FROM:

Greg Rowley

Department Adjutant

The American Legion Department of Utah

TO:

All Members!

This may be our in for formal recognition from National HQ and Congress. We need stories about what we are doing in the communities for deployed soldiers, airmen, etc. and their families. I already have some but would like anything from anybody.

-----Original Message-----

From: Wheeler, Daniel S.

Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 11:32 AM

To: All Legion Leadership

Subject: Support for active duty

I have been told that there is a wide spread perception in Dod and among active duty troops that VSOs help "veterans" - those separated from active duty, but offer very little assistance to those currently serving and their families.  Hence, when the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs speaks about the need for local groups to assist military families, he is speaking of Soldiers' Angels and the such, not VSOs.  I asked adjutants to send to me a description of what the departments were doing to support Heroes to Hometowns and received a few very good responses, but only a few. Granted, H2H takes care of recently separated troops, and I asked for information so we could get some ideas about how to beef the program up.  Now it is important that The American Legion be able to document for DoD and Congress, with anecdotal proof, what we do for the active duty and their families.

Therefore, I am asking the leadership of each department to take the time to send me a report of what's happening in the field with H2H, Family Support Network, NEF, Reconnect, TFA, Comfort Warrior and whatever other outreach efforts to active duty are occurring.  Some of you have adopted units.  Some of you sponsor outings for wounded warriors. Some of you see them off and welcome them home, and aid their families. Some of you have a helpful presence on Military installations.  I know many of you are working with the TAGs and Reserves.  Whatever info you can supply will not only help us make a case to the current Dod concerning our relevance, but may also help congressionally chartered VSOs obtain the contact information on returning troops, active duty, and families needing assistance. I don't think anyone does it better, but all of these new groups and new initiatives (including

Obama's) are acquiring great credibility while we keep on quietly doing the work.  You can send your reports, if you would, to d.wheeler@legion.org or mail them to me at national hqts. Thanks for all you do for veterans, active duty, and all of their families.