OPEN HOUSE
America
n Legion Post 46 and VFW Post 423 are sponsoring an Open House, October 24 from 10am to 5pm at the VFW Post located at 3230 S. Wagner Road in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Representatives who will be there to answer any questions will be: VFW Post 423, American Legion Post 46, VVA Chapter 310, American Legion Department membership, Veteran Service Officers from both VFW and American Legion Departments, ACR Law Offices to answer questions regarding powers of attorney and wills, RSVP volunteers who assist seniors, Catholic Social Services, Humana, and Mission 22 to answer questions about veteran suicide. Light refreshments will be available. Come out and get questions answered and talk with other veterans.
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First Anniversary of the Dedication of the Flagpole
at Veterans Memorial Park, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Last year the Ann Arbor Legion Post 46 held a dedication ceremony for the installation of a new flagpole at Veterans Memorial Park. This year, a small group of Post 46 members assembled to celebrate the first year anniversary of that event. The reading of "I Am The Flag" and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Post 46 Donates To Fisher House Ann Arbor Cart
Fisher House Michigan Director Kate Melcher accepts a $2,000 donation from Post 46 Commander Dave Draper. The donation will go towards the purchase of a new cart that will be used to transport Fisher House guests from the House to the VA and back.Donations are still being accepted so they can purchase optional equipment like an enclosure, heat, etc. Click this link to donate: https://givebutter.com/golfcart?blm_aid=74903553.
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Post 46 Donates to the Ann Abor Delonis Center
The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County at the Delonis Center provides temporary shelter and connections to services in a safe and caring environment to the homeless of Washtenaw County. In the past they looked to churches with vans in the local community to transport the homeless to events and to churches that are able to help temporarily reduce the load on the center, especially during the winter, by taking them in. Recently they started a fundraiser to purchase a van of their own. Through the generous donations from the public, businesses, and organizations such as ours, they were able to purchase this van. It's a 2019 Ford Transit 15 passenger van with only 27,000 miles. More donations were received than the cost of the van, so they will be using the excess to pay for the insurance and future repairs. Thanks to our members for their compassion for the homeless community, several of whom are veterans.
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FREE DENTAL SERVICES ON VETERANS DAY
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Guitars For Vets
The Ann Arbor Guitars for Vets is a national organization that helps veterans with PTSD cope through music. Students meet once a week for ten weeks to learn the art of playing a guitar. At the end of the ten weeks the students receive a free acoustic guitar. The organization normally meets at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center but because of COVID, they are currently meeting at the Ann Arbor VFW Post 423. Click on the logo at the left to see more pictures.
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Space Force veterans and active duty military now welcome in the American Legion
Whe
n the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act was signed by the presiednt in 2019 and beame Public Law 116-92, the Space Force was added to Section 101(a)(4) of Title 10, which now reads: "(4) The term 'armed forces' means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard. "Since Section 21703 stipulates only "Armed Forces" and U.S. Code now includes the Space Force in its definition, no actions are required by The American Legion to accept Space Force servicemembers into the organization.
(From The American Legion Magazine)
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Check out a unique look at Veterans Memorial Park in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Here is presented a "birdseye" view of the flag and flagpole that was installed last year. The project was financed by American Legion Post 46, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 423, and the City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Department.
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Ann
Arbor VA Medical Center a step closer to being renamed in honor of Medal of Honor Recipient LTC Kettles. Click HERE to see a press release by Senator Peters' office on a bill being introduced.
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Need food in these trying times. No one should go hungry as we deal with this COVID virus. Click HERE to see a list of food pantries in Washtenaw County. This list is provided by Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor.
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Resources to Keep Updated On Coronavirus (COVID 19)
Governor's COVID-19 Executive Orders
World Health Organization (WHO)
The American Legion and our local Post 46 want you to practice safe practices to keep yourself and those around you from contracting the Coronavirus. A lot of misinformation is being distributed through social media. Keep abreast of the latest restrictions and hopefully updates on the progress of an antidote for this virus by checking the above sites frequently. Be well and stay safe.
