SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Update And Guidance To Parents And Boys State Selectees
March 19, 2020
We have received a growing number of inquiries regarding COVID-19 and your 2020 American Legion Texas Boys State.
What to know:
1. Currently, the program is expected to occur. This could, of course, change as COVID-19 runs its course.
2. We are in very close contact with the University of Texas. Everyone hopes that by June all will have settled and we will be able to safely proceed.
3. Analysis is already being done on the ability to leverage technology to remotely conduct Boys State via on-line program and simulations, if necessary. The technology is powerful, and the exceptional folks on our team are already building a battle-plan on how amazing modern technology would permit us to innovate and still conduct a form of TBS. We hope to not rob all these rising high-school seniors of the experience entirely. More to follow, but we plan on creating a valuable and meaningful experience for these youngsters even if we can’t do so in-person.
4. Please continue, to every extent possible, with your normal processes of selection and registration.
5. We have had fantastically strong pre-Spring Break registration numbers, thanks to your heavy-lifting out at the Posts.
We are moving forward with calm dispatch and will adjust/flex/pivot as all becomes more clear.
We will share critical updates as they occur and all of this evolves. Thank you, always, for your support.
Above Guidance Provided By Casey Z. Thomas, Chairman, American Legion Texas Boys State
Remembering And Honoring Recipients Of The Medal Of Honor
U.S. Army
U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, And U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Air Force
World War I Era
Updated: March 22, 2020
First Sergeant Johannes S. Anderson, U.S. Army
132d Infantry, 33d Division, Company B
Date Of Issue: December 31, 1919
Place/Date Earned: At Consenvoye, France, October 8, 1918
CITATION:
While his company was being held up by intense artillery and machinegun fire, 1st Sgt. Anderson, without aid, voluntarily left the company and worked his way to the rear of the nest that was offering the most stubborn resistance. His advance was made through an open area and under constant hostile fire, but the mission was successfully accomplished, and he not only silenced the gun and captured it, but also brought back with him 23 prisoners.
Source: Congressional Medal Of Honor Society Web Site
Useful Links
The American Legion
The American Legion, Department of Texas
Williamson County Veterans Services Office
R.O.C.K. - Equine-Assisted Activities & Therapies
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Employment Services
A Veteran's Guide To Starting & Financing A Small Business
National Veterans Foundation - Numerous Veteran Resources
Veterans Fighting Methothelioma
Code VI (Veteran Integration) - Igniting The Spark Of Hope & Resilience In Veterans & Families
Waterloo Counseling Center - Affordable, Culturally Sensitive Mental Health Services To All People
Resilient Me (Veteran Resiliency Programs) - Healing Through Art
Coronavirus Resource Page Launched By Georgetown Chamber Of Commerce
ITEMS OF INTEREST
2020 American Legion National Commander Testimony To Congress
March 13, 2020
Click On The Button Below To View A Video Of The National Commander's Testimonial
National Commander's Pin Incentive Program
March 12, 2020
Click On The Button Below To Learn More About This Progrram
Purple Heart Integration Project Needs Your Donations To Build A Veteran-Centric Community In Georgetown
March 7, 2020
By each of us doing our part, together we can provide adapted housing, career training, and more to many of our wounded warriors who have sacrificed so much for our country. Individuals, communities, service providers, and building trade suppliers are empowered through the PHIProject.org to give back to wounded warriors in a sustainable, life-changing, and meaningful way.
The Purple Heart Integration Project is developing “America's Purple Heart City” in Georgetown Texas.
Together we are developing programs with corporate partners to provide career & life skills training. The grounds, buildings, and homes are being designed and adapted to meet the special needs of our wounded warriors. The grounds will provide additional sustenance through the vegetable gardens tended by the residents. We are building a state of the art pool and fitness facility for our residents. The event center will provide the opportunity for our resident veterans to participate in the production and operation of hosted events, while generating revenue for the program. Many of the structures, facilities and features will be developed through our “Design Challenge”.
Please click on the Video Clip below to view a 5-minute presentation about this initiative.
To make your donation to this excellent initiative for our wounded warriors, click on the "Donate" button below. Your 501c3 contributions are accepted through the Chisholm Trails Communities Foundation. THANK YOU!
