This year, on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2006, besides honoring the more than 25 million living American veterans who have taken the United States Oath of Service to protect and defend this great country from the evils of tyranny and injustice, American Legion Commander Reginald Butt, Jr. spoke of the need for continuing health care for veterans from World War II to the present.

He said, "One way that men and women of The American Legion give thanks to our veterans is through our never-ending campaign for quality veterans' health care. They have earned it.

The men and women of the military who took part in the Saturday, Nov. 11 Veteran's Day Ceremony in front of Oyster Bay Town Hall West.

"VA health care is an ongoing cost of war. As young men and women engage the enemy face-to-face thousands of miles away in The Global War on Terrorism, the thanks of a grateful nation should be reflected not only in saying thank you but also in giving VA the proper amount of funding to give all veterans the health care they have earned."

Mr. Butt reported that National Commander Paul Morin has said, "The American Legion will not only be advocating for appropriate funding but also to make that funding mandatory so veterans will no longer have to wonder from year to year if VA will be there for them or not."

Mr. Butt added the reality the nation faces with many of the veterans from Iraq that "Some service members will be dependent on the VA for their wheelchairs, prostheses, and health care for the remainder of their lives. For this newest generation of wartime veterans, VA, more and more, is becoming their health care delivery system of choice.

"Legionnaires want lawmakers to be sure they know all the issues facing our veterans today. As Commander Morin said, 'From our WW II veterans to our newest veterans, VA must be able to provide for their needs in a timely and professional way while maintaining the current standards of excellence which they have achieved, and for which the American Legion applauds them.'

"In doing so, we can fulfill the promise of Abraham Lincoln who laid out the mission of today's Veterans Administration - 'to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan.' This tradition of veterans helping veterans was extended to a whole new generation of American warriors and their families when The American Legion and the Department of Defense formalized the 'Heroes to Hometowns' program this summer," said Mr. Butt.

The "Heroes to Hometowns" transition program will start setting up a support network and coordinating resources before a severely injured service member returns home.

Child care, temporary housing, errand running, adapting homes or vehicles, spiritual support, government claims assistance and financial aid are just some of what Legion posts will provide. The American Legion has over 14,000 posts around the world to help our returning heroes.

Another way the American Legion gives thanks to our veterans is through The American Legion Legacy Scholarship program.

Mr. Butt said, "An unfortunate consequence of Operation Iraqi Freedom and America's war on terror is that many children of our active-duty military personnel are now members of single-parent families. In most cases, this also means their chances to attend college have greatly diminished. Children of military personnel killed on active duty are entitled to receive money toward a college education.

"We are raising funds to ensure that higher education will be a reality for these families. Providing for the children our military personnel left behind is our moral duty. An education is a powerful way to show our thanks. That's why we have established The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund," said Mr. Butt.

In August, members of The American Legion Riders orchestrated a five-day motorcycle run to the 88th Annual American Legion National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their efforts, combined with fundraising initiatives of several American Legion Departments, resulted in $180,000 being raised for The American Legion's Legacy Scholarship Program.

He said, "Last April, the first six recipients of The American Legion Legacy Scholarships were named. Their dreams for a college education have been met and we will see to it that many more children who have lost a parent serving our country since 9/11 will also have that opportunity to gain higher education. We do these things for our veterans because they deserve our thanks and much more.

"It is by their strength and resolve that our national security remains intact, that the needs of our veterans are taken care of and that the welfare of our children is attended to. When it comes to America...when it comes to taking care of their fellow veterans... they just do it."

Mr. Butt concluded: "The legacy of America's veterans is something we all share, and we can all take pride in their dedication and service. We celebrate the fact that they willingly sacrifice ... that others may be free. God bless all of you for being here, and may God especially shower His blessings on all America's veterans."

American Legion Commander Reginald Butt, Jr. chose the topic of mandatory funding for the Veterans Administration as the focus of his Nov. 11 speech in front of Town Hall East. He talked about the need of continuous funding to provide health services for veterans returning from Iraq as well as an aging population of servicemen and servicewomen.

Edward G. Aulman, director, Nassau County Veterans Service Agency said, "The Veterans Administration is discovering that five times more veterans from the Iraq War are signing up at VA Hospitals for services, than expected. Some may need lifetime care."

He said, "Last year the American Legion asked congress for mandatory funding for the VA but it lost by 15 votes in the House of Representatives and six votes in the Senate. The bill was to authorize mandatory funding for the VA. If it had been passed, the VA wouldn't have to fight for funding every year. It would ensure that the money was there for all our veterans. The current budget is $84 billion and most say that is not enough for 2007. It is probably enough but that depends on the nature of injuries on the people who come back from Iraq.

"Last year they thought they had enough funding but there was a $2 billion shortfall and Congress had to provide emergency funding just to keep the VA open." Mandatory funding would mean that Congress has to put the money there to make sure the veterans get the benefits - the same way they do with Social Security, he explained.

Veterans are returning with a new kind of injury.

Mr. Aulman explained that one of the results of the roadside bombs going off is a large number of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). "They are not sure how to treat TBI and are fairly confident that the symptoms will get worse as they age. There is a lot of research being done at the VA, on the effects of concussion - the shock on the brain of bouncing around in the skull as a result of an explosion," he said. Another concern is the incidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Joe Fledge, public information officer for the Northport Veteran's Affairs Medical Center (NVAMC) said, "Since March of 2003, when the Iraq war started, the NVAMC has seen a little over 1,300 Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans.

"They go through a comprehensive screening process with the Iraqi Freedom team which includes: A full physical exam; blood work; and psycho-social screenings. These are used to determine if the vet has depression, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or substance abuse. If any tests are positive the veterans are referred for mental health services. There is a team of psychiatrists and psychologists who are trained to work with those diagnoses, including PTSD."

Mr. Fledge said the VA is aggressive in reaching out to returning veterans, often through their reserve units; by direct mail; telephone calls; health fairs and participation in community veterans' events. Both veterans and their families are welcome to visit the VA website for services available; and for families making observations about their loved ones - to better make recommendations to loved ones to seek help. They are available at VA.gov.

Members of the Empowerment Society of the United States of America joined the American Legion Post #4 and VFW Post 8033 veterans on Nov. 11 to celebrate Veteran's Day. ES founder Pamela Pfeiffer said this year the focus of the group will be to help take oral histories for the Women in Military Service For America Memorial Foundation (WMS).

The WMS America Memorial Foundation maintains and operates the Memorial Education Center; manages a world-class archive of documents, artifacts and memorabilia related to women's service in defense of our nation; conducts a worldwide education program for children and adults; operates a speakers bureau; and hosts a variety of seminars, programs, and activities at the memorial.

In addition, a primary mission of the foundation and a major continuing effort is to identify and register with the memorial the over two million women who have served or are serving in all branches of the US Armed Forces. Some 250,000 women, about 13 percent of those eligible, have registered or been registered by family or friends.

Eligible "members" include living or deceased women veterans: active duty, reserve, guard and US Public Health Service uniformed women; and women in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Civil Air Patrol.

Total cost of building the Memorial was $22 million. In building the Memorial, support came from federal grants; proceeds from the sales of commemorative silver dollars; and corporate, organization and individual donations.

Groundbreaking for the Memorial was June 22, 1995. Dedication was Oct. 18, 1997. The Women's Memorial officially opened to the public on Oct. 20, 1997.