The 76^th Annual National American Legion Pilgrimage to the Tomb of Abraham Lincoln will be held in Springfield, Illinois, on Friday, February 12, 2010. Springfield Post #32, Auxiliary Unit #32 and Sons of The American Legion Squadron #32 extend a most cordial invitation to you to attend and participate.

National Commander Clarence E. Hill of Florida, National President Rita Navarrete, the LeChapeau Nationale of the 8 & 40 Janet Christiansen, SAL National Commander Mark Arneson, our Illinois Department Commander William J. Flanagan, our Department President Julia Moore, our LeChapeau Departmental Ruth Elzinga and our Detachment Commander Mark Melone will be attending and participating in the activities. Additionally, many other Legion, Auxiliary, 8 & 40, S.A.L., and state and local dignitaries will be in attendance to honor President Abraham Lincoln on this very special day.

The Commemoration begins on Thursday evening, February 11, 2010, from 5 p.m. - 1 a.m. with an Open House at Springfield Post #32, 1120 Sangamon Avenue, Springfield. A FREE shuttle will run continuously between the Hilton Hotel and Post 32 from 5 p.m. - 1 a.m. Dinner service with will be available at the Springfield Post from 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended. To place Thursday evening dinner reservations phone 217 523-3415 to reach The Mess Hall Restaurant located in and operated by American Legion Post 32. We will have entertainment, dancing, refreshments and a chance to renew old acquaintances and make new ones. The National and Department Officers will be at the Open House to greet everyone.

The headquarters hotel is the Hilton Springfield, 700 East Adams Street, in downtown Springfield. Room rates are $85.00 per night, single or double occupancy, and the rate includes parking. You may call your reservation in to 1-800-HILTONS (1 800-445-8667), but please ensure you mention Group Code "LEGION LDP" for the American Legion Lincoln Day Pilgrimage to receive this special rate. You may also reserve your room over the internet at www.springfieldil.hilton.com. Use the group code of "LEG". All hotel reservations must be received by January 19, 2010

The following program has been planned for Friday, February 12, 2010:

• 8:00 a.m. American Legion Auxiliary breakfast honoring National President Rita Navarrete, Hilton Springfield Capitol Room.
• 8:30 a.m. American Legion breakfast honoring National Commander Clarence E. Hill, Hilton Springfield, Prairie Room.
• 10:00 a.m. Pilgrimage departs Hilton Springfield for journey to Abraham Lincoln's Tomb.
• 10:30 a.m. Ceremonies and wreath placing from inside Mr. Lincoln's Tomb, Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois.
• 12:30 p.m. Lincoln Commemoration Luncheon with Distinguished Guests and National, Commander Clarence E. Hill of Florida as the keynote speaker. Hilton ballroom.

Breakfast tickets are $20.00 each, and luncheon tickets are $30.00 each with tax and tip included. Please specify when ordering breakfast tickets if they are for the Legion or Auxiliary breakfast. Luncheon tables of eight (8) will be assigned and may be reserved by sending your check for $240.00 to the below listed address. If you are from Illinois, please indicate your Illinois District number on all luncheon reservations. Checks should be made out to Springfield Post #32, The American Legion. Tickets, reservations and further information please write to: American Legion Lincoln Day Pilgrimage, ATTN: Thomas C. McDonough, Ticket Chairman, 1120 Sangamon Avenue, Springfield, Illinois 62702-1853. Phone 217 523-3415. Post 32 e-mail is spfldpost32@sbcglobal.net.  SPECIAL NOTICE: All meal checks and/or reservations must be received or canceled by Friday, February 5, 2010. No refunds can be made after that date. Please make your plans and reservations early, as we may not be able to seat you if you do not order your meal tickets early.

We sincerely hope that you will be able to be with us to honor our 16^th President, Abraham Lincoln, on his birthday in his "Hometown", and that you make time to visit the beautiful Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library, which is only three short blocks from the Hilton Springfield. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum is open seven days a week.

Thank you.

