American Legion

As a Marine combat veteran of the wars since 1990, and someone now in his 40s, your article on the struggles of the VFW and American Legion to raise membership from the current generation of war veterans struck a chord with me ("A changing of the guard?" May 30). There are a number of broad demographic and generational reasons why the younger veterans are not joining these organizations in large numbers, but one comment from the older veterans you interviewed was telling. They said their main mission was to help veterans "get their benefits" from the VA. These organizations and their volunteers play a critical role in that important process, but they have also defined themselves as such for decades, while just in the past 10 years other organizations like Wounded Warrior Project and Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, as well as many other non-profits across the nation, have organized and raised significant funds with low overhead to serve veterans' needs beyond what the Veterans Administration is able or willing to provide.

As officials at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs look internally for solutions to a claims backlog that is drawing increasing fire from Capitol Hill, they are also reaching for outside help from some of the nation's best-known veterans groups. Under pressure to speed the review of nearly 600,000 long-outstanding claims for veteran benefits, the VA has announced that it is teaming up with the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans to help ensure that new applications are complete and error-free so they can be processed more quickly.

The Parkton American Legion Auxiliary is offering a free turkey dinner to all veterans on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Doors open at 4 p.m. A donation of $5 is requested for veterans' guests. This is the second year the free veterans dinner has been offered. Last year, the auxiliary served 142 people. The Parkton American Legion's Auxiliary unit has 192 members. The Parkton American Legion's membership is at 309 members and the Sons of the American Legion has 152 members. The legion is located at 19520 York Road, Parkton.

For more than 22 years, Friday Night Swing Club has welcomed thousands of dancers 16 and older of every ability to tango, cha-cha, foxtrot, jitterbug, salsa, waltz, hustle and others, from 9 p.m. to midnight Friday nights. The club started at the ROTC building at Johns Hopkins University, then moved to the Boomi Temple on Charles Street until that property was sold to Loyola University Maryland. Through the years, the club's home has been the Scottish Rite Temple in Tuscany-Canterbury, Tall Cedars Club and the Towson Armory.

The American Legion has come to Columbia. The international organization for veterans and active-duty military personnel has formed a chapter, known as a post, that will meet in the east Columbia branch library until it establishes a permanent home. "Before this there was only one post in Howard County, in Ellicott City," said Elbert D. White, Maryland state membership chairman for the American Legion. "We saw a need in Columbia. We felt, with the size of Columbia and the number of veterans here, this would be a perfect place to form a new post."

Dewey Lowman Post 109 won't have to wait another 19 years to return to the American Legion State Baseball Tournament.The Catonsville-based team made sure of that by winning its last 21 games and its second straight Northern-Central District title.After failing to qualify for the event for nearly two decades, Post 109 is back in the state tournament for the second straight year.Dewey opens the tournament today at 10 a.m. in Cambridge against Salisbury Post 183.If Dewey (32-7) defeats Salisbury, it will face the winner of a game between Severna Park Post 175 and Mountain District champion Garrett.

Daniel H. Burkhardt Sr., the retired American Legion state adjutant who suggested the phrase "Time Will Not Dim the Glory of Their Deeds" for the facade of the old Memorial Stadium, died Tuesday of a lung disease at a Kingwood, Texas, assisted-living home. The former Severna Park resident was 87. A member of the American Legion for nearly six decades, he suggested the inscription that was made of large stainless steel letters and viewed by thousands of sports fans. He also ran a popular sale of Christmas trees at Memorial Stadium to benefit the Maryland Eye Bank.

A 23-year-old man was shot in the neck Friday morning outside the American Legion Post 141 on Forest Drive in Annapolis.Police say two other people may have been wounded in the incident that occurred at1:53 a.m., just after a weekly dance for young adults was letting out.One man has been arrested in the case, but police say he may not be the shooter."

American Legion Post 223 Ladies Auxiliary will hold a Sweetheart Dance from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the post home in Sykesville. The band 4our By 4our will provide music. A light buffet will be served and a cash bar will be available, as will beer, wine and soda. Door prizes will be awarded, among them gift certificates to local restaurants and florists, and for tax preparation. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the auxiliary's programs for veterans and local charities.

JOIN THE FOLKS at the Howard L. Turner American Legion Post 276 for a St. Patrick's Day Dance at the post home on Quarterfield Road.Entertainment will be provided by the band Reason. The cost is $16 per person, which includes corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, carrots, wing dings and an open bar. Dinner will be served at 8 p.m. Saturday, with dancing from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.Proceeds will benefit the Post 276 baseball team. Information: (410) 255-0903 or (410) 969-8028.Spaghetti dinnerThe Nichols Bethel United Methodist Church will sponsor a spaghetti dinner from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday in the church hall on Route 175 in Odenton.

