American Legion Post 63 commander attends national convention in Reno

Dennis Woeltje, American Legion Commander of Post 63 in Cape Girardeau, recently attended the American Legion's 89th National Convention in Reno, Nev.. More than 5,000 American Legion leaders attended the convention. Woeltje has been active in programs that benefit veterans, their families and the children of this area for at least six years.

Woeltje was briefed on "Operation Landstuhl," an initiative by the American Legion to raise money for comfort commodities for wounded soldiers recovering at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. The American Legion raised $257,361 during this campaign.

Woeltje said it was the first American Legion Convention he attended and, besides the Operation Landstuhl campaign, the Legacy Run fund-raiser was the most impressive. "I know what our little post does, but when I saw what the entire organization can do, it was outstanding," he said. "The Legion Riders met in Indianapolis, and on the planned route to the Reno convention post members met them and donated to the Legacy Scholarship, a scholarship fund for fallen soldiers of Afghanistan and Iraq. They raised $406,000."

President Bush, Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson, House Veterans Affairs Committee chairman Bob Filner and other leaders addressed the business sessions.

The president reported on the progress of the war on terrorism and thanked Legionnaires for their support. A videotaped report from Gen. David A. Petraeus in Iraq was also shown.

Nicholson and Filner discussed the veterans health-care budget and challenges facing the nation's largest health-care system.

Members of the American Legion are actively supporting severely injured U.S. troops returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan with assistance in finding lodging, employment, entertainment and social services. Legionnaires also help families of deployed service members who need assistance with problems ranging from a leaky faucet to temporary child care.

Legion issues high on the agenda for the coming year include supporting armed forces during the war on terrorism, returning to the American people the right to protect the U.S. flag, mandatory funding of the VA for veterans health care and passage of the Public Expression of Religion Act.

cpagano@semissourian.com

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