Michael E. Walton, General Chairman
www.springfieldamericanlegion.com

On August 24, 2009 The American Legion National Executive Committee adopted Resolution 1, The American Legion Policy on VA and National Health Care Reform, Resolution 2, The American Legion Policy on DOD's Medical Health System and National Health Care Reform The goal of these resolutions was to make sure that neither the Department of Defense's or the Department of Veterans Affairs' health care delivery systems were adversely impacted by legislation introduced and passed in each chamber.

Very early in the process, The American Legion received assurances from key congressional leaders and the President of the United States that nothing in the national health care reform legislation would adversely impact either the DoD or VA health care systems. Both the House and the Senate have passed their versions of national health care reform legislation. Both bills are literally over 2,000 pages of legislative language. In a review of each bill, it appears neither DoD or VA health care systems will be adversely impacted; however, the current on-going negotiations between House, Senate and the White House are being conducted in "closed sessions" with little to no detailed information being officially released or reported.

The American Legion will continue to closely monitor developments and keep The American Legion family informed as specifics are revealed. Clearly, changes to Medicare's reimbursement rates to participating health care providers could possibly have an impact on TRICARE and TRICARE for Life beneficiaries. This is just one of the many provisions The American Legion has publicly expressed concerns over.

Another concern deals with any requirement for mandatory public or private health care insurance. Neither TRICARE nor VA health care is an insurance provider, but rather a health care provider. So The American Legion has publicly expressed its concerns with "cookie cutter" approaches in mandating health care insurance coverage with the threat of fines or penalties for noncompliance. Both DoD and VA health care are earned benefits for honorable military service and the thanks of a grateful nation.

In keeping with the constitutional intent of the democratic process, the voice of We, the people remains absolutely critical in the representative form of government we enjoy; therefore, you are encouraged to ask your two Senators and your Representative specific questions you may have on the issue of national health care reform as it relates to veterans, servicemembers and their families.

Please feel free to share any responses you may receive from your elected officials with The American Legion National Legislative Commission, so we can follow up as necessary.

It's that time of year again. Time when The American Legion usually outdoes itself in the normal 100 percent support it shows the troops. Last year at about this time, Operation Comfort Warriors was born. By the end of December, $100,000 was raised to purchase comfort items ranging from hooded sweat shirts to socks to small electronics for our troops in military hospitals and warrior transition units around the world. These donations helped brighten the holidays for many of our wounded warriors.

Back in August, National Commander Hill set a goal to raise another $100,000 by the end of the year. We were at $189,000 at the time. Today, we have raised $227,938 since OCW's inception. That means we need just more than $61,000 to reach this goal. I know that with your help, we can reach that goal.

Many worthy requests come from the various hospitals and units. One that sticks out is the request from the Fort Carson, Colorado, Wounded Warrior Battalion, to purchase 50 "Tens Units" at $31.48 each. Tens units are pain management devices. They are effectively used in the management of extreme debilitating headaches, often associated with head trauma, severe TBI and repeated blast concussions. Many of our wounded have these issues, and even with the abundant medications they are given, still suffer the head pain. The company which manufactures the devices will provide them at a 50 percent discount if we purchase them.

Other needs from Fort Carson include "barracks kits" filled with personal toiletries, bed linens, bathroom linens, pillow, pajamas, socks, books, phone card and other items for the room.

As most of you are aware, The American Legion spends no money on marketing or overhead for OCW. 100 percent of the donations go to the troops. Your National Security Division has been very efficient at responding to the needs of the bases worldwide and there is rarely more than $20,000 in the account at any given time. Other items purchased and future needs include DVDs, CDs, books, duffle bags, backpacks, gift cards, puzzles and even laptops for common areas. We have already helped Walter Reed, Landstuhl, Bethesda, Camp Pendleton, Fort Hood, Camp Lejeune, Fort Lewis, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg and more places than I can mention here. Operation Comfort Warriors will be contributing to just about every U.S. military hospital or warrior transition unit in the world.

