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February 1, 2010 American Legion’s Operation Comfort Warriors competes for $250K Pepsi grant Votes Needed! The American Legion’s Operation Comfort Warriors is competing for a $250,000 grant to be awarded by Pepsi Cola, Inc. More than 700 charities are competing for grants, which are determined by the number of votes received at its Web site. As of this morning, Operation Comfort Warriors was 21st in voting. The top two vote getters will receive quarter-million dollar grants. Visitors can cast their votes at http://www.refresheverything.com/operationcomfortwarriors. Since December 2008, the American Legion family has raised funds for Operation Comfort Warriors, a program dedicated to meeting the needs of wounded military personnel, providing them with comfort items not usually supplied by the government. OCW ensures that patients at U.S. military hospitals and warrior transition units are given items like sweat suits, DVDs, puzzles, electronic devices, books, calling cards and more. “The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continue. Military service will always include inherent dangers from training and other hazardous duties,” American Legion National Commander Clarence E. Hill said. “As long as our men and women are in harm’s way, there will continue to be wounded warriors. The American Legion needs to be there for our heroes. Operation Comfort Warriors is an excellent way to show our appreciation for their sacrifices. I urge all Americans to show their appreciation by voting for it on the Pepsi Refresh Everything Web site.” All administrative and marketing costs for Operation Comfort Warriors are paid for by The American Legion, meaning 100 percent of all donations and grants received go to the troops. With a current 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 youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.
January 26, 2010 Local Veterans Answer a Call for Help: (Click to Enlarge Photo)  Members of Walter E. Cole Post 187, Wake Forest, packing supplies for Afghanistan Marines. Pictured are Hank Pierwola, Anne and John Deal, Susie and Dave Frohnapple. Not pictured: Monica Cash and Mark Taraquinio. A recent email requesting help came into the Wake County Sherriff’s Department seeking donations of peanut butter, baby wipes and snacks for a group of detached Marines located at a lonely Afghanistan fire base. The group of about 10 Marines was at Fire Observation Base (FOB) “Jaker” and members of H & S Company 1/3 Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC. The base is distant from the support facility making resupply difficult. The email stated the Marines would appreciate anything small that can be sent to help them survive during the unscheduled resupply missions. The challenge was taken up by Monica Cash, a member of Rolling Thunder 7 and the Walter E. Cole American Legion Post 187, Wake Forest. After soliciting both organizations for funds and food stocks, shopping began. “Everyone jumped in and gave donations for this cause” said Monica Cash. A group of volunteers within a week put together 25 boxes filled with non-perishable food and snacks that would last between supply missions for the Marines. On January 15th the group of volunteers packed the boxes of food and personal items to send to the Marines as they continue defending our freedom by keeping the enemy at bay far from home; allowing us to live our lives safe and sound.
January 22, 2010 Executive Summary
The American Legion, Department
of North Carolina
Reference: Annual Department
Commander visits to North Carolina VA Medical Centers Read the complete report here... January 22, 2010 North Carolina Military Business Center Letter Helping to leverage military and other federal business opportunities for economic development and quality of life in North Carolina. January 22, 2010 MID-WINTER CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 19-20, 2010 Click Here for Conference Schedule (Updated FEB 02, 2010) January 22, 2010 The American Legion NC Department is updating its website links to the AL, SAL, and Auxiliary posts and squadrons in North Carolina, and is providing a contact page on the nclegion.org website for each post and squadron. This page will contain basic contact information and a photograph, along with a website link to a post or squadron's home website if they have one. Please click here to see the current list of nclegion.org post and squadron pages. Please click here to see a sample of what your website page will look like. Contact the Department Adjutant with your contact information and photo if you want to be listed on the nclegion.org website. Your page will be linked to a search database on the American Legion national organization website, and will help prospective new members find your post or squadron. Thank you for your cooperation. January 22, 2010 AMERICAN LEGION BIRTHDAY CAN BE A WINDOW DISPLAY What does your community as a whole know about The American Legion? The late 1980's and early 1990's have seen The American Legion experience rapid growth. But the growth also calls for additional commitment to share The American Legion story. And what better time to tell the story than during the Legion's 91 st Birthday in March?In March, The American Legion celebrates 91 years of service to the United States and to thousands of communities around the nation. But, while knowledgeable legionnaires are aware of their organization's purposes, other citizens might well ask, “What does The American Legion mean to me?" Since 1919, the men and women of the Legion have dedicated themselves to doing whatever they could for those less fortunate than they. It was the Legion which saw the need for meaningful activities for the nation's youth. Through support for the Boy Scouts, American Legion Boys' State and Boys' Nation (and parallel programs sponsored by The American Legion Auxiliary), Student Trooper Program, American Legion Baseball, and countless other localized programs, the Legion has taught the values of good sportsmanship and responsible citizenship. Many an American Legion Post has been a pacesetter in community involvement. Once way of telling your community about The American Legion and its programs is a display(pictures, awards, scout or baseball