Top 5: your convention guide, Be the One Sept. 1, approaching PACT Act deadline
1. Your 104th national convention guide
The American Legion is hosting its 104th National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 25-31. Attendees will participate in commission meetings, workshops, training sessions and Legion Family activities, as well as hear from distinguished guests, see award presentations and elect a new national commander on the convention floor. See a schedule of events, subject to change.
Follow along on the convention app, social media, online and live stream.
There’s more: Besides attending the 104th national convention in Charlotte, see this guide on what to eat, do and experience in the Queen City.
2. Sept. 1 is the next Be the One Days
American Legion posts have an opportunity each month to promote the organization’s Be the One initiative that aims to reduce the number of veteran suicides. Resolution 13, approved by the National Executive Committee in May, establishes Be the One Days on the first of every month. Friday, Sept. 1, is the next Be the One Days.
Whether your post is planning something in conjunction with a Be the One Day, an event during Suicide Awareness Prevention Month in September or around Veterans Day, there are helpful resources available from National Headquarters. They can be downloaded at the Be the One web page (betheone.org).
Be the One Sept 1: Show us your support for Be the One Days! You can share at legiontown.org under the Be the One category.
3. Don’ miss this PACT Act deadline
Veterans who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones have a special opportunity to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits.
If you are a veteran who deployed to a combat zone, but never enrolled in VA health care, and left active duty between Sept. 11, 2001, and Oct. 1, 2013, you are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. local time on Sept. 30, 2023.
Visit VA.gov/PACT for more information and to apply.
Receive benefits assistance: 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. For information on how to become a Legion service officer, visit here.
4. Vietnam veteran gets final send-off from Legion Riders
Anthony Meizis served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, then came home and never married or fathered children. He passed away earlier this month and already had prepaid for his funeral. His only surviving relative is dealing with health issues and would be unable to attend his funeral.
When she learned of this, McDonald Keohane Funeral Home Director Cara Johnson sent a Facebook message to the Massachusetts Department of the American Legion Riders that read, in part:
I have a Vietnam era veteran that will be buried Friday morning at MA National cemetery in Bourne and he has no family or next of kin that will be attending. I had heard of your organization, making sure that no veteran was buried alone, and I would be forever grateful if you would assist me in escorting him to Bourne for his burial and military honors. Especially since he loved motorcycles.
More than 150 American Legion Riders from multiple chapters and a total of around 300 motorcycles showed up to provide Meizis with a final send-off.
Riding for a cause: The 2023 American Legion Legacy Run kicked off Aug. 20 in Kokomo, Ind., with hundreds of Legion Riders and ended Aug. 24 in Charlotte, N.C., for the 104th National Convention of The American Legion. Read stories from the five-day, 1,100-mile ride that raised money for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fundhttps://www.legion.org/riders.
5. Military spouse supports military entrepreneurship
Military spouse, serial entrepreneur and Second Service Foundation Executive Director Lauren Hope joins The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast this week to talk about her journeys as a military family and nonprofit leader. Hope has been named the Armed Forces Insurance Spouse of the Year twice, and her entrepreneurial journey includes being owner and artisan behind Hope Design Ltd., starting the #ShopMilitary social media campaign, graduating top of her class at The Culinary Institute of America, and being named best student chef by Food & Wine Magazine.
Her nonprofit, the Second Service Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports military entrepreneurs through coaching, resources and capital, as well as an innovative mentorship program. Tune in to learn more about Hope and her nonprofit.
There’s more: Following their interview with Lauren Hope, Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Ashley Gutermuth and Jeff Daly discuss:
• Sage, a four-legged shipmate deploying on the new USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier.
• The challenges faced by spouses of deceased servicemembers.
• A North Carolina American Legion post’s plans for Suicide Prevention Awareness month in September.