INDIANAPOLIS (January 27, 2015) – Military veterans in Blackford, Clinton, Grant, Howard, Huntington, Jay, Madison, Miami, Tipton, and Wabash County are invited next week for a special service session at American Legion Post No. 85 in New Huntington, located at 1410 S. Jefferson St. Huntington, IN 46750
National and state teams from The American Legion will be in town to discuss veteran’s benefits and service to the community.
All wartime veterans in these areas are invited to American Legion Post No. 85 to learn more about The American Legion and veteran benefits. Membership and veteran information staff will be available from 10 AM to 4 PM on Thursday and Friday, February 5th and February 6th, and from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, February 7th along with members of American Legion Posts in Central Indiana area to kick off this community and veteran service campaign.
In keeping with the over 94-year tradition of The American Legion, the rejuvenated American Legion posts in this area will focus on community service and assistance to veterans. The scope and nature of the posts’ community service will be determined by its members and inputs from local civic and community officials.
“Service! That’s what The American Legion is all about,” said Kenneth Hylton, Department Commander of The American Legion for the Department (state) of Indiana. “We exist to help each and every veteran, their families and the communities they live in.”
“Central Indiana is an ideal place to strengthen partnerships between the veterans and the community,” Hylton added. “The people here care about their community and practice good citizenship every day. Now, wartime veterans have a special place from which they can make a difference.”
Since its inception in 1919, The American Legion has been a key advocate for veterans’ benefits, children & youth, patriotic American values, a strong national defense and quality-of-life issues for those serving in today’s armed forces.
The organization, which spearheaded the original GI Bill, has been advocating reform of the veteran’s health care system under its GI Bill of Health. Creation of the federal forerunner of the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as the agency’s ascent to cabinet-level status is due in part to The American Legion’s advocacy. The American Legion was also instrumental in the establishment of the Veterans Home Loan, veterans hiring preference and just compensation to veterans suffering from illnesses related to their military service, including those whose ailments stem from exposure to Agent Orange and mysterious Persian Gulf origins.
Equally aggressive are The American Legion’s efforts to instill values in young people through numerous programs, including American Legion Boys State, American Legion Boys Nation, Junior Shooting Sports, the National High School Oratorical Contest, American Legion Baseball, Teenage Suicide Prevention, Child Health and a McGruff Safe Kids Program. The American Legion has supported Scouting since 1919. Many American Legion posts also support Junior ROTC high school units, fund-raising for handicapped children, and partnerships with other nonprofit organizations such as Special Olympics.
