Support Our Troops Video

We are currently in the process of gathering items to ship overseas to the Unit. These Marines would appreciate hygiene products, including: soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, dental floss, mouth wash, wetwipes, toothpaste, footspray, razors and shaving cream. They have also requested white and black socks, boxers, magazines, books, dvd's, cd's, portable videogame systems and videogames, mini -tv's, mp3 players, cameras, candy, and food snacks.

*There have been some changes made at the Department of Defense level for the safety of our deployed troops. Please ONLY send socks and under garments made from natural fibers, ie., cotton or wool.  "Underarmor" is no longer allowed or socks that have large amounts of polyester or acrylic because if the troop is involved in an incident where there is fire, the manmade fibers melt on the skin and cause far worse burns than natural fibers. Please keep this in mind when buying socks and under garments for the troops.

Those interested in donating any of the above items to this Unit, please contact national headquarters at: 317-569-4500. Thank you for your help!

Everyday, we are seeing an increasing numbers of units and military personnel from our communities being activated and deployed. In many cases they leave families and jobs behind them. Therefore, we need to be there for them as a support base by welcoming these troops home and back into the community. As veterans and veteran advocates, The American Legion Family knows from experience just how valuable a helping hand can be in times of need.

To capture this whole process from activation to discharge, The American Legion has combined several brochures (Reconnect, Family Support Network and Welcome Home) into one pocket-sized durable Troop Support Services (TS2) Resource Guide. This guide is designed to be placed in the "troops" hands prior to deployment. One section of the guide is for the "troop" and the other for the family as a stay behind.

Download the brochure now, or contact your local American Legion Post to find out more information on TS2.

http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/

America Supports You! spotlights what Americans are doing in support of the military, encouraging individuals to thank the troops and allowing all to tell their stories by giving voice and visibility to their efforts. This is a program sponsored by the Department of Defense. This site helps donors find established charities started to assist with military families' emergencies.

Operation Welcome Troops Home is a program run through Community Service, to make sure that service members receive a proper welcome when they return to the community. Inspired by Operation Welcome Home (http://www.operationwelcomehome.org/) in Rochester, N.Y., this program encourages Auxiliary members to work with other organizations in their communities to plan a positive and powerful homecoming for our troops. This is also a great way to combine the "TS2" program and "Operation Welcome Troops Home" together. For more information and ideas, visit the above link, and contact your Department Community Service Chairman.

Operation Welcome Home multimedia project by photojournalism student Megan Rossman at RIT

Veterans Service Days are a joint venture of state Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) to activate every veteran in the state by providing free services with service officers at family veterans fairs in each Congressional district.

Under the leadership of Past National Commander Ron Conley, the Department of Pennsylvania launched an Alliance of Veterans Services with AMVETS, Blinded Veterans Association, DAV, Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple Heart and the VFW. The first trial of this alliance was held on April, 25th, 2005 in Pennsylvania.

By pooling resources and bringing VSOs together, you can make it happen! Remember to bring Congressional leaders into the project to share ideas and voice concerns on veterans' issues. For more information download the materials produced by The American Legion: Veterans Service Days (Word Document)

America's Heroes of Freedom, Washington: http://www.americasheroes.us/

Comfort for America's Uniformed Services Elite, Herndon, Va.: http://www.cause-usa.org/

Give 2 the Troops, Canton, Conn.: http://www.give2thetroops.org/

Homes for Our Troops, Taunton, Mass.: http://www.homesforourtroops.org/

Operation AC, Bear, Del.: http://www.operationac.org/

Operation Family Fund, Ridgecrest, Calif.: http://www.operationfamilyfund.org/

Operation First Response, Culpeper, Va.: http://www.operationfirstresponse.org/

Operation Homefront, Santa Ana, Calif.: http://www.operationhomefront.net/

Operation Welcome Home, Rochester, NY: http://www.operationwelcomehome.org/

Soldier's Angels, Pasadena, Calif.: http://www.soldiersangels.org/

USA Cares, Radcliff, Ky.: http://www.usacares.us/

Wounded Warrior Project, Roanoke, Va.: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

VA's Polytrauma System of Care: www.polytrauma.va.gov