Koutz: Legion always has, will support troops
(DoD photo)

Koutz: Legion always has, will support troops

On Jan. 2, American Legion National Commander James E. Koutz said that the nation's largest veterans service organization does not care that controversial documentary filmmaker Michael Moore has resolved to stop saying he supports the troops in 2013. Moore recently announced on his blog that for a New Year's resolution he won’t say he supports the troops because “I don’t. I used to.”

Koutz explained that Moore is able to openly express his opinions because American troops have fought and given their lives for freedom for over two centuries, as they are doing today in Afghanistan and other theaters in the global war on terrorism.

“What I can say is that The American Legion fully supports all the men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, always has and always will,” Koutz said. “We don’t need to make a New Year’s resolution for that. It’s what we do every day, every year. No resolution needed.

“We do it by supporting the families of military personnel before, during and after their deployments. We do it by fighting to preserve the benefits military men and women have earned and deserve while they are in the service and after discharge. We do it when they come home and need help adjusting to lives as civilians.

“Moreover, The American Legion supports the troops in our hearts and prayers, appealing to God every day that they may come home safe, having stood strong against those who would gladly take away the freedoms that define the greatness of our nation.”