uniforms, etc.) put in a store front window downtown or a shopping center. December 23, 2009 TRICARE Program for Gray Area Reservists On Its Way December 17, 2009 No. 09-76 FALLS CHURCH, Va. - A new program will offer "gray area" reservists the opportunity to purchase TRICARE health care coverage. While qualified members of the Selected Reserve may purchase premium-based coverage under TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS), retired National Guard and Reserve personnel did not have TRICARE health coverage options until they reached age 60. Under a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010, that's all changed. The new provision will allow certain members of the Retired Reserve who are not yet age 60 ("gray-area" retirees), to purchase TRICARE Standard (and Extra) coverage. TRICARE Extra simply means beneficiaries have lower out of pocket costs if they use a network provider. "We're working hard to coordinate all the details of eligibility, coverage and costs, and expedite implementation of this important program," said Rear Adm. Christine Hunter, deputy director of the TRICARE Management Activity. "This is a major benefit program with implementation on the same magnitude as TRS. It will require detailed design, development and testing, but qualified retired reservists should be able to purchase coverage by late summer or early fall of 2010." While the health care benefit provided for gray-area retirees will be TRICARE Standard and Extra - similar to TRS - the new program will differ from TRS in its qualifications, premiums, copayment rates and catastrophic cap requirements. The program is tentatively called TRICARE Retired Reserve. The new statute requires premium rates to equal the full cost of the coverage. That is the major difference contrasted with TRS, where the statute provides that Selected Reserve members pay only 28 percent of the cost of the coverage. Premiums for the new gray area retiree program will be announced after program rules are published in the Federal Register. This new program offers an important health coverage option for Reserve and National Guard members who served their country honorably before hanging up their uniforms at retirement, said Hunter. For more information about TRICARE benefits go to http://www.tricare.mil About TRICARE Management Activity and the Military Health System TRICARE Management Activity, the Defense Department activity that administers the health care plan for the uniformed services, retirees and their families, serves more than 9.5 million eligible beneficiaries worldwide in the Military Health System (MHS). The mission of the MHS is to enhance Department of Defense and national security by providing health support for the full range of military operations. The MHS provides quality medical care through a network of providers, military treatment facilities, medical clinics and dental clinics worldwide. For more about the MHS go to www.health.mil.
Dear Departments, It’s that time of year again. Time when The American Legion usually outdoes itself in the normal 100 percent support it shows the troops. Last year at about this time, Operation Comfort Warriors was born. By the end of December, $100,000 was raised to purchase comfort items ranging from hooded sweat shirts to socks to small electronics for our troops in military hospitals and warrior transition units around the world. These donations helped brighten the holidays for many of our wounded warriors. Back in August, National Commander Hill set a goal to raise another $100,000 by the end of the year. We were at $189,000 at the time. Today, we have raised $227,938 since OCW’s inception. That means we need just more than $61,000 to reach this goal. I know that with your help, we can reach that goal. Many worthy requests come from the various hospitals and units. One that sticks out is the request from the Fort Carson, Colorado, Wounded Warrior Battalion, to purchase 50 “Tens Units” at $31.48 each. Tens units are pain management devices. They are effectively used in the management of extreme debilitating headaches, often associated with head trauma, severe TBI and repeated blast concussions. Many of our wounded have these issues, and even with the abundant medications they are given, still suffer the head pain. The company which manufactures the devices will provide them at a 50 percent discount if we purchase them. Other needs from Fort Carson include “barracks kits” filled with personal toiletries, bed linens, bathroom linens, pillow, pajamas, socks, books, phone card and other items for the room. As most of you are aware, The American Legion spends no money on marketing or overhead for OCW. 100 percent of the donations go to the troops. Your National Security Division has been very efficient at responding to the needs of the bases worldwide and there is rarely more than $20,000 in the account at any given time. Other items purchased and future needs include DVDs, CDs, books, duffle bags, backpacks, gift cards, puzzles and even laptops for common areas. We have already helped Walter Reed, Landstuhl, Bethesda, Camp Pendleton, Fort Hood, Camp Lejeune, Fort Lewis, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg and more places than I can mention here. Operation Comfort Warriors will be contributing to just about every U.S. military hospital or warrior transition unit in the world. Donations can be made online at www.legion.org/ocw or by mailing checks to Operation Comfort Warriors, PO Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206. Thank you for your continued support on this. Governor Perdue Signs Proclamation - November 6, 2009
Gov. Beverly Purdue signed proclamations for the various veterans organizations proclaiming Wednesday, November 11, 2009, as Veterans Day in North Carolina and called upon veterans in this great state to hear their medals in observance of Veterans Day so that all North Carolinians will have the opportunity to express appreciation for their service. The governor urged all citizens of the State of NC to join in honoring veterans and military personnel on this occasion. Members of the Legion in attendance were Commander Lou Cook, Adjutant Frank Stancil, Past National Commander Ray Smith and Legionnaire Patricia Harris.
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