
Post 201 in Alpharetta, Ga., will host a veterans assistance event July 21-22; Tango Alpha Lima podcast guest discusses his role in the Department of Physical Education at the U.S. Military Academy; Operation HEAL*arious looking to crown two winners; and more.
1. Receive assistance with VA benefits
Veterans in and around the Alpharetta, Ga., area are invited to visit American Legion Post 201 for assistance with Department of Veterans Affairs claims, including PACT Act claims.
Visit American Legion Post 201, 201 Willis Road, Alpharetta, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 21 and 22.
File a claim: If you need help filing a service-connected disability claim, American Legion service officers are available to help veterans and their families free of charge. Locate a service officer near you here.
2. A competition to find the funniest military-affiliated comedians
Operation HEAL*arious: America's Funniest Veterans & Military Spouses Competition, held its semifinal round July 15 at American Legion Alamo Post 2 in San Antonio. Jeremy Jonas, an Army veteran who served from 1995-2004, was the winner of the contest. Jonas now advances to one of two championship rounds this fall that will crown two winners in the competition to find America’s funniest veteran or military spouse.
Other finalists selected so far include:
• Army veteran Chris Karwoski, who won the inaugural competition April 1 at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio.
• Army spouse Gigi Bledsoe.
• Air Force veteran Jeff Norris, who won the event in Tacoma, Wash., after also participating in the April 1 contest.
• Marine veteran Stephanie Kline.
The American Legion is among the tour sponsors, which is produced by Best Medicine Brigade (BMB). Robin Johnson, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Legionnaire, is the executive producer for Operation Heal*arious and founder of the BMB. Headlining the comedy tour is American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast co-host Ashley Gutermuth, a spouse of an Air Force pilot.
Follow the tour: The next Operation HEAL*arious is in Fayetteville, N.C., July 29. Click here to purchase tickets.
3. A classroom of physical and mental toughness
Army Col. Nicholas Gist is this week’s special guest on The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast. With 29 years of service, Gist has spent the past eight years in the Department of Physical Education at the U.S. Military Academy. He leads a 71-person staff that focuses on physical education courses such as boxing, personal fitness, jujitsu and others. The “classrooms” are boxing rings, wrestling mats and other similar areas.
“That’s where we develop leaders,” he explains. Leaders of character who are physically fit and mentally tough.
“We want to develop a warrior ethos, a mindset of mental toughness. That is something that gets developed in those crucible moments.”
Listen to the episode with Gist and others here.
There’s more: Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Jeff Daly and Ashely Gutermuth also discuss: The American Legion’s new partnership with Regiment Gaming; the Marine Corps being left without a commandant; and Fort Bliss mandating manual leave for servicemembers.
4. Follow two prominent American Legion youth programs
The 77th session of American Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C., and the 3-Position Junior Air Rifle Championship in Colorado Springs, Colo., are underway.
One hundred incoming high school seniors will spend a week participating in the political process through a simulation of the U.S. Senate while attending Boys Nation. During their eight days in the nation’s capital, the young men will elect a Boys Nation president, vice president and party leaders; introduce and debate bills; and visit memorial’s honoring America’s veterans. Follow this session of Boys Nation here.
In Colorado at the Olympic Training Center, the top 30 youth marksmen will compete for a spot in Saturday’s championship final in either the precision or sporter category. Each competitor will shoot a .177 caliber air rifle in three positions – prone, kneeling and standing – throughout the competition. Follow along here.
Support future leaders: American Legion National Commander Vincent J. “Jim” Troiola shares why it’s the duty of Legionnaires to uphold a 100 percent Americanism throughout engagement in Legion youth programs.
5. An evening of homeruns and touchdowns
If you’re going to Charlotte, N.C., next month for the 104th National Convention of The American Legion, activities await you.
- Friday, Aug. 25, is the preseason NFL Carolina Panthers game against the Detroit Lions; discounted tickets are available for $30.41.
- Saturday, Aug. 26, is Legion Family baseball night at Truist Field; tickets are $16. The Minor League Baseball Charlotte Knights will take on the Memphis Redbirds.
Visit legion.org/convention/resources for a calendar of events during the convention.
There’s more: The 104th national convention will feature workshops, job fair, community service project and more. See all that is happening at legion.org/convention.
- News