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“There are people in show business who speculate I may be among the world’s worst businessmen. They may be right. Or I just might be a little too cagey and unconventional for their yardsticks to measure. As long as we keep succeeding ... I reckon it doesn’t matter.”

- Dale Dye, commanding officer, Warriors, Inc., military adviser to numerous Hollywood films and director of “No Better Place to Die,” now in production

Capt. Dale Dye, U.S. Marine Corps, retired, could be any other white-haired veteran among the many visiting Normandy the first week of June. He sits alone on a bench outside a stone manor and squints across the quiet meadow where the Merderet River flows. He imagines what it must have been like 64 years earlier when, for three days, the air whizzed with bullets, and the narrow causeway road was soaked with the blood of fallen American soldiers. Dye, a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War, has a unique way of imagining such things.

For nearly 25 years, in fact, he’s made a career of it. Dye has served as military adviser on 35 feature films, including two that won Oscars for Best Picture, and a dozen television projects, including the acclaimed “Band of Brothers” series.

Dye gives Hollywood a perspective that few film-school students can provide. The Missouri native brought three Purple Hearts home from the Vietnam War, having survived 31 combat missions. He later served in Beirut and spent time in Central America, helping to train troops in guerrilla warfare.

Since his retirement from the Marine Corps in 1984, Dye’s missions are much less likely to get him killed. But as commanding officer of a company called Warriors, Inc., he applies all the training, organization and techniques of his military experience to help Hollywood produce more realistic war movies. He puts the cast and crew through boot-camp training before the cameras ever roll. His program turns young actors who’ve never fired a weapon into believable combat soldiers, not the simplest of metamorphoses.

Last June, Dye was in Normandy scouting locations for his newest endeavor, “No Better Place to Die,” based on the book by former 82nd Airborne Pathfinder Bob Murphy, which chronicles the bloody battle of LaFiere Bridge in the early days of the June 1944 Allied invasion of France. Dye spoke with The American Legion Magazine about the project and his career.

Q: Movie audiences seem to have an unquenchable thirst for World War II history and drama. As a director, how do you distinguish one film from all the others?

A: It is a difficult proposition. Some of the great films that I have been fortunate enough to be involved with – “Saving Private Ryan,” “Band of Brothers” and so on – have really rekindled and whetted that appetite audiences have for World War II. It’s phenomenal. In an age of uncertainty, it’s one of the last black-and-white objects. We have clear cheering elements. We have clear booing elements. We know who the bad guys are.

We are now looking at military history in a way we have never looked at it before. So the difficulty is really to make something special, something that stands out in the crowd. Now, I am willing to say I know how to do that.

Q: The American Legion members who voted “Saving Private Ryan” the No. 1 war film of all time seem to validate that.

A: I was very, very proud of that. I called Steven Spielberg and said, “I don’t know if you have seen this or not, but The American Legion has this list of best war movies, and we’re sitting right on top of it.” Of course, we appreciated that.

Q: How did you get the urge to work in the movie industry?

A: All during my years on active duty and all of my life, as a matter of fact, I’d been a fan of war movies, for obvious reasons; I was a professional soldier.

I began to look at these films and ask, “Why am I not satisfied here? Why am I not enthralled? Why am I not entertained, except by a couple of them?” And it occurred to me I was having what psychologists call cognitive dissonance. I was having a disconnect. The reason for that was, what I was seeing on film – what Hollywood was showing us – was not at all my experience. I was seeing characters who were portrayed as dummies who had no chance to do anything but soldier, or who were victims. I wasn’t seeing any of the great inspired patriotism or volunteer spirit that soldiers have. I was seeing all of these horror stories, and I said, “That’s not right.” Not only is that not right, it upsets me. It angers me. Being a Marine, if things upset me and anger me, I’m going to go after them and fix them. So that’s what I attempted to do: fix it and make it right.

Q: Now you have been doing it longer than you were in the Marine Corps.

A: I spent 20 years in the United States Marine Corps. Three tours in Vietnam and a tour in the Middle East, Beirut in ’82 and ’83. When I decided it was time to retire, I was looking around for something to do. I did one of those evenings of fuzzy-headed navel-gazing. I sat there with a legal pad and drew a line: assets and liabilities. By the time the evening was over, I had three pages of liabilities and two lines of assets. I needed to find something that I was passionate about, would keep me happy, and keep me gainfully employed. And it occurred through this sort of examination of my background that I was really a war movie buff. But all of those war movies I had seen upset me because they were just wrong.

Q: How old were you then?

A: Hmm, let’s see. 42, something like that.

Q: And you’d never previously considered a career in motion pictures?

A: No, not really.

Q: What was it like, as a 42-year-old neophyte, to walk onto your first movie set?

A: The very first film I did was a remake of a science-fiction classic called “Invaders from Mars.” And it was directed by Tobe Hooper. A friend of mine from Vietnam was the storyboard artist on the film. He got me the job. In this particular remake, the Marines kill the Martians and save the day. I wrangled my way onto the set as the guy who was going to run the Marines against the Martians. What I really did was go to school. I went to school on every department. I learned what cameras are about, what lighting is about, what grips are about, what acting is about and so on. Through that school, that little film, I found out how to sell myself, how to say what’s wrong and fix it.

Q: “Invaders from Mars” was not the blockbuster the second film was.

A: The second one was “Platoon.” Four Academy Awards. Up until that time, I had trouble selling Hollywood on my methods and my way of doing things. They said to me, “We’ve been making war movies forever, and we’ve been making money on them. Why should we pay you to come in here and upset the apple cart?” Well, Oliver Stone was not like that.

Oliver Stone was, himself, a combat veteran. He said, “You know, you are right, and we need to fix this.” So he gave me a shot to do it my way. We won four Academy Awards, and at that point, Hollywood didn’t challenge me anymore.

Q: Did you participate in every part of that film?

