Latest News
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Friday, January 26, 2024
Congrats to Mid-Winter Sweepstakes Winners
Congratulations to our 2024 Mid-Winter Sweepstakes Winners:
$ 250.00 Winners
Martin Moot, Hamburg NY
Rodney Daeffler, Waterloo NY
Charles Rayno, Waterloo NY
John T Kelly, Churchville, NY$ 500.00 Winner
Loraine Vonglis of Lima, NY$1,000.00 Winner
Glenn S. Martin of East Meredith NY$2,000.00 Winner
Charles Anderson of Albany NY$5,000.00 Winner
Thomas Cole of Conesus, NY -
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Winter/Spring Issue of Legion New York Magazine
Legion New York Magazine spotlights Buffalo’s Naval and Military Park and Geneseo’s National Warplane Museum in conjunction with the national commander’s visit to western New York.
This winter/spring issue also spotlights several Legionnaires receiving French and NY State honors, plus the good work being done by Legion Riders, the Auxiliary and Legion Posts.
Winter-Spring 2024 -
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Commander Announces 2 Grants With Suicide Prevention as ‘Our Focus’
Commander Timothy Collmer briefs WRGB Channel 6 photojournalist on the American Legion’s suicide prevention efforts.
“Our focus in The American Legion is on suicide prevention.”
That’s how Department Commander Timothy Collmer began a briefing with news media during the Department of New York’s 105th Mid-Winter Conference in Albany.
As part of the “Be the One” campaign, “we have people that are willing to listen to veterans who are struggling… and get them the help they need.”
He said the Department of New York also works with partners to provide direct support and assistance to vets suffering from post traumatic stress. In line with that, Collmer announced two grants totaling $130,000. They are:
• $100,000 to the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation to fund creative arts therapy for struggling vets.
• $30,000 to High and Mighty Therapeutic Riding and Driving Center in Ghent, N.Y. to help fund equine therapy for vets with post traumatic stress.
In the past two years, The American Legion Department of New York has awarded nearly $550,000 in grants to organizations directly helping veterans at risk of suicide or homelessness.
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Friday, January 19, 2024
Veterans Converge on Albany for Mid-Winter Conference
Leo Mackin and Mike Nussbaum with service dog Ginger were among hundreds of veterans participating in the Mid-Winter Conference. Photos by Robert Stronach.
The three-day American Legion Mid-Winter Conference got underway Friday, Jan. 19, with hundreds of veterans and family members converging on Albany.
Participants include members of The American Legion Department of New York, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion.
Held at the Crowne Plaza Desmond Hotel, the conference features workshops and seminars on a host of topics affecting military veterans, plus a Sunday morning general session.
One of the primary themes of the conference is the effort to curb veteran suicide under The American Legion’s “Be the One” campaign that encourages members to reach out to veterans who may be showing signs of wanting to take their own lives.
PHOTO ABOVE:
Among the hundreds of veterans participating in the Mid-Winter Conference were Leo Mackin, proudly displaying his “grandpa” status, and Mike Nussbaum, accompanied by his service dog, Ginger.
Mackin is a member of Richfield Springs Post 616 and served as vice commander of Districts 5 and 6 last year.
Nussbaum is commander of Wheatfield Post 1451. A former army medic, Nussbaum served in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Ginger helps him cope with post traumatic stress.
