DOWL’s Post

Discover the Top 10 Reasons to become a member of American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291: 1. Unique amenities: Enjoy exclusive access to the only American Legion Yacht Club in the country. 2. Daily and nightly events: Immerse yourself in a vibrant community with a calendar full of engaging activities. 3. Affordable membership: Benefit from reasonable membership dues that provide exceptional value. 4. Camaraderie: Connect with fellow veterans and their families who share your experiences and understand your journey. 5. Support network: Access a robust support system for navigating benefits, healthcare, and employment opportunities. 6. Community involvement: Make a positive impact through volunteer work, fundraising, and charitable initiatives. 7. Advocacy: Stand up for veterans' rights and interests at all levels of government. 8. Resources: Gain access to a wealth of resources, including educational programs, financial assistance, and legal support. 9. Networking opportunities: Expand your network by connecting with other veterans and community leaders. 10. Tradition and legacy: Join a proud tradition of service and patriotism, honoring the legacy of those who have served our country. Learn more here https://lnkd.in/gGbs9pdj

The legacy of FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps lives on through The Corps Network (TCN), providing environmental justice and economic mobility for 25,000 young adults and veterans each year. TCN's commitment to racial equity began at the grassroots level, leading to the launch of the Moving Forward Initiative in 2017. Key benefits of this initiative include: - A deeper understanding of structural racism and unconscious bias - Rethinking post-service opportunities for Corpsmembers - Formal investments in racial equity programming - Creation of advisory councils to prioritize Corpsmembers’ experiences Navigating a network of 139 organizations, TCN's approach demonstrates how complex networks can engage in meaningful racial equity conversations. Learn more about TCN’s journey and how it can inspire your organization to move forward with equity and justice: https://wkkf.co/mjsd

Recently, I was asked to present at The American Legion’s National Membership Workshop. After moments like this, I tend to spend (probably too much) time reflecting on the experience - lessons learned, areas of opportunity, etc. I was called in to discuss legislative affairs and, more importantly, how we can use our legislative agenda to attract members. I started the course by asking everyone that owned a gun to stand. After that, I had everyone stand if they had heard of the NRA. I asked someone to explain, in one sentence, why individuals join the NRA. I repeated the process with PETA and the ACLU. Every answer was the exact same - individuals join advocacy organizations for representation. When you go to the NRA’s social media platforms, every single post is about guns. PETA’s platforms are covered with posts about animals. The ACLU’s platforms are covered with posts about civil liberties. Yet, for some peculiar reason, when you scroll The American Legion’s social media, there is a remarkable lack of comms about our advocacy (try it, look us up). The American Legion does an exceptional job pushing its Children and Youth and Americanism programs - exceptional. But, when you visit posts across America, the conversations are strikingly different from those on our feeds - What gets veterans yelling across a room is learning their benefits are on the chopping block. What gets them crying is watching Kabul fall. What gets them angry is knowing their terp, who kept them alive in country, has been abandoned. What gets them loud is realizing we’re not in a named war, yet we’re at the highest op tempo in American history. The American Legion exists to fight against these injustices and until we decide to talk about them, loudly, we won’t attract new members. If we lose sight of the fact we exist to represent an underserved population, all of the ancillary programs in the world won’t solve declining membership. Talk about the things that matter. 📸: intothebreachsupply #aaa #afghanistan #foreignrelations #veteransstrengtheningamerica

At CCV, we're not just a think tank, we're a "do-something-about-it" tank. And we've seen that our strategies are working to rebuild broken cultural institutions. Several years ago, God gave us the vision of our “three-legged stool,” which includes: 1️⃣ reforming education through the Ohio Christian Education Network, 2️⃣ building the Christian Business Partnership to protect Christians in the marketplace, and 3️⃣ equipping the Church through the Church Ambassador Network to live as a remnant in this current cultural moment. We know these goals are achievable even if they won’t be easy. Will you join the rescue mission? 👉 https://www.ccv.org/dec23

The work I do in support of veterans, military spouses, and people with disabilities is national (and beyond) in scope but it's always nice to get recognition locally. If you've ever wondered what I do or why I do it, this Chapin Neighbors Magazine article will answer some questions: https://lnkd.in/esTZY5Tb