Donations can be made online at Operation Comfort Warriors or by mailing checks to:

Operation Comfort Warriors
PO Box 1055
Indianapolis, IN 46206

INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 23, 2009) - The American Legion's Operation Comfort Warriors program is donating gift cards to the men and women who were wounded at Ft. Hood earlier this month.

"Americans everywhere have reached out to these victims," American Legion National Commander Clarence E. Hill said. "It's only appropriate that The American Legion family does its share. We have sent $3,800 so each of the 38 wounded can receive $100 gift cards to use at the Ft. Hood AAFES (post exchange). This is on top of the $10,000 of electronic games and instruments we sent in Operation Comfort Warriors donations to Ft. Hood just prior to the shootings. These gifts won't make the injuries go away, but they do show that we care.

"The government does a good job of providing the necessities," Hill continued. "Through Operation Comfort Warriors we have been able to provide gifts to troops in military hospitals everywhere. These are items that usually don't appear in government budgets, such as personal sweat suits, I-Pods, DVDs, phone calling cards and other comfort goods. The American Legion is challenging its members and friends to continue giving to those who have already given us so much."

The American Legion has already raised more than $217,000 for Operation Comfort Warriors since its inception last December. Upon taking office in August, Commander Hill set a goal to raise an additional $100,000 by year's end. Donors can make online contributions by visiting www.legion.org/ocw or by sending a check to Operation Comfort Warriors, PO Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206. Administrative and promotional costs for Operation Comfort Warriors are paid by The American Legion, allowing 100 percent of the donations to be spent directly on the troops.

"Some people think that expecting $100,000 during an economic recession is too lofty a goal. I don't," Hill said. "Americans are generous and what better way is there to show our holiday spirit than to remember those who have served and are still serving?"

With a current membership of 2.5-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.

As Veterans Day nears and communities will soon host parades, memorials and ceremonies to honor our military heroes, the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) and the Illinois Lottery are launching the newest version of the Veterans Cash scratch-off lottery ticket called Stars and Stripes.

Veterans Cash is the Lottery's first specialty ticket where 100 percent of the proceeds support Illinois Veterans. Proceeds from the sale of the Stars and Stripes ticket are deposited into an interest bearing account in the State Treasury called the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund. IDVA awards the money in grants to non-profit organizations that provide a wide range of services to Illinois Veterans including health care and insurance, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment, disability benefits, and housing assistance.

Since 2006, IDVA has granted more than $7 million to Veterans organizations statewide through the Veterans Cash program. Grants have ranged from $2,500 for clothing, food and transportation to local VA hospitals for Veterans in need, to $125,000 for the expansion of a homeless shelter.

The Stars and Stripes ticket is available at your retailer now, and if your retailer is not carrying it, we urge you to ask for it.

Week of October 26, 2009
The Department of Veterans Affairs launched a new, nationwide Gravesite Locator, which makes the gravesites of more than 6.7 million veterans easier to locate using cell phones with Internet capability. The new Nationwide Gravesite Locator, at http://m.va.gov/gravelocator, is enhanced for viewing and browsing on "smart phones."

Users enter a name to search and find where the loved one is buried. The website will provide the name of the cemetery and a grave location, offer a link to a Google map, driving directions to the cemetery, and if the deceased is buried in a national cemetery or state veterans cemetery, provide a link to a cemetery map to help find the section where the grave is located.

INDIANAPOLIS (May 1, 2009) - The American Legion has recently redesigned its Web site for ordering merchandise. The new Emblem Sales Web site features better graphics and state of the art technology to increase its ease of use.

The new site, www.emblem.legion.org, coincides with the recent implementation of new customer service and warehouse software at Emblem Sales. It features “roll-over” navigation, where additional choices appear simply by pointing a mouse at a category. This will allow the user to quickly find the desired category of merchandise. A new uniform cap page will allow Legionnaires to easily build and order new American Legion caps through a step-by-step process. The site also features a shipping calculator, which estimates the charges before an order is placed.

With a current membership of 2.6-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.