Community
LEGIONNAIRES ARE VETERANS STRENGTHENING AMERICA!
Currently, over 110,000 American Legion Riders meet in over 2,000 chapters in every domestic department and in at least three foreign countries.
Riders in all states have escorted military units returning home from combat tours overseas, conducted massive cross-country fundraising events for wounded warriors from all services, and have raised millions of dollars for countless local, state and national charities.
True to the Legion's grassroots tradition, each chapter manages its programs at the post level, where the best ideas are born.
Membership
JOIN THE AMERICAN LEGION FAMILY
American Legion
Legionnaire
American Legion Auxiliary
Unit Member
Sons of the American Legion
Son
American Legion Riders, National Motorcycle Assembly
Rider
F.A.Q
What Is The Difference Between The American Legion And The VFW?
Periods of eligibility and eligibility requirements are the key differences between the American Legion and the VFW.
The VFW accepts memberships from all current and former military veterans who have received a campaign medal for their service overseas. They must have served at least 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in Korea, or they must be veterans who have received imminent danger or hostile fire pay at any time.
The American Legion extends eligibility to active-duty personnel or honorably discharged veterans who have served in any of seven eligible war eras, beginning with World War I. Reservists and National Guard members are eligible as well.
Contact
- 601 Armory Road, Palestine, TX, USA
- +1-9039486931
- balston45@ymail.com
- Monthly Meeting: 2nd Tuesday 5:30pm Potluck Dinner 6:00 pm Meeting
Howard Gardner Post 8 is part of the National American Legion Veterans non-profit organization. Our post hosts a family of members who are dedicated to their veterans’ community and serve as Legionnaires and members of the Auxiliary Unit.
AL Links
Mission Statement
Rooted in unwavering faith, our mission is to engage in the relentless pursuit of empowering the veteran community by creating a transformative impact that changes the trajectory of their lives.
Vision Statement
Creating a world where veterans find hope by empowering them to embrace L.I.F.E.
PTSD Foundation of America | Providing Hope and Healing for the Unseen Wounds of War, www.ptsdusa.org
The PTSD Foundation also sponsors Camp HOPE America, the first evidence-based camping and mentoring program in the United States to focus on children and teens exposed to domestic violence. Our mission is to give youth a brighter future by creating pathways to hope and healing. What makes Camp HOPE America special is the trauma-informed lens the program was developed from. At Camp HOPE America, we praise campers for the person that they are becoming; seeing their character for who they are and not what they have accomplished. From the beginning, the goal has been to create a year-round program where youth can feel safe, seen, heard, encouraged, and cared for. Camp HOPE America is composed of a week of camp, supported by year-round activities.
Camp HOPE America, www.camphopeamerica.org
VA Burials
YVA burial benefits can help service members, Veterans, and their family members plan and pay for a burial or memorial service in a VA national cemetery. Family members can also order memorial items to honor the service of a Veteran. For complete information, including forms and guidelines, and information regarding applying for a Veterans burial allowance, VA Survivors Pension, Benefits Financial Counseling and Fiduciary services, please visit this website: www.va.gov/burials-memorials.
Veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, as well as other benefits, if they meet one of these requirements. One of these must be true: The person qualifying for burial benefits is a Veteran who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, or The person qualifying for burial benefits is a service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training, or The person qualifying for burial benefits is the spouse or surviving spouse of a Veteran (even if they remarried after the Veteran’s death), or The person qualifying for burial benefits is the minor child of a Veteran (even if the Veteran died first) or, in some cases, the unmarried adult dependent child of a Veteran.
You can apply to find out in advance if you can be buried in a VA national cemetery. This is called a pre-need determination of eligibility—and it can help make the burial planning process easier for your family members in their time of need. Choose the VA national cemetery you prefer to be buried in. Or, if you’d like to be buried in a state or tribal Veterans cemetery, contact that specific cemetery ahead of time to find out about their pre-need program. Gather the documents you will need. Social Security number Date and place of birth Military status and service history (like service dates, discharge character, and rank—commonly found on the DD214 or other separation documents) Discharge papers (DD214 or other separation documents).
If you’re applying as a spouse, surviving spouse, or unmarried adult child, you’ll also need your personal information, including your Social Security number. If you’re applying on behalf of someone else, you’ll also need supporting documents showing you have the authority to apply for that person. You’ll need to fill out one of these forms: Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as Claimant’s Representative (VA Form 21-22) Appointment of Individual as Claimant’s Representative (VA Form 21-22a).
If you’re applying for an unmarried adult child of a Veteran or service member, you’ll also need to provide supporting documents with information about the child’s disability. The Veteran or guardian of the child should also ask the child’s current doctor to verify the documents. These documents should include all of the following information: The date of the disability’s onset, and A description of the disability, mental or physical, and A description of how dependent the disabled child is on the Veteran, and The marital status of the child.
You can apply online for Pre-Need Determination at www.va.gov/burials-and-memorials/pre-need/form-10007-apply-for-eligibility/introduction. Or you can fill out an Application for Pre-need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery (VA Form 40-10007) and mail it to NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547. If you need help with any of these steps, the Pre-Need Determination has a toll-free hotline at 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711). Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. Other Helpful Phone Numbers
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