🌹 Thinking of leaving a gift in your Will? Leaving a gift helps us at the CWG Foundation keep the memories of those who fell in service in the World Wars alive. Here’s how to support our Foundation with a legacy: https://lnkd.in/euVDc3z6

In March, the US Army announced it would remove the Confederate memorial in Arlington National Cemetery, as a result of the congressionally mandated Naming Commission, requiring United States Department of Defense to reconsider assets commemorating the Confederacy. But the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which was not subject to the mandate, maintains 34 other Confederate monuments in national cemeteries and soldier's lots reserved for U.S. veterans and their families. At Finn’s Point National Cemetery, in New Jersey, an 85-foot granite obelisk honoring the Confederate dead from the prison at nearby Fort Delaware dwarfs a nearby monument to Union soldiers. In Springfield National Cemetery, in Springfield, Missouri, a statue honoring Confederate soldiers reads, “Those who die for a right principle do not die in vain.” And in Chicago, not far from where thousands of Confederate soldiers died at Camp Douglas, their remains are marked by a 40-foot-tall statue of a Confederate soldier who peers out above the graves of prominent Black leaders buried in the adjoining cemetery, including the journalist and anti-lynching crusader Ida B. Wells, as well as Bishop Louis Henry Ford, who gave the eulogy at Emmett Till’s funeral. Four outward-pointing canons flank the base of the statue. “Confederate monuments are not consistent with VA’s commitment to serve all veterans with dignity and respect,” a VA spokesperson said in response to questions from The War Horse. “While VA maintains the Confederate gravesites and monuments in accordance with Federal law, we are considering all of our options.” Read our reporting from Randee Howard and Sonner Kehrt: https://lnkd.in/eTA33m5P #veteransaffairs #VA #cemetery #monuments #americanhistory #history #historygram #lostcausemythology #journalism #newsroom #thewarhorsenews

Memorial Day is a time for remembrance, reflection, and coming together as a community to honor the extraordinary individuals who have protected our freedoms. It is because of our heroes that we have the opportunity to pursue our dreams, raise our families, and create memories in the safety and comfort of our homes. Their sacrifices remind us of the value of our communities and the deep sense of gratitude we hold for those who have served. Let us take a moment to remember the fallen, honor their courage, and express our gratitude for the liberties we enjoy. May their sacrifice always be remembered, and may we strive to create a world that embodies the values they fought to protect. Wishing you a meaningful Memorial Day, filled with reflection and unity. . . . #todaroandeichler #eichlerandtodaro #howardhannarealestate #howardhannarealtorteam #topproducingteam #howardhannahomes #greengoldsold #hhsoldmine #experienceandteamworkmatter #realtorlife #teamwork #listing #buying #selling #forsale #property #investments #realestate #homesforsale

How I Spent #Juneteenth. As organizations still wrestle with the concept of #Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging in the workplace, I traveled back to my old duty station at Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort Virginia, where slavery began in the United States. Here, in 1619, the White Lion, an English Privateer landed. The colonists traded food for “20” and “odd” Africans that the White Lion had captured from a Portuguese slave ship. I actually lived 3 years at the very spot where the first Africans landed while I was stationed at Fort Monroe, during 1991-1994. https://fortmonroe.org/ Fort Monroe is no longer a military installation. Fort Monroe was on the 2005 base realignment and closure list approved by President Bush. It was designated a national monument in 2011 by President Obama. Until the last five years, history books taught that the first enslaved Africans, in what is the United States, landed at Jamestown, one year before Plymouth Rock, thus the significance of where I lived was unknown to me, during the time I was stationed at Fort Monroe. In addition, the beginning of the end of slavery also began at Fort Monroe as those who escaped from slavery were no longer returned and were considered “Contraband.” A General Butler at Fort Monroe refused to return three runaway enslaved men. “Congress registered its approval of Butler’s policy when it passed the First Confiscation Act. This law stated that if slaves are, in fact, property and if this property is owned by any person in active rebellion against lawful Federal authority, then the U.S. military has every right to deny its use to any such person. Any slave that could be wrested from the Confederacy would therefore, in a technical sense, become the property of the United States government.” (National Park Service). I’ve heard it said, “We study history to understand the present and plan for the future.” I made this short video of some of my experiences at Fort Monroe and also it’s connection with slavery. #Juneteenth #1619Project #juneteenth2024 #fortmonroe #OldPointComfort #DEI