The American Legion Department of Illinois
High School Oratorical Scholarship Program
2014 Oratorical Competition Results

Photo Credit: Mark Sides

Pictured(l-r) Department Commander Bernie Stegmuelle, Sarvasva Raghuvanshi, and Department Sr.Vice Commander Henry Robards

Sarvasva Raghuvanshi was named the 2014 Illinois overall winner of the 77th Annual Oratorical Contest. The Semi-Final and Finals were held February 28-March 1, 2014 in Peoria, IL at the Peoria Civic Center.

Raghuvanshi will advance to the 2014 National Finals, April 4-6 in Indianapolis, at the Wyndham Indianapolis West. Quarterfinal and semifinal contests are scheduled for Saturday, April 5, with the finals scheduled for Sunday, April 6.

The chart below indicates all the winners and the award amount won at the Illinois competition.

Visit First Transit Careers

2014 Hiring Our Heroes- UIC Forum
Veterans Employment Fair
725 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608
March 26, 2014 From 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Join Hiring Our Heroes on March 26, 2014 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, for an employment fair for veteran job seekers and military spouses.There will be over 100 employers in attendance conducting onsite interviews. The fair will be held at the UIC Forum on 725 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608.This event will be a FREE hiring fair for both employers and job seekers and military spouses.

A workshop for veterans and other military job seekers that focuses on resume writing, tips for successfully navigating hiring fairs, military skill translation, and interviewing will start at 9:00 AM. To register for the Hiring Our Heroes Employment Workshop, visit hohworks.eventbrite.com/

This hiring event is being conducted by The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA), The U.S. Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL VETS), The Robert R. McCormick Foundation, The American Legion, and is being supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes program.

Walk in job seekers are welcome but will not be guaranteed on-site interviews.
If you need assistance registering, please contact us at hiringourheroes@uschamber.com or call 202-463-5807.

Find Hiring Our Heroes online

Download the free Hiring Our Heroes mobile app! All our powerful tools and resources at your fingertips

Scam targets Army soldiers, civilians, retirees and their families

Defense Department officials say scammers are trying to get information and passwords from Army civilians, soldiers, retirees and family members.

The scam involves a website called "My Army Benefits," which is nearly identical to the Army's official website called "MyArmyBenefits."

"The primary purpose of the fraudulent site is to collect soldiers' Army Knowledge Online, or AKO, email accounts and passwords, officials said. It also makes the false claim that the U.S. military has granted access to unclaimed and accumulated benefits for active duty soldiers, and that benefits not claimed within the stipulated period will be available for claims after 60 months," according to information released by the Department of Defense.

Soldiers, Army civilians, retirees and family members are strongly cautioned to ignore the website, do not log into the website and to immediately delete suspicious emails without answering them. If you have accessed the website from a government computer or system, you should contact your local information assurance office.

The scam site is called "My Army Benefits" and the most recent URL for it was Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Again, the DOD says this site is not affiliated with the U.S. Army.

The real "MyArmyBenefits" website is at http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil.

"Most online scam attempts are easily recognizable, officials said, because they usually involve unsolicited emails or text messages. Hoax websites often contain misspelled words and punctuation and grammatical errors, they added, and often ask for private information such as an email address and password," the DOD post said.

Career Opportunities

Current Available Jobs

	Maintenance Analyst MD	Technical Writer
	DBE Compliance Spec	Dir Qual Assr Qual Control
	Employment Services Coor	HR Rep FMLA
	Maintenance Analyst MED	Project Qual Control Spec

If you are interested in applying for a position at Metra, please send your cover letter which must include the position title, your resume and salary history to:

E-mail: jobs@metrarr.com

Metra is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. It is our policy to fill vacant positions with qualified candidates without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability, assuming an individual can perform the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation.

Metra / 547 W. Jackson Blvd. / Chicago, IL 60661

The American Legion Family

First Division - Cook County Council presents a Fundraiser for

Sharon Conatser

Candidate for American Legion Auxiliary National President 2015-2016

$25 in Advance       $30 at the Door
Includes: Food, Beer, Wine, Pop, and Free Valet Parking

Come and join us for a night of fun and show your pride in our Illinois candidate!

View/Share Fundraiser Flyer (PDF)

   The Chicago Zoological Society is now hiring for    temporary positions.
   Apply now to be considered for our upcoming hiring    events! See flyer for details.