A: Every part. Oliver has been a very, very good friend, and believes in me and believes in what I do. He has taught me a lot of stuff. Hollywood – and a lot of people – may not like him because of his political views and everything, but that doesn’t have anything to do with him as a human. He has been a good friend to me and has helped me advance my career. We did “Born on the Fourth of July,” “JFK,” “Heaven & Earth,” a number of films together. Then I sort of began to spread out in movie-making. I formed a company, and we did entertainment at amusement parks, we did music videos, we did all kinds of things that had military attachment.

Q: The war films you have advised seem to inject a deeper realism than earlier war movies, right down to the anguish on the faces of soldiers. How do you accomplish that?

A: That’s one of the reasons we have a system of training people before we ever, ever allow them on film. We need to explain the heart and psychology of the soldier. Look, you take actors today. Actors, just by nature, grow up thinking the sun rises and sets on their posteriors. “How many lines do I have?” – that’s really what they care about. Well, you can’t do passionate war movies that are truthful and accurate, and you can’t get actors to do accurate portrayals, unless you are willing to spend some time walking in the other guy’s boots. So, we spend a lot of time getting their hearts and minds right before we ever put them on film.

Q: What do you think when you see others emulate your technique?

A: They do, and that’s fine. The agenda remains the same. I need to serve and celebrate the people who fought for this nation. I do it in the popular media. And that’s OK, as long as it gets done. There’s room out there for all kinds of things. As long as the audience remains hungry for it, let’s all do it.

Q: A lot of people come back to Normandy every year and can tell you where every boot fell. That must be a nice resource when you’re making a film like “No Better Place to Die.”

A: Yes and no. It’s a nice resource, but the resource provides enormous conflict. We have experts and re-enactors who, God bless them, are doing everything they can to keep the spirit alive. And I applaud that. I think anybody who understands the service and sacrifice of the men in World War II applauds that. But you can get conflicting information. At some point, I have to say, “Cease. This is what I believe happened. This is how I am going to portray it.” Since I have been here scouting for this new film, “No Better Place to Die,” I have been assaulted by folks who knew exactly what color the buttons were and where every boot fell, as you say. I have examined a number of sources, and I have hired one guy. He is my military adviser. And he knows the history backwards and forward. Plus, he understands that I only get two hours to get this whole battle on film. And so, he is willing to cooperate with me.

Q: “No Better Place to Die” is a little-known but historically important battle, a story you wanted to tell.

A: I did, indeed. I am passionate about this story. I knew generically about it and then some producers who are very, very interested in it said, “Look, we’d like you to come aboard as our military adviser, so here’s the information.” They sent me some books and a number of other things. I read the books. It’s amazing. I didn’t know the detail of it. Then I began to get really passionate about it. I said, “Look, there is only one way to do this right, and that’s if I direct it.” They were very excited about that. They said, “Absolutely. Let’s get you on an airplane, go to France, and let you walk the ground.”

We hired a director of photography, and he’s here with me. We’re scouting the ground right now. My executive officer for Warriors, Inc., my company, is here with me, and he is looking for training areas. We’re going to do this, and we’re going to do this with great passion.

Q: Why do you think the battle to secure LaFiere Bridge, which has been described as one of the bloodiest small-arms battles in the history of U.S. warfare, hasn’t been described more often?

A: The beaches, particularly Omaha, were such a meat grinder that people became focused there and forgot what happened with the paratroops. We tried to correct that with “Band of Brothers,” and to some extent, we did. (The battle for LaFiere Bridge) simply slipped in the overview of things. It was a three-day fight. World War II was four years. This is one little piece in a huge panoply, a huge landscape.

Q: Have you cast anyone in the film yet?

A: Yes.

Q: Can you reveal any of that?

A: No.

Q: Can you give any sense, even generally speaking, of who might appear?

A: Sure. I am not going to use movie stars. I don’t think that’s needed. I think we proved in “Band of Brothers” that we don’t need big movie stars. It’s about the story, more than any marquee character. You’re going to see a known actor as (Gen. Matthew) Ridgeway. You’re going to see a known actor as (Gen. James) Gavin. But from that point on you will see young actors who are up and coming who have the kind of heart that I am looking for.

Q: There were more than 500 casualties here, on both sides. Are you going to portray the fight from both sides?

A: The Germans will play a very, very crucial part in this, as they did. They weren’t cartoon characters. They were out there hitting and running. But we will not get to know them, except for one or two characters, as well as we get to know the Americans.

Q: Having worked with some of the biggest directors in the business, and now directing your own film, you must be pretty satisfied that you made the right decision after you retired from the Marine Corps.

A: It’s been enormously rewarding and enormously fun. The movie industry is a lot like the military. It’s true. We are like a committed battalion out there running a special mission, and there are platoons and companies and department heads and various other things. So, I see that connection and run a set that way. Folks get a kick out of it because it’s organized. Other than that, it’s a flying circus. We come together, real talent, real experts, we build up passion and emotion about something, and then we rock and roll through it for three or four months. Then we go fishing, or whatever we want to do. You can’t ask for much better.

- Jeff Stoffer

The military-to-civilian recruiting firm RecruitMilitary will present a free hiring event for job seekers who have military backgrounds in Portland, Oregon on Thursday, July 31, 2008. This event, the RecruitMilitary Career Fair, will take place from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Coca-Cola Events Center, 425 East California, Oklahoma City, OK 73104. RecruitMilitary urges all job seekers who have military backgrounds to attend--veterans who already have civilian work experience, men and women who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life, members of the National Guard and reserves, and military spouses.

Veteran-friendly organizations will conduct one-on-one interviews with the job seekers--organizations that will include corporate employers, law-enforcement agencies and other government employers, educational institutions, veterans service agencies, and veterans associations.

RecruitMilitary will produce the career fair in cooperation with The American Legion; HireVetsFirst, a unit of the United States Department of Labor; and the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network (MSCCN).

More than 500 organizations attended 45 RecruitMilitary Career Fairs in 2007. At those events, an average of 30-plus organizations interviewed an average of over 350 job seekers. RecruitMilitary Career Fairs conducted in 2006 and 2007 generated television coverage by CNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN; radio coverage by ESPN and numerous regional stations; and articles in metropolitan and local newspapers.

