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National_Security
2011-2012
National Security
New...
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The
Department of New York has many wonderful programs and activities that
contribute to the practical and emotional well-being of our military and
their families. It also participates in Department of Defense and other
outside programs that support our brave men and women throughout their
entire deployment cycle. We the garden of Sunflowers, need to grow upward
and outwards to reach out to each soldier and family member to show them our
whole hearted support. The following is a list of active programs and
activities that we support.
Programs &
Activities
 | Yellow Ribbon
Reintegration Program – a national combat
veteran reintegration program organized by the Department of Defense to
provide National Guard and Reserve members and their families with
information, services, referral and proactive outreach opportunities
throughout the entire deployment cycle. Potential activities that Units
may undertake with a Yellow Ribbon program office of a local military Unit
(Reserve or National Guard) or a state Joint Force Headquarters include
demonstrating patriotic and morale support at Welcome Home events;
offering hospitality, refreshment, or child and youth activities at Yellow
Ribbon events; or making presentations on Auxiliary resources and services
to family members of returning service members at Yellow Ribbon events. |
Log on to
www.yellowribbon.mil to
learn more about this program. From the website’s homepage, click on the
“for Providers” link on the left-hand side to learn how Units and
Departments can become involved. Each state has unique resources and each
population of service members and their families will have unique needs
based on their deployment experience. Doing an Internet search by typing
in “Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program” will yield numerous websites for
state programs, as well as sites for various military branches and Units.
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Operation Home front -- Operation Home
front, a nonprofit organization, provides emergency and morale
assistance for our troops, the families they eave behind, and for wounded
warriors when they return home. provides aid to families struggling not
only with emergencies, but also with the problems of everyday life.
Potential activities that Units may undertake with an Operation Homefront
chapter include assembly of service member care packages and family member
support packages; provision of hospitality, refreshment, or children and
youth activities at Operation Homefront spouse support events; or
volunteering at an Operation Homefront activity.
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Family
Readiness Groups – Their mission is to help
military families manage the challenges that are often faced following a
deployment. Auxiliary Units can contact Family Readiness Groups on
military installations and in Reserve or National Guard facilities to see
how they can help. Since these families do not always know about the
Auxiliary, it is imperative that we reach out to them. We need to
let them know that we are willing and able to help. Some ways Units can
help include distributing the Sesame Street Video Talk, Listen,
Connect: Helping Families During Deployment, at sendoff ceremonies;
holding social events for the families; and mowing lawns or fixing a leaky
faucet. Units can compile a list of members and services that each can
supply. The Family Readiness Group could then distribute the list so that
families could initiate contact with The American Legion and Auxiliary
members.
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Family to Family Support – Auxiliary Departments and
Units may offer practical and morale support to military families on a
group level, such as matching an ALA Unit to a Family Readiness Group, or
on an individual family-to-family basis. Units can contact nearby military
installations or Reserve or National Guard facilities to offer assistance.
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USO
– provides morale, welfare and recreation-type services to military
members and their families. Units can contact local USO centers to learn
how to get involved. |
Military
and Family Support programs of The American Legion
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Family
Support Network - Provides a broad range of
services to help families cope with the unique challenges of deployments.
Since September 11, 2001,b the nation’s active-duty military has been on
high alert, and National Guard and Reserve Units are being mobilized in
record numbers. As a result, the families of these men and women often
find themselves unable to meet normal monthly expenses, and assistance is
needed for a variety of everyday chores. These tasks include grocery
shopping, child care, mowing the grass, fixing the family car and other
routine household jobs. To address these issues, The American Legion has a
nationwide toll-free telephone number, (800) 504-4098, for servicemembers
and their family members to call for assistance. They also can e-mail
requests to
familysupport@legion.org Auxiliary Departments and Units can
work with their Legion Departments and posts to provide volunteers and
other Auxiliary resources as part of the Legion Family response to
requests that come through the Legion’s Family Support Network.
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Operation Comfort Warriors – a program dedicated to
meeting the needs of wounded and ill warriors, either hospitalized or in
warrior transition Units, with comfort items not usually supplied by the
government. Auxiliary Departments and Units can support their Legion
Departments and Posts to raise funds for Operation Comfort Warriors
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Heroes to Hometown – The American Legion is further
assisting returning heroes through its Heroes to Hometown program which
focuses on addressing issues for newly returning heroes, ranging from
employment to emergency monetary assistance, to renovating homes for
handicap access, to family counseling. Service members and their families
seeking assistance can call (202) 621-9924 or e-mail
heroestohometowns@legion.org
This program provides numerous opportunities for Auxiliary Units and
Legion posts to work together.
