Merry Christmas and Military Bowl Saturday

Anyone interested in being in the Military Bowl Parade on Saturda should let me know ASAP. It should be about 55 degrees. 

We need to be in Annapolis about 8 to 8:30 am. Parade starts at 9 am.

Bring Post Colors

Post 295 - We can do a color guard if we have enough to go.

We have 3 vehicles to ride in as well.

V/r,

Bob Ouellette

Post Commander

"DYING FOR FREEDOM IS NOT THE WORSE THING THAT COULD HAPPEN...BEING FORGOTTEN IS."

Montgomery County Caucus 2014-2105

Just a little reminder for the Montgomery County Caucus THIS THURSDAYat Rockville 86, 7:00 PM. There are a number of openings and we need everyone’s help. Be sure that your post is represented. Membership is now officially closed for this year and delegate strength will be announced this week. Be sure to send back your delegate registration immediately after you get it following the directions that will be provided with the forms and lists of delegate numbers. You wait, and you will pay late fees!!! The SMD Caucus will be Sunday, June 29, Noon, at Clinton Post 259. This, too, requires your attendance. Thanks for a great year and see ya on down the road! FOR THE COMMANDER: Will T.

PTSD Support Group for Families

Vietnam Veterans Memorial, American Legion Post 295 is holding an Open House for a new Operation Provide Comfort II (OPCII) program, "PTSD Support Group for Families."  Post 295 is seeking to help the family members of those who have served out Nation with information and tools to support thier family members who may be dealing with PTSD. 

We invite family members and veterans to come by the Willow Tree Inn at the  Montgomery Village Golf Club, 19550 Montgomery Village Ave, Montgomery Village, from Noon to 4 PM on November 12th. 

Our effort to serve the community begins with providing emotional support and relaxation methods to deal with the stressors of everyday life. 

During the open house an American Legion Service Officer will be available to answer questions on VA benefits; Massage Therapists for relaxation and an informational presentation on Transcendental Meditation and more. 

Scheduled to attend:
Valerie Cochran, American Legion Service Officer will answer VA  
related questions.

The David Lynch Foundation will provide an Introduction to  
transcendental Meditation. (Did you read the last Legion Magazine on
how TM has helped with PTSD symptoms?)

Montgomery County Mental Health Association's, Troops, Veterans and Family Care Project will provide information on the Mental Health First Aid Program.

Crystal Tucker will demonstrate, massage and relaxation techniques.

Media Inquires here.

Post 295 is not a medical provider, we are providing a venue for those affected by war and conflict to find peers and support. Our mission is simple:  provide a sympathetic ear, emotional & physical support to family members with dealing PTSD in the family.

American Legion Post 295 was founded in 1983 and has been supporting the community ever since. Our baseball program, Gaithersburg Post 295, has meet with unparalleled success in the County.

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.

URGENT: American Legion National Headquarters Request - Call your Senator NOW!

For the Veteran,

Bob Ouellette

The American Legion
~Commander, Southern Maryland District

Direct: 240-505-4660
Office: 703-697-3397
Email: BobO@post295.org

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "BobO" <BobO@post295.org>
Reply-To: <BobO@post295.org>
Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2011 12:01:23 -0500

Legionnaires,

This is an extremley important piece of Legistlation that clarifies Post relations.

Please call. See below.

For the Veteran,

Bob Ouellette

The American Legion
~Commander, Southern Maryland District

Direct: 240-505-4660
Office: 703-697-3397
Email: BobO@post295.org

Direct: 240-505-4660
Office: 703-697-3397
Email: BobO@post295.org

From: Tim Tetz [mailto:leg@legion.org]
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 4:41 PM

TAKE ACTION! Call your Senator NOW!

S.1639, the American Legion Charter Modernization Act.

More <http://capwiz.com/legion/utr/1/OEDHQPRFVE/CGSTQPRFZZ/7416935816> Info

Call your Senator NOW!

(October 5, 2011) The American Legion is now providing its members a new service which allows Legion members to renew their membership and pay their dues online over the Internet. Last year, The American Legion's National Convention adopted an amendment to its National Constitution to authorize this new service.

Prior to this new service, all dues payments flowed to the national organization from posts through our departments. Online renewal has raised a concern, however, that because some dues monies now flow from the national organization to the departments and posts, the national organization has
"control" over those departments and posts.