IRS Revises Position on DD-214 Requirement

The American Legion recently reported that the Internal Revenue Service was fining Legion posts - up to $1,000 per day - for not keeping records of veterans' DD-214s, the separation document given by the military to prove honorable service, or other valid documentation. The Legion felt it was being wrongly targeted, resulting in the passing of three resolutions during the organization's national convention in Houston that called upon Congress to look into the IRS's field investigations into Legion posts, while lawmakers wrote letters to the IRS asking why inspectors were asking posts to provide discharge papers or service records during reviews of their tax-exempt statuses.

The IRS has now revised its position on the DD-214 requirement in section 501(c)19 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Effective immediately, ... [please continue reading here PDF]

FRAUD ALERT: Veterans should be aware of a marketing scam targeting callers trying to reach the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Call Center or GI Bill Call Center. A marketing company has established two fraudulent numbers that differ from the two official VA call center numbers by one digit. If the fraudulent number is dialed by mistake, the answering party will offer a gift card and try to obtain personal and financial information, including credit card information, from the caller. The answering party may even transfer the caller to the VA after the caller's information is obtained. Note that VA will never ask you for a credit card number or banking information over the phone. Before giving personal sensitive information over the phone make sure you know who you are taking to.

The numbers to be avoided are:

800-872-1000 (the VA National Call Center number is 800-827-1000)

888-442-4511 (the VA GI Bill Call Center number is 888-442-4551)

VA has notified law enforcement authorities to address this situation, and will provide additional information and guidance as necessary.

Source: Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration

Washington and Central Illinois
Tornado Relief and Recovery

Learn where to Get and Give Help with the Do Your Part
Resource Directory for Washington & Central Illinois Tornadoes

June 2013
Subject: .30 Caliber Blank M1909- Ammunition Safety Message

AMMUNITION SAFETY MESSAGE

A mishap occurred during the first week of May 2013 in which two M1 Garand rifles blew apart. This occurred during the rendering of honors at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. As a result of this mishap, two American Legion members received serious injuries. This mishap was caused by the use of .30 caliber grenade launching cartridges instead of the authorized M1909 .30 caliber blank cartridges issued by the US Army Joint Munitions Command. The only visible difference between the blank cartridge and the grenade cartridge is that the blank cartridge has 6 crimps and the grenade cartridge has 5 crimps. The grenade cartridge generates much more pressure and is not designed or intended to be fired with a blank firing adapter.

• Do not fire .30 caliber grenade cartridge in the M1 Garand Rifle

• Only .30 caliber blank ammunition issued by the US Army Joint Munitions Command is authorized for use.

• If your ammunition pedigree or origin is questionable, inspect your blank ammunition for the presence of grenade launching cartridges

If you have questions, please direct them to Mr. Robert Weissman, U.S. Army Armament Research and Development Center- (973) 724-3056, or robert.j.weissman.civ@mail.mil

Please note: The M1 Garand Operation and Maintenance Guide - 2013 (PDF) is available on our forms page.

THE AMERICAN LEGION

MILITARY COMMITMENT
CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION

As both college tuition rates and the threats of terrorism around the world seem to be continuously rising, many high school graduates are choosing to serve in the United States Armed Forces immediately following high school. The American Legion believes that these young men and women who choose to protect our freedoms deserve our respect, admiration and gratitude. In order to allow local posts to show their gratitude to these young men and women, The American Legion Flag & Emblem Sales offers "The American Legion Military Commitment Certificate of Commendation."

Posts may purchase this certificate online; by telephone at (888) 453-4466; or by mail at:

American Legion Flag & Emblem Sales
P.O. Box 36460
Indianapolis, IN 46236

Download/View  Military-Commitment-Certificate-Flyer contains sample certificate. (PDF)

'The least we can do'

When the Illinois River began cresting a few weeks ago, rising waters forced the evacuation of dozens of homes along the river in the city of Marseilles, Ill. It also caused American Legion Post 235 to spring into action.

The Illinois River crested near 30 feet, its highest level ever; flood stage is 20 feet. Several Illinois counties were classified as disaster areas. Following the April 18 flooding in Marseilles, Post 235 set up as a central location for food items to be donated. Post members, Salvation Army officials and community volunteers spent hours putting together bag lunches to take directly to flood victims who had begun the process of rebuilding their lives.

The post also started serving three hot meals a day to flood victims, police, fire and other emergency personnel, and any other volunteers who came to Marseilles to lend a hand. And it did so without hesitation, 60-year Post 235 member Gene Thompson said.

Read the whole story on The American Legion's national headquarters website.

American Legion Post #235 in Marseilles, Illinois opened it's doors to flood victims in their community, offering sack lunches and hot meals to those affected.