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Gold Star Banner and Blue Star Banner Programs - The
Blue Star Service Banner was designed and patented in 1917. It quickly
became the unofficial symbol of a child in the service. Today, Blue Star
Service Banners are displayed by families who have a loved one serving in
the Armed Forces including, the National Guard and Reserves. If the
individual symbolized is killed or dies while serving, the star
representing that individual will have superimposed on it a gold star of
smaller size so that the blue forms a border. The American Legion Family
is rekindling the spirit of pride in our military men and women following
the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, by providing banners
to families in communities across the nation. In March 2010, the Legion
announced a new Blue Star Coin to honor spouses and family members of
service members who currently or formally served this country. The
American Legion also has a special Blue Star Banner Corporate Flag for
government and corporate America to show their support for employees
called to active duty. Auxiliary Units can work with The American Legion
to present Gold Star/Blue Star Banners to individuals and the corporate
flag to businesses. Units also can hold receptions or events for Gold
Star/Blue Star family members.
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POW/MIA Initiatives - The American Legion and
Auxiliary are committed to achieving a full accounting of all POW/MIAs
from the Gulf War, Vietnam War, Cold War, Korean War and World War II.
This means returning living POWs, the repatriation of their remains, or
finding convincing evidence why neither of these is possible. Units can
join with the Legion to host a ceremony on National POW/MIA Recognition
Day on September 16, 2011. This commemoration is set aside to honor the
commitment and sacrifices made by this nation's prisoners of war and those
who are still missing in action, as well as their families. National
POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies can be held on military installations,
ships, schools, churches and post homes. The focus is to ensure that
America remembers its responsibility to stand behind those who serve and
to make sure we do all that is possible to account for those
who have not returned. The POW/MIA Empty Chair Resolution 288, adopted at
the 67th American Legion National Convention, calls for designating a
POW/MIA Empty Chair at all official meetings of The American Legion as a
physical symbol of the thousands of American POW/MIA's still unaccounted
for from all wars and conflicts involving the United States. Units should
follow this resolution at all official meetings and events. |
American Legion Blood Donor Program
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January is National Blood Donor Month. Legionnaires are
encouraged to give blood and host blood drives at posts as part of the
American Legion Blood Donor Program. People have held blood drives and
given blood since community service became an American value. They help
supply blood needs for the hospitalized veterans and, under cooperative
agreements, for patients in civilian hospitals. Blood Donor Program awards
are given annually by the National Commander at the National Convention,
honoring departments in two areas: post participation and individual
participation.
Homeland security programs of The American Legion and the American Legion
Auxiliary.
Citizen Corps – This is the Federal Emergency
Management Agency’s (FEMA) grassroots strategy to bring together
government and community leaders to involve citizens in all-hazards
emergency preparedness and resilience. Citizen Corps asks every citizen to
embrace the personal responsibility to be prepared, to get training in
first aid and emergency skills, and to volunteer to support local
emergency responders, disaster relief and community safety. Units should
reach out particularly to military families transferring into their
communities and include them in the Citizen Corps initiatives.
Provide recognition and support for ROTC and JROTC groups.
ROTC and JROTC
provide leadership
opportunities for future military personnel. Students learn firsthand what
it takes to lead others, motivate groups and conduct missions. Units can
support these future leaders by presenting recognition awards and by
inviting them to participate in Post and Unit events.
Additional Activities
American
Legion Auxiliary Gateway to Services
– Accessed through the Auxiliary’s website at
www.ALAforVeterans.org, this portal contains valuable information on how
to connect veterans, military servicemembers and military families
to resources and support that enhance their lives. It is also a useful
resource for Units and members to use to find more information about all
of the programs identified in the National Security Plan of Action.
Information is available in the following areas: family, community and
social support; health and wellness; career, training and education; and
financial and legal support.
National
Military Appreciation Month (May) – Units can
partner with The American Legion and other community organizations during
May to increase awareness of and show appreciation for military families.
To maintain a strong, all-volunteer fighting force, it is imperative for
our National Security that we help to sustain our military families.
“We, as a nation, have a solemn obligation to
care for those who fight and defend our way of life. When a soldier takes
the oath of office, his or her family takes that oath too. Behind every
soldier in uniform today is a family struggling with the stresses of war.”
