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Photo by James V. Carroll |
More than 10,000 members of The American Legion family will converge on Reno, Nev. starting Aug. 24 for the 89th annual convention of the nation’s largest veterans service organization.
Delegates from every state, the District of Columbia and four overseas “departments,” along with members of The American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of The American Legion will arrive with their families to conduct the business of their respective organizations and spend an estimated $17 million in the process.
In addition to bringing top national newsmakers to address the convention, military veterans, servicemembers on active duty, National Guard/Reserves and their spouses are invited to a free job fair on Aug. 28 at the Reno Sparks Convention Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public will be treated to the nation’s most colorful, patriotic parade on Aug. 26 at 4 p.m.
“This is our first national convention in Reno and we’re absolutely delighted,” said Jeff Olson, chairman of the national convention commission. “We anticipate using nearly 20,000 room nights in Reno Hotels and look forward to an exciting and mutually beneficial event.”
Gov. Jim Gibbons, Sen. John Ensign, Rep. Dean Heller and Mayors Robert Cashell and Geno Martini will welcome Legionnaires on Tuesday, Aug. 28.
While the official sessions are held Aug. 28 to 30, a series of commission meetings will start the previous Saturday through Monday to consider resolutions to be brought before convention. Once voted on by delegates, resolutions become the official policy and legislative positions of The American Legion – the roadmap for lobbying the U.S. Congress for the next year. Some Legionnaires and staff will arrive as early as Aug. 20.
Military wartime veterans of all eras are invited to stop by and join the nation’s largest veterans organization at the national headquarters office at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center beginning Tuesday, Aug. 21.
The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs. The Legion’s 2.7 million wartime veterans work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.