Attention Korean War Veterans
March 2, 2020
Pennsylvania State Senator Bob Mensch is pleased to announce that he is working with U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (PA) to invite eligible U.S. veterans to apply for the Korean War "Ambassador for Peace Medal."
The "Ambassador for Peace Medal" was approved by the government of South Korea and will be awarded to U.S. veterans in a future presentation ceremony honoring recipients. Eligible U.S. veterans must complete an application and provide a copy of their DD-214 for verification purposes by the Korean Consulate.
To be eligible, U.S. veterans must have served in Korea at any time during the period of June 25, 1950 through July 27, 1953. U.S. Navy veterans are eligible if their vessel was assigned to Korean waters during this specific time. UN peacekeeping forces assigned to Korea through December 31 of 1955 are also eligible. Medals can also be provided posthumously to family members with proper documentation. Applications are available at Senator Mensch’s office or by visiting
https://www.senatormensch.com/Korean-peace-medal/
If you need an application to be mailed to you, or if you have questions, please call 215-541-
2388. Completed applications and a copy of your DD-214 can be returned to Senator Mensch’s office or mailed to the office of U.S. Senator Pat Toomey at 200 Chestnut Street, Suite 600, Philadelphia, PA 19106. The deadline for the application is Friday, April 3, 2020.
Again, if you have any questions, please call 215-541-2388 or email srasmussen@pasen.gov.
February 24, 2020
"They were boy scouts". WWII poster employed in US subways. Scouts became synonymous with respectability, courage and honor.
Listed are:
Douglas A. Munro, Signalman First-Class U.S.S.C.G., Medal of Honor
Quentin R. Walsh, Commander U.S.C.O., Navy Cross
Gene Oxley, Coxwain U.S.S.C.G., Silver Star
Paul Leamen Class, Fireman First-Class U.S.C.G Navy Cross
James A. Hirshfielf, Captain U.S.C.G., Navy Cross
After Years Of Vigilant Service, Veterans Must Remain Vigilant Online
(January 22, 2020)
The internet is a powerful tool for Veterans. It allows them to keep up with friends, access their hard-earned benefits and shop for the things they need. Unfortunately, former service members are more likely than civilians to be targeted by online scammers while doing these things. Veterans are twice as likely to lose money to fraud because of identity theft, phishing, impostor scams, and investment, loan, or donation deceptions.
Many of these scammers target Veterans to alter or access their government-provided aid, swindling them out of the money or benefits they have earned. This is a widespread issue. Nearly 80% of Veterans say they have been targeted by scams due to their service, according to an AARP survey. These scams are diverse and range from phishing attempts to solicitations for fraudulent Veteran-focused charities.
“Help the Vets” is one example of a fraudulent charity targeting Veterans. It claimed to fund medical care and mental health services for Veterans. An investigation found that “Help the Vets” spent 95% of donations on administrative costs and compensation for its founder. Just 5% of proceeds were actually used to benefit Veterans.
Scammers and identity thieves also target financially stressed Veterans with promising investment opportunities. Recently, a man defrauded about 2,600 people—many of whom are pension-holding Veterans—in a Ponzi scheme. The investor told these pension holders to make monthly payments and disguised them as cash flows.
Identity thieves have developed both low-tech and high-tech ways to steal Veterans’ data, like shoulder surfing and skimming. Shoulder surfing requires that someone physically look over your shoulder to steal your password, PIN, or credit card number. Skimming utilizes a device that fits onto regular credit card machines, allowing scammers to steal your credit card information.
How to protect your information
Veterans can take simple actions to better protect their information:
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Use unique passwords for your online accounts. Re-using passwords increases the risk of cyber theft.
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Use multi-factor authentication (MFA). This combines more than one authenticator type based on information users know and information users receive. It also adds another level of security when Veterans log in to access and manage VA services and benefits.
VA works hard to prevent Veteran identity theft. VA delivers cybersecurity awareness training for all VA employees. It ended the use of Social Security numbers in its business processes. Lastly, VA gives free credit monitoring to Veterans and beneficiaries whose data was compromised by a VA breach.
Veterans or beneficiaries of identity theft not caused by a VA breach can contact the toll-free Identity Theft Help Line at 1-855-578-5492 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
Veterans can also find additional information on protecting their identity and what VA is doing to help by visiting the More Than a Number website.
VA’s Office of Information and Technology contributed this report.
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Our U.S. Armed Forces At Work - Week of March 1, 2020
