Latest News
-
Monday, March 23, 2026
Heyan Chung Is 2026 State Oratorical Champ
(From left) National Vice Commander Ron LaRose, Angie Lennox (Franklin County, District 4), Katherine Mazaroski (Nassau County, District 10, Sheldon Joseph (Westchester County, District 1), Lucas Christopher (Monroe County, District 7), 2026 Department of New York Champion Heyan chung (Broome County, District 6) and Department Commander John R. Miga.
ALBANY — Heyan Chung, a junior at Vestal Senior High School in Broome, New York, is The American Legion New York State Oratorical Champion for 2026, Oratorical Chairman Anthony Paternostro announced.
This year’s contest was conducted on March 7, 2026, at the Crown Plaza-Desmond Hotel, Albany, New York.
Oratorical champion Heyan chung with National Vice Commander Ron LaRose (left) and Department Commander John R. Miga.
As Department champion, Heyan Chung and wins a $6,000 Scholarship. He competed against four other finalists from a cross section of the state in the 89th Annual American Legion Department of New York Oratorical Contest. He was sponsored by the Binghamton American Legion Post 1645, Broome County, 6th District, and Zone 4.
Other contestants were:
• Lucas Christopher, Monroe County, 7th District, Zone 5, and sponsored by the Cottreall-Warner American Legion Post 942 who won a $4,000 Scholarship.
• Sheldon Joseph, Westchester County, 9th District, Zone 1, and sponsored by the Yorktown American Legion Post 1009 who won a $2,500 Scholarship.
• Katherine Mazaroski, Nassau County, 10th District, Zone 2, sponsored by the Carle Place American Legion Post 1718, and Angie Lennox, Franklin County, 4th District, Zone 3, sponsored by the Brushton-Moira American Legion Post 939, who both won a $2,000 Scholarship each.
-
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Vets Invited to Baseball Hall of Fame Military Classic Game
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown is inviting members of the American Legion to a Memorial Day Weekend event celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
Of its 354 Hall of Famers, 70 sacrificed parts of their baseball careers to serve in the U.S. military during wartime. These legacies are honored during the Hall of Fame Military Classic: A Tribute to Service and Sacrifice – a seven-inning legends game on May 23 at historic Doubleday Field.
Any veteran who purchases tickets to the game will receive free Museum tickets, valid on Saturday, May 23, when the Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Here’s more information about the Hall of Fame Military Classic:
• Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Rollie Fingers, Todd Helton, Fergie Jenkins, Tony La Russa, Scott Rolen and Joe Torre will participate as managers and coaches.
• Two dozen former big leaguers with their own military ties will play in the game and participate in a pregame home run hitting contest. They will be joined by members of the Louisville Slugger Warriors veterans amputee baseball team.
• Also participating will be 1981 World Series champion Rick Monday, whose rescue of the American flag at Dodger Stadium in 1976 became a rallying point for the country during that bicentennial year. The flag Monday rescued will be on special exhibit at the Hall of Fame beginning Memorial Day Weekend.Tickets for the Hall of Fame Military Classic are on sale now online at Hall of Fame Military Classic or at 1-888-325-0470 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Veterans can redeem their free Museum ticket offer by entering promo code BHOF250 when ordering online or mentioning the offer when calling.
-
Check Out February’s Membership Impact Report
February26-Impact-Report (PDF)
-
Thursday, March 05, 2026
Department Convention Details Available
Marriott Downtown Syracuse
The 08th American Legion Department of New York Convention returns to Syracuse from July 16 to 18, 2026. This year, all three conventions — the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion — will be held at the Marriott Downtown Syracuse (although the Auxiliary has a separate host htel).