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VA News Releases |
12/31/2019 03:03 PM EST The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will begin deciding claims for the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 at 12:01 a.m., Philippine Standard Time, Jan. 1, 2020. The Philippines is the farthest east VA regional benefits office. |
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Landmark Presidential Signing of the POW MIA Flag Act
Law now requires the POW/MIA flag to be displayed whenever the American flag is displayed on prominent federal properties, including the White House, U.S. Capitol, World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, every national cemetery, the buildings containing the official offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs, office of the Director of the Selective Service System, each major military installation, each Department of Veterans Affairs medical center, and each U.S. Postal Service post office.
Read more here POW/MIA Flag Act
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Congress Approves LEGION Act
7/23: The U.S. House passed the bipartisan LEGION Act on Tuesday, extending the recognized wartime era back to Dec. 7, 1941.
The LEGION Act — Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National Service Act — fills in the gaps of war eras and redefines The American Legion’s membership eligibility dates, beginning with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and continuing until it is determined the United States is no longer in a state of war.
President Trump is expected to sign Senate bill S.504 into law later this week. When it becomes law, the legislation opens the door for hundreds of thousands of veterans to access American Legion programs and benefits for which they previously had not been eligible.
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From the Office of the Press Secretery
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2019
"On Tuesday, June 25, 2019 the President signed into law:
H.R. 299, "Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019," which requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to include Blue Water Navy veterans under the presumption of service connection for certain Agent Orange connected medical conditions; and make various changes to VA's home loan programs; and"
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Fisher House
Today, April 20, 2020 the Ann Arbor Fisher House has officially opened.
Because of the COVID virus, the facility is temporarily being used to house medical staff and family members who are spending their final moments with palliative care patients.
June 14th Fisher House broke ground for a new Fisher House at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center. It is the first Fisher House to be built in Michigan. See pictures from the Ceremony.
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VA MISSION Act:
Answers to the top five questions about urgent care. Read about it here
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Comments From The Ann Arbor Legion Post 46 Commander Dave Draper
Another fiscal year is about to come to a close with officer elections coming very shortly, depending on the progress of the treatment for the COVID 19 virus.
Our post supports the VA Medical Center here in Ann Arbor. Each year we contribute to our local VA both financially and through volunteering. We have contributed to the patient coffee fund, contributed a coffee maker for the oncology department, funded gift certificates for the patients, provided a luncheon for the VA Security team on Police Appreciation Week, we host bingo once a month and provide cash winnings to the participating patients, we have several members who volunteer their time during each week to serve at various positions at the VA, and we continue our commitment to the financial support of the new Fisher House being constructed on the VA grounds.
On a community level, our post recently donated to the Food Gatherers to help support the student lunch program while the coronavirus is active. We worked with the Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation to have a flagpole and flag erected at Veterans Memorial Park. Partnering with VFW Post 423, we provided a major part of the funding for that project. Every year during the week of Memorial Day we place gravesite flags for deceased veterans at Bethlehem Cemetery. We also meet the needs of veterans through purchasing groceries and occasionally household supplies.
Our post has also provided scholarships to the University of Michigan ROTC cadets, financially supported the Boys State program, sponsored a Poppy Drive to raise money for an organization that helps veterans and their caregivers with PTSD, sponsored fifteen wreaths which will be placed on gravesites by us at Great Lakes National Cemetery during Wreaths Across America week, began the process to start a Jr. Air Rifle program, and annually we participate in the Walk and Roll 22 awareness walk put on by WACU.
We are always looking to find more ways to serve our veterans, active-duty military and our local community. We hope you will feel inspired to join us and help us to serve. Recently passed legislation allows all honorably discharged veterans to join our organization- whether you served in a combat zone or was a desk clerk at a stateside base. You served a purpose and helped keep our Nation safe, no matter how large or small your part.
Dave Draper
Commander
Erwin Prieskorn
American Legion
Post 46
Ann Arbor, Michigan