These groups meet regularly. Adams, Hanna, Moore Memorial Post 156, American Legion - Third Thursday, 7 p.m. VFW Post 7472, 4225 VFW Lane, Ellicott City. Edward A. Hall, commander, Post 156, ehall@telecomxchange.com or 410-340-7892; John Horan, post adjutant, repairguy9052@comcast.net or 410-696-2343; or post156@yahoo.com . Central Maryland User Group for Windows - Third Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. East Columbia Branch library. 301-774-0331 or http://www.myCMUG.org . Columbia Knitting Group - Third Monday, 7 p.m. Panera Bread, 6345 Dobbin Road, Columbia.

Members of the American Legion Towson Post 22 this week honored four local first responders for their service to the county at the post's annual First Responder of the Year Awards. The honors, given at the annual Commander's Christmas Party at the Towson post on Sunday, Dec. 9, highlighted the efforts of first responders whose efforts have made the Towson area a safer place in 2012. Officer Juan Amador of the Towson Precinct was named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for his help in apprehending a man wanted in a shooting in Towson.

The Parkton American Legion Auxiliary is offering a free turkey dinner to all veterans on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Doors open at 4 p.m. A donation of $5 is requested for veterans' guests. This is the second year the free veterans dinner has been offered. Last year, the auxiliary served 142 people. The Parkton American Legion's Auxiliary unit has 192 members. The Parkton American Legion's membership is at 309 members and the Sons of the American Legion has 152 members. The legion is located at 19520 York Road, Parkton.

The American Legion Riders from Towson Post 22 hosted its second annual fundraiser on July 8, hitting the road to benefit America's VetDogs, an organization that trains and supplies service dogs to disabled veterans at no cost. "We did very well," said event chairman Doug Hopkins, a resident of Nottingham who grew up in Towson. "We raised over $3,500, which was really good," Hopkins said. "We had a little over 50 bikes," he said, "but it wasn't the turnout I expected, because of the heat and possibility of rain.

The American Legion Columbia Post 300 Patriots captured the 22nd annual Hillbilly Hardball Classic duringFather's Day weekend (June 14-17) in Elkins, WV. The Patriots went 7-0-1 in the tournament, playing eight games in four days with eight different starting pitchers, including Ben Goldsmith's 10-strikeout, one-hit shutout of then-undefeated host Elkins Post 29, the runner-up in the West Virginia state tournament each of the last two years....

Members of American Legion Post 60 will dispose of unserviceable flags in a Flag Day ceremony Thursday, June 14 at 6 p.m. at the Post, 2 Main St. The ceremony is sponsored by the Post 60 color guard. Local Boy and Girl Scouts will help with the flag disposals with supervision by members of the Laurel Fire Department. For information, call 301-725-2302.

A Howard County police officer and a firefighter were honored yesterday for their commitment to the area's young people in an award program begun by the county's American Legion post.A plaque honoring police Cpl. Susan Goldman and Stephen Hardesty, a career firefighter, is displayed in the lobby of the George Howard county office building in Ellicott City.Corporal Goldman is involved in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program and is a soccer coach and Cub Scout den leader.Mr. Hardesty's volunteer service includes work with burned children at the Baltimore Regional Burn Center.

Carroll Post No. 31 of the American Legion was first chartered in Carroll County on Aug. 16, 1919. The original group consisted of 15 members and was organized after the soldiers returned from World War I. They were welcomed home with a parade on July 4, 1919. A row of trees were planted at Fairground Hill and dedicated to the 31 Carroll County soldiers who died in the war. - Carroll County Maryland: A History 1837-1976 by Nancy M. Warner

The American Legion Riders, Slate Ridge Post 182, in conjunction with fallen Marine Sgt. Michael Heede's family and friends, have undertaken the task of maintaining and planting a flower bed around the memorial sign honoring the fallen Marine at the intersection of Routes 136 and 165. Assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sgt. Heede was killed in action July 13,...

McKala Krauss, Miss Poppy 2012 of the American Legion Carroll Post 31, marked Memorial Day by attended the luncheon at the American Legion and formally presenting a poppy to Arnold "Skip" Amass, coordinator of the four-day program of events for the 145th Westminster observance of Memorial Day. Krauss, the daughter of Jennifer and Dale Krauss, rode in the Memorial Day parade, attended the luncheon, which honored Navy SEAL Matthew Shipley, this...