Dellinger to address government shutdown

Dellinger to address government shutdown

American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger will conduct a high profile press conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Oct. 4th. With the National World War II Memorial as a backdrop, the national commander will present the Legion’s views on the current partial shutdown of the federal government and how the suspension of services affects military veterans and their families.

Topics to be addressed include the current state and possible future of veterans benefits payments, how the much publicized Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits application processing backlog could be exacerbated by the government shutdown, the effects of the shutdown on VA medical facilities and the delivery of healthcare to veterans among other matters.

While at the World War II Memorial, Dellinger will be flanked by Peter Gaytan, executive director of the Legion’s Washington, D.C. office, and numerous Legionnaires. Joining them, it is hoped, will be a contingent of World War II veterans hosted by the Honor Flight Network, a national, non-profit organization that transports "Greatest Generation" soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to Washington as a tribute to their service. Despite the government shutdown and the resultant temporary barricading of such sites as the World War II, Korean and Vietnam War memorials, veterans and their loved ones continue to visit these places of honor.

The news conference is set for 10 a.m. ET Friday, Oct. 4, at the National World War II Memorial, 17th St., SW, Washington, D.C.