the federal government has done very poorly with regards to implementing veteran preference rules on contracts. This time, from our point of view, things must be different. When implementation of this law is accomplished, veteran-owned businesses must finally be able to gain the recognition – and contracts – they deserve. The American Legion will campaign hard to make sure that happens.”
This fall, members of your Post, Unit Squadron or Chapter can take one day and learn about the many different programs and projects concerning the Pennsylvania American Legion. For a $15 registration fee, “students” choose one of eight courses, which will be filled on a first come first served basis.
The General Course provides information on all Department programs, activities and more.
The Adjutant Course is a 1/2 day course which covers membership, various forms as well as other information. The first half of the day will be spent in the General Course.
The Auxiliary Course is an all day class that covers issues pertaining to the Pennsylvania American Legion Auxiliary.
There will also be a 1/2 day SAL Course. The first half of the day will be spent in the General Course
The Service Officer Course is an all day class that will give insight on filing claims and assisting veterans in need.
The Home Association Course is an all day class that will educate attendees on bookkeeping, IRS forms, small games of chance and the Home Association’s relationship to the Post.
Another class is the Legion Riders Course for the entire day. This will inform the students about the different aspects of the Legion Riders.
The final program is the Chaplain Course for those who are or may want to become a Chaplain and will explain your obligations and duties within your Post as the Chaplain. The first half of the day will be spent in the General Course.
For your convenience Department offers tow “colleges”. Choose to attend October 30, 2010 at Cumberland Valley High School (Mechanicsburg, PA) or November 6, 2010 at the Latrobe High School in Latrobe PA. Opening program begins at 8:30 am with all classes starting at 9:00 am.
Registration fee includes course material, a full course lunch and a Legion College pin.
Both facilities are non smoking.
Click Here for the Legion College application
View a video of the 2009/2010 year in review.
The 2010 Department Convention held at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel was a great success. View the great pictures below.
The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest veterans service organization, committed to mentoring and sponsorship of youth programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.
In contrast to other veterans organizations, the Legion offers a number of local programs and activities to strengthen its commitment to our nation’s grass roots and the people we serve. American Legion Baseball is one of the nation’s most successful amateur athletic programs; it continues to educate youths on the importance of sportsmanship and develops the quality of our country’s citizenship. The Heroes to Hometowns program is the only nationwide reintegration assistance service for wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, millions of dollars in donations have been given to fellow veterans and their families in times of grief, and various scholarship opportunities ensure the future success of our youth.
The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvements in the legislation process. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to their community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands not behind politics, but the issues and people that institute progress by focusing on veterans rights and quality of life.
The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.