We want your news. The quarterly newspaper for the American Legion Department of Pennsylvania, ”Keystone News” wants to publish what great things your Post has been doing.
What are you doing at your Post for your community, our veterans, and the youth of our nation? Let us know!
The “Keystone News” will now be scheduled for release after our DECs and Department Convention to get the latest information on Resolutions and Committee information reported at department meetings.
Since we have a DEC in January, the first issue of the year will be released in February. The following DEC is in April so, the second issue of the “Keystone News” will be start for May. The Department Convention is always in July so the third issue of the year will be released in August. And finally our last DEC is in September but to keep the news quarterly the last issue of the “Keystone News” will be released in November.
The issues will now follow this quarterly order:
February, March, April May, June, July August, September, October November, December, JanuaryIf you have any questions regarding the “Keystone News” please contact Shannon Kyle
We also want your news for the website. Please include a little who, what, where, when, why and pictures for the “Keystone News” articles as well as your articles for the website.
The website allows us to post many pictures of your events; whereas, the “Keystone News” normally allows for only one or two because of space limitations.
Please email or mail your articles to Shannon Kyle
PA American Legion Keystone News c/o Shannon Kyle 2072 Rockfield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15243
Last year only eleven percent (11%) of posts in Pennsylvania reported their Community Service activities. The Community Service committee does not understand the reason for every post not reporting their community service activities. Every post does something for their community. Therefore, every post should be sending in a report. Our goal this year is to raise the percentage of post reporting to fifty percent (50%).
the community service report form is very easy to use. the first page asks for the important projects your post did, for the community, in the past year. They can be anything from a major undertaking, like a memorial, to helping with a community celebration, to donating money to help with a community celebration or project.
To make it easier to report your activities, there are five categories listed:
- Community Clean Up
- Community Charity Fund Raisers
- Community Service Donations
- Community Volunteer Services
- Active Duty and Veterans Support
Just fill in the blanks. Every post does something in one or more of these categories.
This year the committee wants to know how many things you do in your community that are published. Each year we donate thousands of dollars and volunteer thousands of hours of service to our communities. but yet when people drive past our post homes they think of us as just another bar. It’s our fault. It is our fault because we fail to tell the public of all the good things we do. If we are to change this image of just another bar, we have to tell the public of the good things we do. It is our belief that when we start telling people the good things we do, it will change not only the image of just another bar, but will help the younger veterans see what a great organization we have. And this will help with membership.
As an incentive there are awards given at the convention,. Each year one post from each membership category, is selected to receive a plaque as the best post in Pennsylvania. Wouldn’t a plaque showing how good your post is look good hanging on the wall of your post home? But, you can not receive an award if you don’t send in a report.
REMEMBER: COMMUNITY SERVICE IS ANYTHING THAT BENEFITS YOUR COMMUNITY!!!
By: William H. Bowers Chairman Community Service Committee PA American Legion
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Oct. 26, 2011) — The remains of 10 Army Air Force members, missing in action since World War II, were finally laid to rest today in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. The airmen were carrying out a bombing mission over Berlin on April 29, 1944 in their B-24J Liberator aircraft when it crashed near the town of East Meitze, Germany. German documents captured after the war stated there were no survivors in the crash which occurred north of the city of Hanover, about halfway between Berlin and the North Sea. German forces buried the remains of three of the airmen in a cemetery near Hanover, Germany, shortly after the crash.
In 1946, the Army Graves Registration Service exhumed the remains of the three and identified one as 2nd Lt. Thomas Digman Jr. of Pittsburgh and another as Sgt. James T. Blong of Port Washington, Wis. The third set of remains could not be identified then, but all three were reburied in a U.S. military cemetery in Condroz, Belgium. In 2003, a German national located the site of the crash and recovered human remains, which were turned over to U.S. officials.
In 2005, a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, or JPAC team excavated the crash site and gathered additional human remains, military equipment, and metal identification tags for four of the airmen. The team also recovered a class ring with the initials AWL — presumably belonging to 2nd Lt. Arthur W. Luce, one of the pilots, from Fort Bragg, Calif. One of the ID tags found was for the other pilot, 2nd Lt. Robert R. Bishop of Joliet, Ill.
In 2007, a JPAC team completed the site excavation and found additional evidence that helped to confirm the identity of the crew. Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used dental analysis and mitochondrial DNA — which matched that of some of the crewmembers’ families — in the identification of their remains.
Along with Bishop, Luce, Digman and Blong, the airmen buried in Arlington National Cemetery included: — Sgt. John P. Bonnassiolle of Oakland, Calif. — Sgt. Michael A. Chiodo of Cleveland — Sgt. John J. Harringer Jr. of South Bend, Ind. — 2nd Lt. Donald W. Hess of Sioux City, Iowa — Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Karaso, of Philadelphia — Staff Sgt. Ralph L. McDonald of East Point, Ga. They were buried as a group, in a single casket representing the entire crew, in Arlington National Cemetery, Va. Hess and Karaso will also be interred individually in Arlington National Cemetery.
At the end of the World War II, the U.S. government was unable to recover and identify approximately 79,000 Americans. Today, more than 73,000 remain unaccounted-for from the conflict.
More Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are receiving mental health care from the Veterans Affairs Department, but officials in a recent report still cited barriers that may be preventing some from getting the care they need.
According to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office, only a little more than 8 percent of those who served in those wars sought help from VA from 2006 to 2010.
The number of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan getting treatment increased from about 34,500 in 2006, or 4 percent of the total, to just more than 139,000 in 2010, the GAO reported. That means 12 percent of the 1.2 million veterans who sought mental health care last year are veterans from the latest wars.
The report states that some veterans are hindered to receive care because they’re concerned about their privacy, they may not know the services exist, or they simply cannot get to a treatment center if they live somewhere rural, the report stated. VA officials also believe younger veterans may have a perception that the system caters to older veterans, the report said. Plus, veterans just starting out in their civilian lives are often balancing priorities such as school, family and work, and seeking help doesn’t always make the list.
There are an estimated 2.6 million living veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and 23 million total veterans dating back to World War II, according to the GAO.
But the two most recent conflicts are different when it comes to diagnosis and treatment for mental health issues, the report states. Since the VA has changed how it screens for mental disease, more troops may have their conditions recognized, the report said.
Now, troops are screened for PTSD, depression, substance abuse disorders and sexual trauma when they visit a primary care clinic, the report said.
Veterans were most commonly diagnosed with adjustment reaction, depressive disorder, episodic mood disorder, neurotic disorder and substance abuse disorder.
Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were most likely to be diagnosed with adjustment reaction, which includes post-traumatic stress disorder. In those five years, 96,916 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans were diagnosed with PTSD.
But VA is making changes to accommodate more patients, the report said.
Is it enough?
From 2008 to 2011, the VA opened 60 Vet Centers to offer free counseling, bringing the total of these outlets to 292, and it plans to open eight more by the end of this year. It has also increased the number of mental health workers by nearly 7,000 to 21,000 this year, the GAO reported.
The VA redesigned its websites for the Office of Mental Health Services and the National Center for PTSD and uses sites such as Twitter and Facebook to get the word out about mental health help.
View the highlighted page from the GAO or View the entire report from the GAO
The assistance in mental health is crucial as suicide among our military has been increasing each year. Nearly a decade after the United States went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq, the suicide rate among soldiers and veterans – though lower than the civilian rate – is rising sharply, leading to criticism that the military leaders aren’t doing enough to help service members. President Obama acknowledged the severity of the problem this year when he finally began sending condolence letters to families.
One suicide is too many and one soldier suffering from PTSD or depression is also too many.
Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by visiting the organization’s website at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
As it stands now, students returning home after completing their freshman year in college are eligible to play Legion Baseball. But come 2015, that will all change - American Legion Baseball will become a junior-high and high-school age program.
Participants in all other American Legion youth programs, such as Boys State/Boys Nation, Shooting Sports and the Oratorical Contest, are limited to those attending high school. Thus, in effort to create uniformity amongst Legion youth programs, the National Executive Committee of The American Legion passed Resolution 46, restricting Legion Baseball player eligibility to junior high and high school students.
As foreseen by the NEC, the restriction will allow more high school athletes the opportunity to play Legion ball, because it will free up the limited number of places on team rosters, which are currently held by college-eligible players. The restriction to high school students will also help increase college coaches and scouts attendance at games and interest in players, allowing the young men a chance to display their skills and talents.
Recently, American Legion Post 764, located in Springdale, PA hosted our 15th annual event. Sunday, June 12th, we will held our annual Flag Retirement ceremony for the citizenry in our community with the assistance of the Boy Scouts and the Cub Scouts. Soon will be the Independence Day Parade. Much to share. Here is some info if you need it.
On Sunday, May 15th, American Legion Post 764 of Springdale met to hold their 15th annual Harry C. Leftwich Bike/Helmet Safety Day. Attending were over 50 children, police officers, paramedics, Legion officers, local businessmen, the Mayor and other individuals. Each child was presented a free, new helmet and the helmets were professionally fitted. 6 bicycles were raffled off to boys and girls alike. Gift bags were given to each child attending. The rain held and it was a great day for all.
Start making plans for your National Convention. Please note the documents announcing our Legion Night at Target Field with the Minnesota Twins and American Legion Family Nights with the Minnesota Vikings.
You may at any time visit our website, www.legion.org/convention/resources, to obtain this information as well. Thank you for your time and look forward to another successful national convention.
Click here for the flyer for the Minnesota Twins
Click here for the flyer for the Minnesota Vikings
Pennsylvania American Legion 66th Annual Bowling Tournament.
Pennsylvania American Legion Post Robert P. Hite 257 is hosting the event this year at the Terrace Lanes Bowling Center in Somerset. The event will be two weekends only - April 16 & 17 and April 30 & May 1.
Entery Fee per event
Five Member Team… $100
Doubles Team……….$40
Singles………………..$20
Advance reservations must be completed by midnight April 1, 2011.
Important: All bowlers must be bonafide members of The American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion, with the exception of one social member per team. Post Adjutant must certify membership. All participants must check in at Post 257 brior to bowling.
Send entries/inquires to: Pennsylvania American Legion Bowling Tournament
ATTN: SAMUEL F DONIA
AMERICAN LEGION POST 257
PO BOX 556
STOYSTOWN, PA 15563
For more information -
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.”