The American Legion is an association of veterans who served during times of war. The Legion has 2.7 million members in nearly 15,000 posts throughout the world. The National Commander of The American Legion is Martin F. Conatser, an Army veteran, of Champaign, Illinois. Congress chartered The American Legion in 1919. HireVetsFirst was created by Congress in 2002 to develop awareness among employers of the outstanding attributes of men and women who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life. The Military Spouse Corporate Career Network was founded in 2004 to provide career opportunities and job portability for military spouses. The organization is made up of military spouses, caregivers to war wounded, and retired military personnel.

RecruitMilitary, based in Cincinnati, connects employers with job seekers who have military backgrounds. All of the company's owners, officers, account executives, and retained search consultants are either veterans or active or former reservists. In addition to participation in career fairs, RecruitMilitary offers subscriptions to its database of self-registered job seekers who have military backgrounds, currently numbering more than 185,000, at its Web site, www.recruitmilitary.com, advertising in online and print media, and retained hiring services. The company mails more than 54,000 copies of a quarterly, print newsletter called Incoming! to over 230 military bases throughout the world for distribution to transitioning personnel; employers advertise their job openings in Incoming! The President of RecruitMilitary is Drew Myers, formerly a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. The company was founded in 1998.

Capt. Scott Bell, USA

Most high-school students learn about the past by memorizing text in history books. Teacher Terry McLeod's class experiences history firsthand through the eyes and voices of the men and women who lived it. Building on a six-year educational partnership, Richland Northeast High School and American Legion Richland Post 6 in Columbia, S.C., are bridging more than 60 years of history by bringing veterans into the classroom.

Students in the "Our Local Greatest Generation" project and associated oral history classes have interviewed more than 150 veterans, created virtual archives of period memorabilia, and developed a Web site to serve as a resource for historians, researchers and other schools. During those years, veterans from World War I to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have shared their stories.

"There are so many life lessons being shared between generations," McLeod says. "It's a learning experience for students and veterans. Students are learning why they should respect those who fought for their freedom. And veterans are learning that many young people care and share their passion for our country, and are truly interested in what the veterans experienced."

As part of the oral history curriculum, students develop skills in writing questions and understanding differences in perspective. They develop specific questions related to specific war periods and theaters of operation. They conduct mock interviews with other students, then practice their video editing before they shoot on-camera interviews of veterans. Students may spend a month or more preparing for a single interview, McLeod says.

Richland Northeast students have interviewed many veterans, including World War II Tuskegee Airman Earnest Henderson and Medal of Honor recipient Col. Chuck Murray. They interviewed Col. Moffatt Burriss, whose exploits were portrayed in the film "A Bridge Too Far."

Libby Paul, the only woman on a 5,000-man crew building P-38 Lightning fighter planes, told students what it was like to help on the home front. In her spare time, she was a USO dancer at the Hollywood Canteen. Col. Rick Bucknell, veteran of three wars and recipient of three Silver Stars and eight Bronze Stars, was one of the first veterans to be interviewed.

The award-winning history and social studies program at Richland Northeast High School is the result of a simple contact with school officials by Heyward Hornsby, who at the time was post commander at American Legion Richland Post 6 in Columbia. Hornsby and his Legion friends were looking for ways to reach out and connect with the community's youth.

"We volunteered to arrange for veterans to go to the school to speak to the students," Hornsby recalls today. "But we made it clear from the start we wanted more. We wanted veterans somehow to be included in the regular history curriculum. We didn't want to be guests who were invited to speak once or twice a year. We wanted a meaningful and lasting partnership with our school. "

The local "greatest generation" project, and the oral history classes that followed, gave veterans of different eras an opportunity to bring living history into the classroom, Hornsby says. By telling their stories, veterans - ordinary people who have done and are doing extraordinary things - are leaving a special message to be left in perpetuity for their families, friends and community.

"We started this effort to carry history to the coming generations." Hornsby says. "But beyond that, we found that the very presence of these veterans, telling their stories, were incredible lessons in personal character. God, duty, honor, country, sacrifice. These veterans are living examples of the character traits that we hope all our children and grandchildren will have."

It's a wonderful partnership between the school and The American Legion, Hornsby says. It's not just words on a page to the students involved. It's living, breathing history in the flesh. Students have the rare opportunity to learn firsthand about the heroics and sacrifices experienced by local, everyday people who answered their country's call. At times, students weep during the interviews, as do veterans. Both come away from the interviews knowing more about each other.

(To watch part of an interview a student conducted with Army Capt. Scott Bell, click on the link below.)

CAPT. SCOTT BELL VIDEO

OUR LOCAL GREATEST GENERATION PROJECT

The 2008 session of American Legion Boys Nation got under way last week at Marymount University in Arlington, Va. The program officially began when 98 "senators" arrived July 18, representing 49 state programs. Three days later, they elected new leaders: President Joseph Riley of Tennessee, Vice President Dominick LoBraico of New Jersey, President Pro Tempore Joseph "Wells" Ellenberg of Georgia and Secretary of the Senate Travis Nordgaard of Minnesota.

"I've been interested in leadership and politics since I was about 6 or 7 years old," Riley said. "It feels pretty wonderful to be elected president of Boys Nation." In fourth grade, he had a map on his wall of the Electoral College, and closely followed the 2000 presidential election. "I actually predicted that it would come down to Michigan or Florida," he recalls.

Riley and LoBraico came up with a party platform that addressed key issues facing the nation. "One of the most important issues today is the economy," LoBraico said. "Our stand is to make sure that spending in Washington is more responsible, and to support industries and companies that don't outsource jobs."

LoBraico didn't plan to run for any office at Boys Nation, but he quickly made friends who formed the nucleus of a movement in his party to get him nominated and elected as vice president. "I'm grateful and amazed," LoBraico said. "It's a great feeling to see my party get behind me with their support."