In order to resolve this "control" issue, The American Legion has sought legislation to change its Corporate Charter to clarify the autonomous, independent nature of American Legion posts and departments. Congress must pass and the president must sign into law any amendment to The American Legion's Corporate Charter.

Senators Jon Tester (MT) and Dean Heller (NV) recently introduced S.1639, The American Legion Charter Modernization Act. This legislation would clarify the autonomous, independent nature of American Legion posts and departments by clarifying what courts have already ruled - that no independent entity of The American Legion is legally responsible for the actions of another and that its posts and departments are independent of the national organization.

We've just been informed the bill has been expedited out of the Judiciary Committee and Leader Harry Reid (NV) will be hotlining it later this afternoon. "Hotlining," as it is called, is meant to be a fast method of passing legislation under a unanimous consent agreement. Assuming there is no objection made by either side, it should clear the Senate later this evening or early tomorrow.

Please call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your Senator's office. Ask for the staff person following this bill. Identify yourself and tell the aide you request the Senator not object to the unanimous consent agreement on S.1639.

Earlier this year, then-National Commander Jimmie Foster said, "It is important to remember that online renewal is a choice, not a mandate. Judging from the number of online renewals so far, the membership seems to like to have that as an option to mailed renewals. More and more, people want to conduct business online, and the Legion is working to provide that convenience while at the same time ensuring the highest standards of security."

Again, please call 202-224-3121 and support The American Legion and The American Legion Charter Modernization Act.

Legion backs Nevada senator’s push to pass VA funding law

       WASHINGTON (Sept. 16, 2011) -- The American Legion is lauding freshman Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada for his campaign to encourage colleagues to put aside their differences and pass quickly a bill to provide funding for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

        The Senate and House of Representatives passed separate versions of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2055) in mid-summer, but minor differences remain that must be reconciled before the legislation can be combined and signed into law by President Obama.

        On Sept. 15, Heller, a new Senator but veteran Congressman, sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, urging them to pass the legislation as soon as possible so as to not endanger, among other things, the timely payment of benefits to veterans. 

        “The benefits owed to the men and women who have served in the Armed Services should not be jeopardized because Congress has not had the self-discipline necessary to pass a responsible budget,” Heller said.  “Both parties from the House and Senate need to work out their differences and pass this legislation so our veterans can be certain they will receive every benefit promised to them.  Moving this process forward is the least we can do for the men and women who have selflessly served our nation and risked their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today,” he said.

        “This is a point I’ll be making in my testimony before the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Sept. 21^st,” said Fang A. Wong, newly elected national commander of The American Legion. “It would be easy for Congress to include VA funding in a continuing resolution, but that won’t get the job done. They need to iron out a few minor differences in conference committee – this should be completed outside of a continuing resolution.”

        To date, a conference committee to settle the differences between the House and Senate versions of the Mil Con-VA Appropriations Act has not been formed.  “Our nation’s veterans didn’t take the easy way out while serving their nation,” Wong said.  “The best thing Congress can do is fund the VA for the entire fiscal year and stop playing political games with this issue.”

-30-

Contact:  Marty Callaghan, 202-263-5758/202-215-8644 or Craig Roberts, 202-263-2982/ 202-406-0887.

Fwd: Release: Legion backs Nevada senator's push to pass VA funding law

Etiam Servis, For the Veteran!

Bob Ouellette

Commander So MD Dist.

Commander Post 295

The American Legion

Correspondant Grand du MD / VL 265

Grand Chef de Gare Passé 

    Grand du Maryland

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: LEROYTHORN@aol.com
Date: September 17, 2011 7:26:22 AM MDT
To: cmbacon1@verizon.net, mikem183@hotmail.com, elbertwhite@comcast.net, wfmilligan@verizon.net, davcon540@verizon.net, leroythorn@aol.com, pepperjews@msn.com, polknancy36@yahoo.com, jfmilburn@verizon.net, tom@mdlegion.org, alcmdr0506@verizon.net, dpdorsey@comcast.net, delaware_adjutant@verizon.net, bobjohnson36@comcast.net, mikeschlee@yahoo.com, mike@mdlegion.org, mikeduggan59@yahoo.com, al9798cmdrmd@comcast.net, rleefisher@msn.com, lewistrott@starpower.net, gbrowning2@verizon.net, casp101@verizon.net, MUD221@md.metrocast.net, butch@hereintown.net, pdcdoug@verizon.net, faporter@co.pg.md.us, gary@giffords.org, gvogt1946@comcast.net, melsmul@aol.com, jdcoastie@msn.com, cantymaxine@aol.com, bobo@post295.org, russell.myersjr@us.army.mil
Cc: dewinpigler@verizon.net
Subject: Fwd: Release: Legion backs Nevada senator's push to pass VA funding law

For your info

 

Leroy E Thornton
National Executive Committeeman
American Legion
Department of Maryland

Veterans seen as vital to jobs bill

National Commander supports Obama's plan to deploy veterans in the battle to revive America's economy.