–Kristina Kaufmann, an Army wife
Click
here for Resources 1 Pdf file
Click here for Resources
2 Pdf file
DEPARTMENT
AWARDS
County Award:
Jane Cunion Plaque
– to the County National Security Chairman reporting the most outstanding
work on this committee. Entry must be typewritten in narrative form of the
past year’s work in her county, not to exceed 500 words, a copy of the
completed consolidated County report form under National Security, and
related newspaper publicity and photos. Cover sheet must include name of
County and name and address of County National Security Chairman
Unit Awards:
Irene
Tanner Plaque – To the Unit
National Security Chairman submitting the most outstanding report of overall
National Security Activities. Entry must be typewritten in narrative form
not to exceed 1,000 words and double-spaced. News articles and photos may be
included. Cover sheet must include Unit name and number, the number of Unit
members, and name and address of Unit National Security Chairman.
Outstanding Achievement Award
– To the
Unit National Security Chairman conducting the most Outstanding Special
Project relating to any program and/or activity encompassed within the
National Security Committee. Entry must be typewritten in narrative form not
to exceed 1,000 words and double-spaced. News articles and photos may be
included. Cover sheet must include Unit name and number, name of County the
Unit is in, and name and address of Unit National Security Chairman.
Deadline Date for the
above mentioned awards must be postmarked on or before May 10, 2012 and sent
to this year’s Department Chairman,
Julie McGill
.
National Awards
Department National Security Program Award: A citation
presented to the Department Chairman in each Division who reports the Most
Outstanding Overall National Security program. Entry must be typewritten in
narrative form, not to exceed 1,000 words. Please include pictures and news
articles to help tell your story.
All entries must be postmarked by June 1, 2012,
and sent by the Department Chairman to the Divisional Chairman.
Nancy Kurk
Military
Support Unit Award: A citation presented to a Unit in
each Division that reports the Most Outstanding Overall Program serving and
supporting military families with special emphasis on helping them through
times of family member deployment and/or injury (severely wounded). Entry
must be typewritten in narrative form, not to exceed 1,000 words. Please
include pictures and news articles.
All entries must be sent to
Department chairman by May 10, 2012 who in turn will send to National Division
Chairman, Nancy Kurk.
Entries are due to the National
Division
Chairman by June 1, 2012.
Yellow
Ribbon Program Unit Award: A citation presented to a
Unit in each Division that demonstrates the best project incorporating
yellow ribbons in support of military and military families. Please include
a type-written narrative (not to exceed 1,000 words), pictures, and news
articles.
All entries must be sent to Department chairman
by May 10, 2012 who in turn will send to National Division Chairman,
Nancy Kurk.
Entries are due to the National Division Chairman by June 1, 2012..
Dorothy
Pearl Civil Preparedness (CERT) Plaque: A citation
plaque presented to the Department having the greatest percentage of Units
participating in civil preparedness. Entry must be a typewritten summary
(narrative or spreadsheet) of participating Units, CERT training dates and
number of participants registering for the program and number of
participants completing the program.
All entries must be postmarked by June 1, 2012,
and sent by the Department Chairman to the National Vice Chairman,
Margaret A. Dellinger.
REPORTING
PROCEDURE:
Note,
there are only two reporting dates this year.
Reporting-How-When-Why
Unit Chairmen:
Please use
the
Unit Report Form
and send it to your County
Chairmen by November 1, 2011, March 1, 2012
County Chairmen: Please use the
County Report Form and send it to the Dept.
Chairman by November 10, 2011, March 10, 2012
Julie McGill
Department
National Security Chairman
American Legion Auxiliary
Email:
jkmcgill4@gmail.com
Note:
For Chairman's physical address, contact
Chairman or
Department
Office
Forms
are in (PDF Format)
and can be filled out using your computer keyboard.
However,
you
cannot save data typed into any
forms unless you have the Full Version of
Adobe Acrobat software! Please print at least 2 copies of
your completed form,
mail
one
to the chairman, and save one for your records. If you try to e-mail it without
the Full Version of Adobe Acrobat software,
the chairman will receive a
BLANK PAGE...Include hours spent, number of volunteers,
the number of Units and the value of anything you do. Mileage should
be reported at $.35 per mile and included in the dollar values for
activities.
911
Remembrance & Pow/Mia Recognition |
National
Security Resources 1 Pdf file
National Security Resources
2 Pdf file
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REPORTING
One of the most important responsibilities of
Unit Committee Chairmen
is to report the activities and work
on their programs.
This comprises all of the work done by the more than 50,000 members in
our Department.
The Unit Chairmen report to the
County Chairmen, who in turn
report to the Department Chairmen.
The Department's report to National is
the factor that makes the
outstanding reports at the National Convention.
Chairmen are encouraged to enter all contests. |
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