LoBraico and Riley are both highly impressed with the quality of students who participated in Boys Nation this year. "It's good we have these young men from all over the country who really care about the issues facing our government," Riley said. "Sure, we debate over our differences, but then we get together as friends. There is so much argument between conservatives and liberals, we sometimes forget that practical solutions exist."

During their week-long stay, Boys Nation participants are visiting prominent sites in Washington; they have also met with senators from their home states, and discussed, debated and voted on hundreds of pieces of Boys Nation legislation.

American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser spoke to Boys Nation at Greenbelt American Legion Post 136 in Maryland on July 20. The next day, Conatser and the Legion's national chaplain, Elliott Foss, joined two Boys Nation senators to lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknowns.

The American Legion started the program in 1946 to provide young men with a meaningful understanding of our nation's political process. Selection of participants is based on academic achievement, leadership potential and previous activities related to the Legion's Boys State program.

Since last Friday, Boys Nation senators have conducted their own party conventions, nominated candidates for office, heard them debate, and elected leaders. They also have attended a memorial service and visited war memorials at the National Mall. Other activities have included trips to the Iwo Jima Memorial and U.S. Supreme Court.

For more information and photos of the Boys Nation experience, visit their Web site.

BOYS NATION WEB SITE

The military-to-civilian recruiting firm RecruitMilitary will present a free hiring event for job seekers who have military backgrounds in Portland, Oregon on Thursday, July 24, 2008. This event, the RecruitMilitary Career Fair, will take place from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Rose Garden (Home of the Portland Trailblazers), One Center Court Way, Portland, OR 97227. RecruitMilitary urges all job seekers who have military backgrounds to attend--veterans who already have civilian work experience, men and women who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life, members of the National Guard and reserves, and military spouses.

Veteran-friendly organizations will conduct one-on-one interviews with the job seekers--organizations that will include corporate employers, law-enforcement agencies and other government employers, educational institutions, veterans service agencies, and veterans associations.

RecruitMilitary will produce the career fair in cooperation with The American Legion; HireVetsFirst, a unit of the United States Department of Labor; and the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network (MSCCN).

More than 500 organizations attended 45 RecruitMilitary Career Fairs in 2007. At those events, an average of 30-plus organizations interviewed an average of over 350 job seekers. RecruitMilitary Career Fairs conducted in 2006 and 2007 generated television coverage by CNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN; radio coverage by ESPN and numerous regional stations; and articles in metropolitan and local newspapers.

The American Legion is an association of veterans who served during times of war. The Legion has 2.7 million members in nearly 15,000 posts throughout the world. The National Commander of The American Legion is Martin F. Conatser, an Army veteran, of Champaign, Illinois. Congress chartered The American Legion in 1919. HireVetsFirst was created by Congress in 2002 to develop awareness among employers of the outstanding attributes of men and women who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life. The Military Spouse Corporate Career Network was founded in 2004 to provide career opportunities and job portability for military spouses. The organization is made up of military spouses, caregivers to war wounded, and retired military personnel.

RecruitMilitary, based in Cincinnati, connects employers with job seekers who have military backgrounds. All of the company's owners, officers, account executives, and retained search consultants are either veterans or active or former reservists. In addition to participation in career fairs, RecruitMilitary offers subscriptions to its database of self-registered job seekers who have military backgrounds, currently numbering more than 185,000, at its Web site, www.recruitmilitary.com, advertising in online and print media, and retained hiring services. The company mails more than 54,000 copies of a quarterly, print newsletter called Incoming! to over 230 military bases throughout the world for distribution to transitioning personnel; employers advertise their job openings in Incoming! The President of RecruitMilitary is Drew Myers, formerly a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. The company was founded in 1998.

Periodically, The American Legion reviews its insurance programs to ensure that Legionnaires are offered the best possible coverage at competitive rates. Accordingly, The American Legion recently sought competitive bids for the brokerage and administrative service for all insurance plans offered by the national American Legion. After a comprehensive review of all bids, Gallagher Benefit Services was selected as the new broker effective June 1, 2008.

As the transition process began, a number of problems arose with the former broker and administrator. As part of the transition to the new broker, The American Legion must ensure that it has an accurate record of all insureds.

If you are insured under any of the following National Insurance Programs, you can help assist with the transition:

Coverage through ING Insurance

Modern Vets Life
• Senior Term Life
• Term Life

Coverage through Hartford Insurance

• TRICARE Supplement Plan
• Short Term Recovery
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)
• Hospital Income
• Travel Accident

Coverage through Union Fidelity

• Birthday Life

You can help by doing any of the following:

• Provide the following information (by fax, email or U.S. Postal Service as noted below)
• Insureds Name
• Member ID
• Date of Birth
• Type/Name of insurance policy


• Call 1-888—233-1633
• Email: mbrben@legion.org
• Mail to Member Benefits/Insurance: 5745 Lee Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46216
• Fax 1-317-860-3001; Attn: Member Benefits/Insurance

Thank you for your continued support and assistance in providing the information that we need in order to serve you better.

Photo by Steve Brooks

Six times a year, history repeats itself off the coast of San Pedro, Calif., when the SS Lane Victory disembarks on a 26-mile, round-trip cruise that gives hundreds of passengers an up-close look at what life was like serving on board a World War II cargo ship.

A national historic landmark, the 455-foot-long Lane Victory is a floating maritime museum that sets sail twice monthly in July, August and September toward Catalina Island. Many of its crew are Legionnaires from across California, including chief ship's steward Jay Morales, adjutant of Post 8 in Los Angeles. Like other volunteer crewmembers, he spends two days a week, year-round, working on the ship, making sure supplies are stocked and the crew is fed.

"To me, this is something to do that has meaning," Morales says, who has volunteered on the ship for 11 years. "It's the duty, my duty, my responsibility - or the responsibility of my generation. To make sure the sacrifices that those American Legionnaires in World War I, who created this American Legion, and those guys in World War II - it's important that we pass this on to the next generation."

