Intrepid hosts GI Bill exhibit

With its prominent position at the Intrepid Museum as part of Fleet Week and Memorial Day activities in New York City, The American Legion’s traveling GI Bill exhibit drew plenty of attention.

Among those spending a few minutes of their time at “The Greatest Legislation: An American Legion Centennial Salute to the GI Bill” was John Crandon of San Francisco.

“Looking back, we now realize how hard people fought to get these benefits, and how important it is to maintain those benefits and improve them as needs have changed,” said Crandon, whose grandfather, father and partner are all veterans.

The exhibit, which includes illustrated panels and touchscreen video kiosks documenting the history of the GI Bill, has traveled around the country since debuting in June 2017 at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. That was just a few months before President Trump signed the “Forever GI Bill” into law.

That piece of legislation, also known as the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, extended the benefits of the GI Bill to a lifetime benefit rather than the 15-year time limit under previous legislation. American Legion Past National Commander Harry W. Colmery drafted the original GI Bill in the winter of 1943.

John Pantina, a Legion Riders member of Post 2001, which meets on the Intrepid, said having the GI Bill exhibit on the decommissioned aircraft carrier was a “fantastic” part of the Memorial Day weekend activities.

“It’s a good cause, of course,” Pantina said on Sunday. “To see all of these people coming here and understanding what is going on (with Memorial Day), and a lot of people stop (at Post 2001’s booth) and you’re able to explain to them what The American Legion is all about. …

“Unfortunately, the biggest majority of members were World War I, World War II, Korea, and just about all of these people have died. Right now we’re trying to get the younger people to come in, (those) that have served in Iraq, Iran, etc.”

Upcoming displays of the GI Bill exhibit include the Department of New Jersey convention June 13-15.

Memorial Day activities at the Intrepid on Monday include a ceremony which will include the unfurling of a 100-foot American flag, a ceremonial wreath-laying and a flyover by Navy fighters.