American Legion Posts to Help North Central Montana Area Veterans
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lowell Long,
406-357-2387 or e-mail:
lowell.long@hotmail.com
INDIANAPOLIS (March 13, 2017) – Military veterans in and around the greater Billings area are invited next week for a special service session hosted by The Montana American Legion at the Best Western Great Northern Hotel located at 1345 First Street in Havre.
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 the post to learn more about The American Legion and veteran benefits. Membership and veteran information staff will be available from 9 am to 4 pm on Wednesday, March 22nd through Friday, March 24th, and 9 am to Noon on Saturday, March 25th along with members of American Legion Posts in Havre and neighboring counties to kick off this community and veteran service campaign.
A Veteran Service Officer will also be available on all March 22nd to March 24th from 9 am to 4 pm for all area veterans with claims or other veteran-related questions.
In keeping with the over 98-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 Peter H. “Hal” Rice, Commander of The American Legion for the Department (state) of Montana. “We exist to help each and every veteran, their families and the communities they live in.”
“The North Central Montana area is an ideal place to strengthen partnerships between the veterans and the community,” Rice 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 and Child Health. The American Legion has supported Scouting since 1919. Many American Legion posts also support Junior ROTC high school units and fund-raising for children and youth.
