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The American Legion had Headlines across Illinois last week
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Legion leader pays visit
May 17, 2008
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BY NICOLE BROOKS Staff Writer
ELGIN -- In a country wrestling with politically charged issues, the American Legion has managed to keep its
mission cut and dry.
"We have a simple stance," said the legion's National Commander Martin Conatser. "We believe in supporting
our troops."
» Click to enlarge image
Martin Conatser, of Champaign, National Commander of the American Legion, was a guest speaker Friday at
American Legion Post 57 in Elgin.
(Marina Makropoulos/Staff Photographer)
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The Champaign resident visited Elgin's American Legion Post 57 Friday afternoon for a luncheon and presentation.
Elected last August to a one-year appointment, Conatser has traveled the country and overseas, talking to some
of the organization's 2.7 million due-paying members about national issues that affect them.
The organization does not endorse political candidates, Conatser said before his speech at the post, at
820 N. Liberty St.
"We work issues," he said. "Taking care of soldiers and their families are our issues."
And taking care of people requires funding.
"The Veteran's Administration has the best budget of my lifetime," Conatser said of the federal Department of
Veterans Affairs. "But we must spend it wisely."
The Iraq war has reinforced the Legion's resolve to have an "adequately trained, equipped and staffed military,"
according to the organization's literature.
Conatser said he never wants to look into the face of a grieving family member or friend "and say that their loved
one's death was a budget issue."
And money must be spent on those service men and women coming home.
"I don't think Americans ever envisioned the mental health demands on our returning troops," he said.
In generations past, Conatser said, troops leaving an active combat zone would stop over at a military base to
decompress before returning home.
Now, troops can in less than 10 days go from a combat area back to their old jobs, "surrounded by people
who don't understand," he said.
A multitude of needs must be met in these situations. The American Legion, as the county's largest veterans'
service organization, works with Congress and the Department of Defense on budget issues.
Conatser said he is proud of the organization's increased attention to promoting female health services and
specialized counseling. Depending upon which statistics you read, 24 to 32 percent of active soldiers are female,
he said.
"Post traumatic stress disorder applies to everyone," he said.
Conatser encourages all active duty soldiers and their families to make use of the Legion's Family Support
Network by calling (800) 504-4098.
On the Net
American Legion
http://www.legion.org/
National leader to speak
By TIM KANE - tkane@nwherald.com
 Comments (No comments posted.)A lobbyist who is the national commander of the American Legion
and is in the midst of a tour of Illinois will be in Lake in the Hills for a pancake breakfast and talk Saturday morning.
LAKE IN THE HILLS -
Marty Conatser, national commander of the American Legion, will discuss veterans' issues from 9 to 10 a.m.
at the American Legion Post 1231 meeting hall.
The American Legion is an organization with 2.7 million members.
Conatser, who is a native of Champaign, will discuss consistency of care for battle stress and traumatic
brain injury treatment, and revamping the GI Bill, which provides free college for veterans. Conatser said he
testified before a joint session of Congress last year just before lawmakers approved a $3.9 billion boost
in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affair's budget.
He has met with President Bush on several occasions to discuss veterans' issues. Conatser said he was backing
legislation that would give low-interest loans to reservists who own small businesses and are called away for
months and years
of active duty.
"They need help getting back on their feet after being away for so long," Conatser said.
Also present Saturday will be representatives of the McHenry County Veterans Assistance Commission and the
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, who will address the concerns of any former service member who has
questions
about benefits, said Gary Jenson, a member of the Lake in the Hills American Legion Post 1231.
An Army recruiter with a "dog-tag machine" will mint souvenir identification tags for children. State Sen. Pamela
Althoff, R-McHenry, also will be in attendance.
Conatser's tour of Illinois includes stops at American Legion Posts in Effingham, Springfield, Bartonville, Belvidere
and Elgin.
If you go
Lake in the Hills American Legion Post 1231 will host a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at its
headquarters, 1101 W. Algonquin Road, Lake in the Hills. The American Legion's national commander will be
there from 9 to 10 a.m. addressing veteran's issues. The cost of breakfast is $6 for adults, and $4 for children
younger than 10. The public is invited.
American Legion Commander Says Illinois Supports Veterans
http://www.week.com/news/local/18989059.html
By Mike Dimmick
Story Published: May 15, 2008 at 5:56 PM CDT
Story Updated: May 15, 2008 at 6:17 PM CDT
The national commander of the American Legion checks in with the troops in Illinois. And he says this state is
a leader in its support of veterans.
Multimedia
Related Content
National Commander Martin Conatser stopped at the American Legion Post in Bartonville as part of his
statewide tour.
Conatser says the Veterans Affairs budget last year alone grew by more than three billion dollars.
Now he says the challenge now is how to get that money to several generations of vets.
