11/10 NATIONAL COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION DENISE H. ROHAN PROMOTES ‘FAMILY FIRST’ AGENDA

NATIONAL COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION DENISE H. ROHAN PROMOTES ‘FAMILY FIRST’ AGENDA

U.S. Army veteran Denise H. Rohan made history on Aug. 24 when she became the first woman to be elected to the top position of the nation’s largest veteran’s organization during The American Legion’s 99th National Convention. Her theme for her year: “Family First!”

Among issues that The American Legion hopes people will focus on:

• This year marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I. Following the war, The American Legion was founded by a group of World War I veterans in Paris and dedicated itself to the four pillars of providing a strong national defense; care and rehabilitative programs for veterans; patriotic programs for young people; and Americanism.
• The American Legion Family is playing a vital role in helping communities recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey. Families inside and outside The American Legion desperately need assistance. The American Legion has many assistance programs but public unity and attention are essential in this rebuilding effort.
• Thousands of veterans struggle daily to overcome the hardships inflicted by traumatic brain injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other signature wounds of war
• The Harry W Colmery “Forever” GI Bill has many improved benefits that eligible veterans may not be aware of. The American Legion played a crucial role in the crafting of this and earlier versions of this landmark legislation.
• Reforming the VA health care system is not just a task, but a continuing process that will only improve if Americans hold their elected officials accountable and demand that veterans be treated with the dignity and respect that they have earned.
• The best way for employers to thank a veteran is to hire one. By providing jobs, employers can help eliminate veteran homelessness.

To maintain a strong volunteer military, America should provide a high quality of life for military members and their families, and the training, technology and weapons needed to prevail against any enemy.

Veterans are a vital part of communities across the nation.  American Legion programs such as Operation Comfort Warriors, Boys State, Boys Nation, American Legion Baseball, Oratorical Scholarship contests, blood donations and the National Emergency Fund benefit and touch countless lives.

The American Legion is the nation’s largest veterans’ service organization, with about two million members and 13,000 posts worldwide, whose members are involved in community-based support of veterans, service members and their families. The American Legion is strongly committed to helping veterans and military families with its outreach programs and lobbying efforts, as a new generation of returning veterans reintegrate into the community.

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