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2010 American Legion Legacy Run

Veterans' Medallion Available for Order

New Option for Marking Veterans' Graves in Private Cemeteries

WASHINGTON - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced today that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is offering bronze medallions to attach to existing, privately purchased headstones or markers, signifying a deceased's status as a Veteran.

"For Veterans not buried in a national or state Veterans cemetery, or those without a government grave marker, VA is pleased to offer this option that highlights their service and sacrifices for our country," said Secretary Shinseki.

The new item can be furnished instead of a traditional government headstone or marker for Veterans whose death occurred on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.

Under federal law, eligible Veterans buried in a private cemetery are entitled to either a government-furnished grave marker or the new medallion, but not both. Veterans buried in a national or state Veterans cemetery will receive a government headstone or marker of the standard design authorized at that cemetery.

The medallion is available in three sizes: 5 inches, 3 inches and 1 ½ inches in width. Each bronze medallion features the image of a folded burial flag adorned with laurels and is inscribed with the word "Veteran" at the top and the branch of service at the bottom.

Next of kin will receive the medallion, along with a kit that will allow the family or the staff of a private cemetery to affix the medallion to a headstone, grave marker, mausoleum or columbarium niche cover.

More information about VA-furnished headstones, markers and medallions can be found athttp://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmtype.asp

VA is currently developing an application form for ordering the medallion. Until it is available, applicants may use the form for ordering government headstones and markers, VA Form 40-1330. Instructions on how to apply for a medallion are found on the VA Web site at http://www.cem.va.gov/hm_hm.asp

Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery. Other burial benefits available for all eligible Veterans, regardless of whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or grave marker.

The new medallions will be available only to Veterans buried in private cemeteries without a government headstone or marker. Families of eligible decedents may also order a memorial headstone or marker when remains are not available for interment.

VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. More than 3 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict -- from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan -- are buried in VA's national cemeteries on more than 19,000 acres.

Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from the VA Web site on the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.

2010 American Legion Baseball Schedule

5th District American Legion Commander, President, and SAL project

2010 American Legion Golf Tournament HOTELS REGISTRATION

2010 Department agenda

Calendar

5th District Assemblies 2009-10

Calendar

District Directory

Post meeting schedule

2010 5th District Oratorical contest

What does Colorado, Minnesota, Virginia, Target Corporation and the American Legion have in common.

Connection: An email to an American Legion Post in Colorado from a survivor of the attack on the soldiers in Afganistan who were based out of Fort Carson, CO got into the hands of Mark Seavey (burnpit blogger) who returned from Afganistan with the National Guard from Woodstock VA and started the ball rolling and Target Corp (based in Minnesota) got on board. Computer Science Corp. of Connecticut (CSC) chipped in with 56 laptop computers.

A fundraising drive on an American Legion blog site, The Burn Pit, netted more than $50,000 in cash donations to help the soldiers replace their personal belongings. On Oct. 3 outnumbered and surrounded in a rugged mountain valley, the besieged troops were forced to call in an artillery strike on their own position, escaping Combat Outpost Keating in the rugged Nuristan province of Afghanistan with little more than the clothes on their backs. Eight American troops were killed in the battle.

Upon learning of the COP Keating Relief Fund, Target Corp. matched The American Legion Burn Pit cash contribution with $50,000 worth of merchandise and gift cards.

The Target Store involved with the event Saturday, Oct. 24, is located at 3810 East Bloomington Street, Colorado Springs.; merchandise purchased there was assembled and shipped from American Legion Post 209 at 3613 Jeannine Drive in Colorado Springs.

The Target Store involved with the event Tuesday, Oct. 27, is located at 7000 York Ave., Edina, Minn.; merchandise purchased there was assembled and shipped from Richfield American Legion Post 435, 6501 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis.

The Target Store involved with the event Thursday, Oct. 29, is located at 4310 Fortuna Center Plz., Dumfries, Va.; merchandise purchased there was assembled and shipped from American Legion Post 28, 17934 Liming Lane, Triangle, Va.

Pictures from Minnesota event courtesy of Shawn Davis, 5th District SAL Commander

have you seen the latest that the American Legion has to offer

video conferencing

If you know a wounded service member, post his or her photo and their brief story at

http://www.carepages.com/yellow-ribbons.

The posting is free, easy to do, takes only minutes to complete and it appears immediately
on a "Yellow Ribbon" tribute page honoring them.

Post 1 website

Post 435 website

If you can read this, Thank a teacher!

If you are reading it in English, Thank a Veteran.