"We've gotta make sure that the money given to the VA is spent wisely...that there is a mixture of improved facilities
and equipment and increased staffing to meet the needs of our newest generation of veterans without pushing our
existing veterans' population out of the hospitals."
Conatser praised Illinois for its access to medical care for vets. But he says the need is great, too, because Illinois
has had a large number of soldiers serve in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
American Legion's National Commander in Rockford |
By Katie O'Hara
13 News
ROCKFORD - Some local vets got a special visit Friday.
The National Commander of the American Legion stopped by Memorial Hall this morning. Marty Conatser spoke
about issues affecting vets around the nation and here locally in Rockford.
With ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, some of the big ones include post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic
brain injuries. 13 News was the only TV station there to talk to Conatser. He says, "Many of them are returning to
communities, where there's no military facility there. So the American Legion is veterans, people with a shared
experience stepping up to fill that gap and help these soldiers adapt back to civilian life."
More than 170 people belong to the local American Legion.
Updated: May 16, 2008, 5:21 pm
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American Legion assists The Haven
By Codell Rodriguez, The Southern
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 10:10 PM CDT
CARTERVILLE - Crab Orchard Lake dealt a financial blow to The Haven, but the American Legion stepped in
to get the veterans' retreat back on its feet.
When Southern Illinois was pummeled by rain in March, caretakers of The Haven found part of the lake inside the
building, causing more than $31,000 in damage. However, the National and Illinois commanders of the American
Legion visited the retreat today and presented the caretakers with $42,553 from the legion's National Emergency
Relief Fund.
"We want to see the facility continue to serve veteran affairs," said Myron Kirby, commander of the Legion's
Illinois department.
Debbie Ferguson, who takes care of The Haven with her husband, Dale, said they had applied for the funds but
were surprised to learn how much they received. She said they were looking for any kind of help from the Legion,
which she said went above and beyond in ensuring the retreat would stay open.
"We're grateful for any help we can get to refurbish The Haven," Debbie said.
Kirby and National Commander Martin Conatser are touring the state to speak to veterans about the Legion
and its programs. Because they were already in the area, they decided to present The Haven's funds personally.
However, the gesture was mostly symbolic; the check probably will not arrive for another 30 days.
Conatser has been to the retreat on several occasions. He said when he heard of the amount of water damage
it received he knew funds were needed to repair it so it could continue offering a place for veterans to relax.
"I've been to The Haven many times over the years, and I'm pleased to see it is still meeting the needs of the
veterans," Conatser said.
codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com
351-5804
|
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 9:36 PM CDT
American Legion commander visits Effingham
By AMBER WILLIAMS, Staff Writer
awilliams@jg-tc.com
EFFINGHAM - It isn't often that the national commander visits a local American Legion post.
Trips to central Illinois are few and far between for the leader of the 2.7-million veterans in the American Legion.
"It's extremely rare, a lot of these posts have not seen a national commander," said Mark Sides, public relations chairman.
However, this year, the national commander of the American Legion is a Champaign resident and member of the American Legion in DeLand.
As such, national Commander Marty Conatser took a few of his rare free days to tour Illinois, stopping at Effingham, Springfield, Bartonville, Belvidere and Elgin.
As Conatser stopped in at the Effingham Post 120 American Legion Wednesday to eat with local Legionnaires and discuss membership, Post 120 Commander Brad Phegley said he was excited to have Conatser at their post.
"It is an honor to have him stop by here," Phegley said. "We have been looking forward to it and preparing for it."
Part of the reason for Conatser's caravan through Illinois is a push for new members and retaining existing members.
One facet of this new membership is appealing to young members of the armed forces, even those who just may be starting boot camp, said Myron Kirby, Illinois commander of the American Legion.
The American Legion wants these young service members to know they are eligible to be in the organization and they are wanted. So far, the push has been working and membership has been growing, he said.
"We are getting more young people," Kirby said.
Conatser has also been explaining the efforts the American Legion has been making to get support for veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Conatser describes the American Legion as a "watchdog" of the Department of Veteran's Affairs and its hospitals.
Some Veterans Affairs hospitals, including one in Marion, have been in the news recently for substandard care of patients.
Conatser said he has visited many Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics and finds that all of them do care greatly about their pa tients.
The issue facing these hospitals is a lack of resources, especially true in the area of mental illness, he said.
The Veterans Affairs hospitals have not been prepared for the mental illness of those soldiers coming back from Iraq and other regions related to the war on terror, Conatser said.
The hospitals need more resources i n the right areas to better serve veterans.
"It's a problem that is not going to go away," he said.
This is especially true in rural America where the necessary mental health professionals might be scarce, Conatser said. The American Legion is concerned with consistency of care throughout all Veterans Affairs hospitals.
Contact Amber Williams at awilliams@jg-tc.com or 238-6858.
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