Originally launched in 1945 from the Cal Shipyard of Los Angeles, the Lane Victory carried materials to U.S. servicemembers during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. In 1982, the U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II moved to acquire the ship to preserve it as a living memorial to the men and women of the U.S. Merchant Marine and U.S. Navy Armed Guard. The group also wanted to operate the ship as a working museum, dedicated to the maritime trades. The venerable "victory ship," named after a former slave who founded Lane College, was towed from San Francisco to San Pedro in June 1989.

During the cruise, tour guides tell the ship's wartime history in the personal terms of the Merchant Mariners and Naval Armed Guard veterans who served on the ship.

LANE VICTORY WEBSITE

ADDITIONAL LANE VICTORY INFO

Thousands of veterans and their families will pour into Phoenix Aug. 22-28 for the 90th American Legion National Convention. They will hear from national leaders, attend competitions, enjoy entertainment, meet in committees and pass resolutions. For Legionnaires who are between meetings, or want to take a break from the convention, Phoenix has much to offer:

Downtown: Day or night, Copper Square in the heart of downtown is alive with art, history, food, drink, shopping and southwestern culture.

Desert trails: Three major mountains surround Phoenix, the Sonoran Desert is one of the most ecologically diverse deserts in the world, and seven large lakes are within a short drive.

Golf courses: Phoenix and neighboring communities are home to more than 200 spectacular golf courses. Whether you want to enjoy a laid-back round at a municipal facility or test your skills on a championship layout, you'll find a course that matches your style and budget.

Diamondbacks welcome Legionnaires: Aug. 22 is American Legion Family Night at Chase Field for a Major League Baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Florida Marlins. Order tickets by Aug. 8. For each ticket sale, the Diamondbacks will donate $2 to American Legion Baseball. Click on the "Diamondbacks Baseball" link below.

Pre-arranged Legion tours: Pre-arranged activities are available for American Legion family members through We Are Arizona, Inc. Tours include round-trip transportation, professional guides, equipment, bottled water on most tours, permits, taxes and gratuities. Tours depart from the Phoenix Convention Center between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. daily.

Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force Museum: Exhibits range from "Home Front" to "Front Lines." (Not available Aug. 25.) $45 per person

Bass fishing: Arizona is a top destination for large-mouth, white and striped bass fishing. A day of casual fishing or biggest-fish competition are both available. $170 per person

Valley of the Sun City: See remarkable homes owned by wealthy and famous residents, learn the history of Wrigley Mansion, and visit Chase Field Ballpark, the US Airways Arena and Historic Heritage Square. $55 per person

Heard Museum: The internationally acclaimed Heard Museum is a great way to learn about the culture and art of Southwestern American Indians. $55 per person

‘Duck' tour: Hop aboard a World War II "duck" for an off-road tour of the Sonoran Desert. The tour continues as the "duck" drives right into Lake Pleasant and turns into a boat. $65 per person

More information is available online by clicking the "Phoenix Info" link below.

PHOENIX INFO

DIAMONDBACKS BASEBALL

Many U.S. states have dedicated sections of their highways to veterans of the Korean War. While these stretches of road are a tribute to those who served, they are unlinked and disparate.

Before his untimely death in 2006, Bill Clark - a Mississippi Korean War veteran - worked tirelessly to convince a number of states to dedicate a single, coast-to-coast highway to honor Korean War veterans. He believed historic U.S. 80 stretching from San Diego to Tybee Island, Ga., would be a perfect fit. The Dixie Overland Highway, as it was popularly known, was America's first ocean-to-ocean route, traversing the southern United States from California to Georgia.

Much of U.S. 80 has given way to interstate highways, but seven states - Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia - have dedicated portions of U.S. 80 within their borders in honor of Korean War veterans. Advocates continue discussions with Texas and California in an effort to complete the coast-to-coast link.

The latest state to rename U.S. 80 is Georgia. American Legion Department Commander Dale Barnett adopted the Memorial Highway project as one of his goals during his 2007-2008 tenure as state commander.

"Korean War veterans deserve to be honored," Barnett says. "Sure, there is a memorial on the Mall in Washington, but a relatively few people will ever have the opportunity to visit. On the other hand, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people will travel U.S. 80 and the roads that supplanted it."

U.S. 80 spans the state of Georgia, from Columbus to Savannah, Barnett says. "Georgia, The American Legion, and other veterans organizations take great pride in these brave men and women who demonstrated their love for their country through their military service," he says. "Despite bitter cold and torturous terrain, these young Americans bravely stood up against the threat of communism. This tribute to Georgia's Korean War veterans is long overdue."

Barnett enlisted Lamar Millar, Dick Mueller and a number of other Georgia Legionnaires to follow up on a plan to acquire permits to place Korean War markers at Columbus, Macon and Tybee Island - the Atlantic Ocean terminus of U.S. 80. The commander personally sought the assistance of Kwang-jae Lee, consul general of the Republic of Korea, who pledged his total support to the project.

"The Korean people and Americans are more than friends," Lee says, pointing out that more than 36,000 Americans lost their lives during the Korean War, forging in blood and sacrifice an alliance between the two countries.

WASHINGTON (July 15, 2008) – As Major League greats line up today for one final All-Star Game in legendary Yankee Stadium, one former All-Star is headed to an even more historical venue – the White House.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Rick Monday, and two-time major league All-Star, and his wife, Barbaralee Casciari Monday, will be joining President Bush and the First Lady at the White House, as part of the "Salute to Baseball – America’s Pastime." Rick will be coaching third base during an all-star youth Tee Ball game on the White House lawn tomorrow afternoon, following which they will be guests of The President and Mrs. Bush at a dinner at the White House and entertainment in the Rose Garden later that evening.

Monday, a Dodgers broadcaster, is a veteran of the Marine Corps Reserve and a member of American Legion Post 211 in Woodward, Iowa. Although he had a solid major league career and won a World Series with the 1981 Dodgers, Monday will be forever linked with an incident that occurred on April 25, 1976, while he was playing for the Chicago Cubs. When two protestors attempted to burn the U.S. flag on the field at Dodger Stadium in the middle of a game, Monday swiped the flag before they were successful – an act that motivated the crowd of more than 30,000 to break into a spontaneous rendition of “God Bless America.” The scoreboard lit up with the message, “Rick Monday, you made a great play,” for the visiting player and future Dodger. It was ranked as one of the 100 greatest moments in baseball history by the Baseball Hall of Fame. Monday has also been honored with a Senate Resolution for the rescue.