WASHINGTON (Sept. 8, 2011) - Pressing Congress to pass the American Jobs Act, which aims to reduce unemployment and stimulate U.S. productivity, President Barack Obama told a joint session of Congress Thursday evening to look to the nation's veterans, who have fought with their lives to defend our country. "The last thing they should have to do is fight for a job when they come home," he said.

The president's words in a Thursday evening address to the nation echoed what he said Aug. 30 at the 93rd National Convention of The American Legion in Minneapolis when he announced a plan to offer tax credits to companies that hire veterans. There, he told about 10,000 Legionnaires and their families that he was calling on every state "to pass legislation that makes it easier for our veterans to get the credentials and the jobs for which they are so clearly qualified. This needs to happen, and it needs to happen now."

American Legion National Commander Fang A. Wong said the president's plan to get more Americans back to work falls in line with the Legion's ongoing efforts to reduce veteran unemployment, especially among those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Far too many of our young veterans are returning home to find they can't get back into the workforce - is that a proper way for our country to reward these men and women who have served us so well overseas?" Wong said.

According to a Joint Economic Commission report to Congress last June, the unemployment rate for male veterans aged 18 to 24 stood at 27 percent.

"We sponsor more than 100 job fairs per year for servicemembers and veterans," Wong said. "We press federal agencies to hire more veterans. We show veteran-owned small businesses how to get more federal contracting dollars. So The American Legion heartily welcomes the jobs plan initiatives pertaining to veterans announced by President Obama, especially since they reinforce the White House's commitment to get more veterans employed."

In the address, Obama said the American Jobs Act will "provide a jolt" to an economy that is now stalled. He pinpointed education, transportation and small business as areas that can make an impact in the recovery. He told lawmakers that the measure will make it easier for small businesses to procure federal contracts. The American Legion is now working with the government to improve compliance with a federal law mandating that no less than 3 percent of federal contracts be awarded to businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.

Obama also spoke of the power the GI Bill {editorial note: Written by the American Legion} poses to stimulate the economy, as it did after World War II. "Millions of returning heroes, including my grandfather, had the opportunity to go to school because of the GI Bill. Where would we be if they hadn't had that chance?"

Earlier in the day, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee passed the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act (known as the VOW Act), sponsored by Rep. Jeff Miller of Florida. The bill would improve transition counseling for service members leaving active duty, and also help veterans to obtain licenses or certificates for skills they learned in the military.

"Military training and experience needs to be recognized by civilian employers. This is an issue The American Legion has taken to the White House and Congress many times," Wong said. "Now we are seeing some results - in the president's new initiatives to get more veterans hired, and in the VOWS Act that is making its way to a vote on the House floor.

"We have got to convince the private sector to recognize the full value of military service. Taxpayers invest a lot of money in their training. Such a huge investment must not be wasted," Wong said.

The American Legion has been pushing Congress and the private sector for wider recognition of military skills and experience. The Legion's Economic Division is planning to host a conference early next year on licensing and certification issues for veterans.

Telling Congress that "we are tougher than the times we live in," Obama echoed his Aug. 5 speech at the Washington Navy Yard. Before a largely military audience, he outlined four proposals to reduce the jobless rate among Post-9/11 veterans, including tax credits for firms that hire veterans who are unemployed or have service-connected disabilities.

"The president has challenged the private sector to hire or train 100,000 jobless veterans by the end of 2013," Wong said. "We join the president's call to action, but would like to up the ante. The American Legion is challenging America to bring veterans unemployment below the 5-percent mark before Election Day of 2012. Hiring veterans is one of the best ways to honor their service."

Contact: Marty Callaghan at 202-263-5758/202-215-8644 or mcallaghan@legion.org .