“The final honor our country bestows upon the family of a fallen soldier, is to present them with the flag that draped their coffin. Accompanied with the words, 'On behalf of a grateful nation', we as Americans must never allow that symbol - of both our country and their loved one, to be desecrated," Monday told The American Legion at its 2007 National Convention. “In my mind, what the protestors were trying to do was wrong. It was wrong 31 years ago and it is still wrong today. There is no place for it.”

Monday is currently a board member of the Citizens Flag Alliance, a coalition of 149 organizations that are dedicated to adding a flag protection amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Monday said that he and Barbaralee are committed to the cause. “Barbaralee and I have visited the wounded troops at Walter Reed and Brooke Army Medical Center. Our nation’s flag represents all the rights and freedoms protected by the sacrifices of our heroes. People have died fighting under that flag and it should never be desecrated.”

Rick and Barbaralee have a son-in-law currently serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq. The Mondays still possess the flag that Rick saved from the protestors 32 years ago and plan to show it to President Bush.

View Rick Monday’s flag-saving play here.

An estimated 600 "golden-age" veterans from across the country will travel to Indianapolis Aug. 20-24 to compete in the world's largest sports and recreational competition for senior veterans.

The 22nd National Veterans Golden Age Games are open to all U.S. military veterans age 55 or older who receive care at VA medical facilities. The games give participants the opportunity to compete in ambulatory, visually impaired, and wheelchair divisions, according to their ages. Events include swimming, bicycling, bowling, croquet, air rifle, golf, shuffleboard, horseshoes, discus and shot put.

The games are designed to improve the quality of life for older veterans with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. For a number of events, the games will serve as a qualifying competition for participation in the 2009 National Senior Games in San Francisco.

The games are co-sponsored by VA, Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV) and the Veterans Canteen Service (VCS). This year's event is hosted by the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center at Indianapolis.

"After HHV's initial co-sponsorship of the games in 2007, we are extremely pleased to announce our continued support of this therapeutic program," said Mike Lynch, executive director of HHV. "The games touch numerous lives, and we could not pass up the chance to be a part of this great event again."

"An active lifestyle is vital to everyone's health and well being, and is even more important as we enter our senior years," said Marilyn Iverson, VCS director. "It is a great way to stay healthy and prevent illness."

Most events, including the games' opening and closing ceremonies, will be at the Indiana Convention Center. The opening ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20. Competition begins with golf at Coffin Golf Course at 8 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 21. Closing ceremonies will be at the convention center at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24.

For more information on the games, click on the links below or call (757) 728-3450.

GOLDEN AGE GAMES

VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION

This year we have small business experts, senior federal officials, congressional representatives and financial lending experts all flying to Phoenix for the express purpose of assisting YOU.

Once again, this event is FULLY SPONSORED by the American Legion and their partners.

Receive more than $25,000 worth of training and benefits TWO DAYS ONLY. This program includes detailed classes on Teaming, partnering, proposal writing, the federal payment system, access to capital, Veteran Small Business Set-a-side programs, Acquisition and Strategic Procurement and more.

This program includes;

• Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Teaming & Joint Venturing, But Were Afraid To Ask! The most comprehensive training on effective utilization of the Joint Venture Business Model as a Tool for contract acquisition and rapid growth.
• Introduction to Military (Dot Com)’s new Business Assistance Center
• An ONSITE opportunity to apply for a microloan.
• Meet the Office of Small Business Programs for the Army, Air force, Navy and DoD. What are they spending their budgets on, what contract opportunities are they currently soliciting for and what opportunities will they be soliciting in 2009? Also, the SBA will be there to provide you with precise instructions on how to get procurements set-a-side specifically for YOU!
• Each presenter will be handing out tools and aids that that you will only be able to get HERE! Some of these tools are were originally proprietary in nature and have been generously offered to participants of this program for their sole benefit and exclusive use.

Benefits Fair is scheduled for August 23, 2008 from 7:00AM – 4:00PM at the Phoenix Convention Center in Rooms 213A&B

Business Workshop #1 is scheduled for August 26, 2008 and August 27, 2008 from 9:00AM – 4:30PM at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in the Phoenix Room, 2nd Level.

Business Workshop #2 is scheduled for August 26, 2008 and August 27, 2008 from 9:00AM – 4:30PM at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in the Remington Room, 2nd Level.

DoD Photo

INDIANAPOLIS (July 2008) - The Department of Defense has asked posts of The American Legion to consider coordinating a “Freedom Walk” in their communities to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our nation on or near September 11th.

“As we say in our Preamble, it is appropriate for The American Legion to ‘preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars,’ and lead the way in ensuring that the memories of those who died on and after 9-11 are not forgotten,” said Marty Conatser, National Commander.

The event started several years ago at the Pentagon and has since grown to several hundred nationally. According to the DoD website, “It is becoming a national tradition that calls on people to reflect on the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, remember those who responded, honor our veterans past and present and renew our commitment to freedom and the values of our country.”

“Posts do not need to do all the work – simply coordinate and publicize a short walk, no longer than two miles, with the help of a community committee of civic and religious leaders, school officials, youth and other organizations,” Cmdr. Conatser said. “Whether a post mobilizes ten people or ten thousand, it is important that we reflect on the sacrifices made by thousands of Americans to preserve our liberties.”

In cities or towns where other organizations are already coordinating Freedom Walks, Legionnaires can participate in the event to show their support.

Each post that coordinates a Freedom Walk can be identified on the America Supports You – Freedom Walk website at: http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/FreedomWalk/ Posts can download a four-page planning guide that lays out details on how to coordinate a walk in their town, obtain media materials and sign up as an event organizer.

“I hope that you will encourage members of your communities to come out for an hour or two and join The American Legion in this growing national tradition,” Conatser concluded.

DoD Photo

Defense Department officials and President George W. Bush broke ground July 3 on a new 345-bed Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda, Md. The project, estimated to cost nearly $1 billion, will unite the historic Walter Reed Army hospital in Washington with the National Naval Medical Center in a massive 261,000-square-foot expansion that will include construction of two new buildings at the Maryland site.

Three years ago, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission called for mothballing the 99-year-old Walter Reed Army Medical Center, whose main hospital was rebuilt in 1977. In February 2007, a series of Washington Post articles exposed unsanitary and decrepit physical conditions at Building 18, a Walter Reed outpatient facility near the Washington campus; the articles unleashed a storm of criticism about the facility's condition and its lack of attention to patient needs. Since then, Walter Reed has built a new, state-of-the-art amputee rehabilitation center to serve severely wounded troops in transition.

Last summer, the 89th American Legion National Convention passed a resolution opposing the closure of the Walter Reed hospital, calling for renovations to the Washington site instead. "Closing the facility and transforming its functions would be a grave mistake and detrimental to the provision of support to families of casualties, military retiree veterans and their families," states the resolution, which came out of the National Security Commission.

Supporters of the merger argue that growth is restricted at the historic campus in Washington, and that the bigger Bethesda site - five miles away in Maryland - will give both facilities the ability to operate more efficiently.

Download the AMERICAN LEGION RESOLUTION ON WALTER REED

The military-to-civilian recruiting firm RecruitMilitary will present a free hiring event for job seekers who have military backgrounds in Jacksonville, Florida on Thursday, July 10, 2008. This event, the RecruitMilitary Career Fair, will take place from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (Home of the Jacksonville Jaguars), One Stadium Place Jacksonville, FL 32202. RecruitMilitary urges all job seekers who have military backgrounds to attend--veterans who already have civilian work experience, men and women who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life, members of the National Guard and reserves, and military spouses.

Veteran-friendly organizations will conduct one-on-one interviews with the job seekers--organizations that will include corporate employers, law-enforcement agencies and other government employers, educational institutions, veterans service agencies, and veterans associations.

RecruitMilitary will produce the career fair in cooperation with The American Legion; HireVetsFirst, a unit of the United States Department of Labor; and the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network (MSCCN).

More than 500 organizations attended 45 RecruitMilitary Career Fairs in 2007. At those events, an average of 30-plus organizations interviewed an average of over 350 job seekers. RecruitMilitary Career Fairs conducted in 2006 and 2007 generated television coverage by CNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN; radio coverage by ESPN and numerous regional stations; and articles in metropolitan and local newspapers.

The American Legion is an association of veterans who served during times of war. The Legion has 2.7 million members in nearly 15,000 posts throughout the world. The National Commander of The American Legion is Martin F. Conatser, an Army veteran, of Champaign, Illinois. Congress chartered The American Legion in 1919. HireVetsFirst was created by Congress in 2002 to develop awareness among employers of the outstanding attributes of men and women who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life. The Military Spouse Corporate Career Network was founded in 2004 to provide career opportunities and job portability for military spouses. The organization is made up of military spouses, caregivers to war wounded, and retired military personnel.

RecruitMilitary, based in Cincinnati, connects employers with job seekers who have military backgrounds. All of the company's owners, officers, account executives, and retained search consultants are either veterans or active or former reservists. In addition to participation in career fairs, RecruitMilitary offers subscriptions to its database of self-registered job seekers who have military backgrounds, currently numbering more than 185,000, at its Web site, www.recruitmilitary.com, advertising in online and print media, and retained hiring services. The company mails more than 54,000 copies of a quarterly, print newsletter called Incoming! to over 230 military bases throughout the world for distribution to transitioning personnel; employers advertise their job openings in Incoming! The President of RecruitMilitary is Drew Myers, formerly a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. The company was founded in 1998.

Up near Saint Cloud, Minn., Ed Meyer is busy helping our troops find their way around Iraq. Hmm. He must be using gigantic semaphore flags, right? Actually, Meyer is equipping soldiers headed to Iraq with their own global positioning system (GPS) receivers. They come in mighty handy when you're on patrol and don't know the local language. GPS is a navigation/location system that works off 32 satellites orbiting the Earth. They transmit signals that give GPS users their exact locations - even altitudes. It only takes a few seconds to get the info, and it's usually accurate within a meter or so.

Meyer says he's received plenty of help from fellow Legionnaires at Post 621 in St. Augusta. In turn, they're also getting support from other Legion posts and community organizations - even a Lions Club as far away as Donna, Texas. Plenty of inquiries are coming in to Meyer about his "GPS Technology Aids Troops" project.

"Some of these people have sons and daughters serving in Iraq," Meyer says. "The soldiers who go over there do not have their own GPS receivers. They can't read any of the road signs, which are often wrong." Thus, troops have to depend on military GPS units that are often carried in Humvees and other vehicles.

He tells a story about how one lead vehicle in a Baghdad convoy took a wrong turn, using a standard-issue GPS. Sgt. Gaylan Heacock was in that convoy, carrying his Ed Meyer-issued GPS. It turned out the convoy was headed into a very dangerous sector. The officer in charge turned to Heacock and shouted, "Use your GPS and get us out of here!" They did.

An Army veteran, Meyer is a retired professor from Saint Cloud State University. He was working part-time at the local Gander Mountain sporting-goods store when a former student called him up; he was deploying with his Minnesota National Guard unit to Iraq and wanted some advice on what kind of GPS receiver to buy. Meyer talked it over with his store manager, then bought three GPS units.

Just before Christmas 2006, Meyer got together with three soldiers and their company commander and taught his first seminar on how to use the GPS. After that, word started to spread about helping keep America's warriors safe by giving them their own GPS receivers. Meyer remembers a Korean War veteran who attended one of his seminars. "He teared up right there during the session," Meyer says. "He wondered how many lives might have been saved from ‘friendly fire' in Korea if GPS receivers had been around."

So far, St. Augusta Legionnaires have donated about 60 GPS receivers to soldiers - mostly Minnesota Guardsmen - heading for Iraq or Afghanistan. The precious, life-saving devices are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each GPS receiver costs about $160, including a data chip for Middle East geography. Post 621 is providing most of the funding for purchases but needs more sponsors.

"We want more Legion posts and other groups to get involved and raise funds for this project," Meyer says. "We've got soldiers over there driving around with wounded buddies, getting lost in the desert for a couple of hours. We need to get them more of these GPS units."

Send donations to the St. Augusta American Legion Women's Auxiliary, 1894 247th St., Saint Cloud, MN 56301, or call (320) 252-6693. To learn more about the "GPS Technology Aids Troops" project, and read testimonials about GPS receivers from troops who used them, click on the link below.

Every year, American Legion Riders of Post 107 in Leeds, Ala., don their helmets and ride their motorbikes to Camp Smile-a-Mile, a place where children with cancer go to enjoy the great outdoors. The Riders bring along a giant, symbolic "check" with a dollar amount written on it for the amount of donations. Last month, they delivered a check for $30,000.

"I am very proud to say that our riders raised $9,612 of this total," Secretary-Treasurer Jamie Levan says. "Although Chapter 107 contributes to many different charities at the community, state and national level, we have made this our primary charity."

Camp Smile-a-Mile ("Camp Sam") has a special place in Levan's heart. In 2000, her son, Corey, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Their family attended the camp for six years. During that time, Corey had 26 months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation treatments. Then, in 2003, his cancer went into remission. Corey is 20 years old now, and his mother says he is doing "fantastic.

Levan says Camp Sam "is a wonderful organization, and they took care of us when I had absolutely nothing to give in return. Now it's my turn to take care of them."

The Alabama Legion Riders got a police escort from the Jefferson County Police Department on their ride to the camp, about 85 miles from Birmingham. On their arrival, the Riders were greeted by more than 80 childen who waved banners and held signs that read, "Thank you, Bikers." The Legionnaires dismounted and greeted the long line of campers, giving them "high fives" and handing out stuffed monkeys (Camp Sam's mascot).

The group formed a huge circle, and the Riders' chaplain said a prayer. Then bikers and campers paired off to have lunch together; some of them already knew each other from previous gatherings, others live in the same neighborhoods. Levan and Chapter 107 Director Lee Held say did not spot their "lunch buddy" from last year; they worried about why she wasn't there. "Many campers come back year after year but, unfortunately, some don't survive their illness to come back."

After lunch, most of the kids headed to the bikes for close-up inspections. They tried on helmets and gloves, hopped onto the bikes and revved their engines. A few campers, with permission from their parents, even enjoyed short rides.

"Before my son got sick, I had never heard of Camp Smile-a-Mile," Levan says. "Visit their Web site and see all the fantastic things that they do."

Thanks to a program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, disabled soldiers are learning to scuba dive and explore the wonders of our undersea world. Known as "SUDS" (Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba), the innovative training and certification program is helping wounded warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan to experience life from below sea level.

"It's the most rewarding project I have ever been involved in," says John W. Thompson, president of the SUDS board of directors. He's a certified diving instructor who sees the ocean as a great equalizer. "Many things are just easier to do in the water with these types of injuries," he says. To prepare himself for the task of teaching severely wounded soldiers how to dive, Thompson enrolled in a training program in Florida offered by the Handicapped Scuba Association.

Thompson describes SUDS, which launched in February 2007, as "part rehabilitation, part confidence-building (and) part adventure for these wounded warriors. I'm really inspired by the soldiers at Walter Reed."

The organization traveled last winter to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where six divers were certified and two went on to get their advanced certification. The soldiers are trained by several volunteers from Walter Reed, headed up by Thompson. On Wednesday afternoons, SUDS students attend classes; the next day, they train in the hospital's aquatic therapy pool. After their initial training, soldiers have 12 months to complete four open-water dives for their scuba certification.

Thompson, who serves in the Army National Guard, gets plenty of assistance in running the SUDS program. Danny Facciola, secretary, is a Navy veteran who began diving in 1993. "Being on a forward-deployed ship," he said, "I had the opportunity to dive some of the best sites in the Pacific." Some years later, he went to work on a charter boat and met Thompson, who told him about his work with wounded soldiers. "I volunteered to helps SUDS in any way I could," Facciola says.

The group's treasurer, Lonnie "Bud" Daniels, shares the collective passion of SUDS to help rebuild the lives of those who have fought in the war against terrorism. "I have a great deal of appreciation for what our Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen and Coast Guardsmen do for us and our country," Daniels says. He fought the riverine war in Vietnam and served on board several Navy warships.

Michael Jackonis is legal counsel for SUDS and also a Navy veteran. He was assigned to Bethesda Naval Hospital for a couple of years and saw a lot of wounded servicemembers. "These kids have such a traumatic life change, but everything else about them is still 20 years old or so," Jackonis says. "They need something exciting, something that's going to lift their spirits." He says SUDS sends them a message: "Don't think because you had this setback that there aren't challenges out there for you to conquer."

"Operation Bottom Time" is a series of events that raises money for SUDS. It encourages diving communities in various locations to support divers by assisting with their open-water certification. Last May, the group certified seven new divers in Key Largo, Fla. (they also hung out with a group of "really cool" dolphins). The next Operation Bottom Time event is planned for Puerto Rico in September.

Young veterans from across America converged on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building on April 29 to voice support for a new and improved  GI Bill. They spoke about how difficult it is for veterans to earn college degrees these days. The benefits were failing to cover the cost of tuition. In some cities, the payments for veterans of the reserves failed to cover the cost of getting to and from campus.

Several members of Congress joined these outspoken individuals and stressed the need for a “21st‑century GI Bill”  that would provide  benefits worthy of our veterans and offer the same opportunities afforded to those who fought in World War II.  On June 30, after months of hard work by the leadership of both political parties in the House and Senate, the president signed a GI Bill worthy of its name.To read the full magazine article click here