60th Anniversary of Korean War

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor on Thursday, June 24th, regarding the Ceremony commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War:

“Today we honor the men who fought that war on some of the worst terrain and the most challenging conditions American warriors have ever seen. We remember the assault on Inchon and the battle at the Chosin Reservoir. Most of all, we remember the men who fought — for their courage and their sacrifices — in defending freedom against its enemies. Many of these men were already heroes who had fought Nazis, Fascists, and the Japanese just a few years earlier in World War II. And they came from places like Okolona, Kentucky. Lieutenant Commander John Magda was one of them. A football star at Okolona High, he served in both wars and he gave his life for his country on March 9, 1951.

For his valor, he posthumously earned the Navy Cross for Extraordinary Heroism. And three years ago he earned a permanent place in the Aviation Hall of Fame in Lexington. Sometimes we fight wars where the outcome causes people to wonder whether it was worth it. Yet nowhere is the contrast between freedom and oppression more apparent than on the Korean Peninsula today. The stakes of the Korean War are on clear display 60 years after the men we honor today endured that brutal fight. And the people of North Korea have endured a dismal life of fear and wait for too long.

Courageous American men and women are still fighting battles against fear and oppression, in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. In honoring the veterans of the Korean War, we also honor them. The struggle to defeat Al Qaeda and the Taliban is difficult, and our nation has made great sacrifices. And many of the lessons of Korea remain relevant today.

In his classic book on the subject, the historian T.R. Fehrenbach said that after Korea, communists understood that the United States had the will to react quickly. And the American people learned, as he put it, that the postwar world was not the pleasant place they hoped it would be — and that we disregarded the communist threat only at extreme peril.

The same could be said of Al Qaeda today. And this is why U.S. forces are hard at work in Afghanistan ensuring they never find sanctuary there. So whether it’s the example of the soldiers who fought in Korea or those who fight today, America’s soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines give us reason to believe that we might still see a day when all people enjoy the freedom that courageous Americans like these have made possible for so many. In a dangerous world, they give us hope. And they deserve our thanks.”

2010 Memoral Day

To honor the memory of those military personnel who lost their lives since September 11, 2001, Madisonville American Legion Post 6 and the Western Kentucky Blue Star Mothers placed flags on the court house lawn for Memorial Day weekend again this year.

The first year, 2004, we placed 934 flags on the lawn while reading the names of those we honored. In 2005 the flags numbered 1,839 for the United States soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen lost since 9/11. In 2006 there were 2,750 and in 2007 there were 3,834.

In 2008 we had to change the program as we ran out of room on the lawn the previous year. We placed a total of 744 flags, a number representing those who had died since the previous Memorial Day. Included were 68 with small Kentucky flags to represent those from the Commonwealth lost since 9/11. In 2009 we continued the ceremony with 375 flags plus 82 with Kentucky flags attached. One of those was for Sergeant William Patrick Rudd, placed by his mother, Pamela Coakley.

This year, 483 flags plus 90 with Kentucky flags attached were placed while the names were read. There was a flag for each of those who have died since last Memorial Day along with a flag for each of those from Kentucky for the entire period since 9/11. The Western Kentucky Blue Star Mothers placed wreaths at each of the war memorials around the courthouse to honor the memory of those lost in all the wars. The ceremony included a presentation of the colors by HCCHS Air Force Junior ROTC and the playing of taps by a member of the Hopkins County Honor Guard.

A banner displayed this year showed the total numbers of those fallen in Iraq (4400)and Afghanistan (1086).

On Memorial Day, May 31, taps were played once each hour from sunrise until sunset. Click on "Memorial Day" in the links section to see one of our members playing taps.

VA Proposed Agent Orange Presumption Regulation

On October 13, 2009, the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced his decision to establish presumption of service connection for three additional illnesses (Parkinson’s disease, ischemic heart disease, and B cell leukemia) associated with Agent Orange/herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Please see VA&R Bulletins 25-09, dated October 16, 2009, and 27-09, dated November 2, 2009, for additional information.

On March 25, 2010, VA published a proposed regulation in the Federal Register as part of the process to implement the Secretary’s decision to add these three diseases to the list of presumptive conditions related to Agent Orange/herbicide exposure. The Secretary determined that there is good cause to limit the public comment period, which is normally 60 days, to 30 days for this proposed rule. Written comments must be received by VA on or before April 26, 2010. A final regulation will be published in the Federal Register after VA reviews all public comments received during the comment period.

The final regulation will affect a large number of Vietnam veterans, estimated to be at least 200,000 veterans. This is an important step forward in ensuring that Vietnam veterans are justly compensated for the adverse effects suffered by exposure to Agent Orange during their service to our country. As discussed in previous bulletins, it is important that service officers file presumptive claims now for these conditions without waiting for the completion of the regulation process. Filing these claims prior to the publication of the final regulation is important for effective purposes and it also allows VA to start the claims development process (conducting VA examinations, requesting supporting evidence, etc.) to allow for timely adjudication once the final regulation has been published.

Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation (VA&R) staff are in the process of reviewing the proposed regulation for public comment. A more detailed VA&R Bulletin containing effective date and other information will be issued following the publication of the final regulation. In the meantime, please direct questions or concerns to Ian de Planque, Assistant Director for Claims Service, VA&R, at ideplanque@legion.org or (202) 263-5762.

For FAQ click on AGENT ORANGE

Kentucky Historical Society Wants Your Story

FRANKFORT, KY — (Nov.10, 2009) — If you are an active duty member of the military, a veteran, a National Guardsman, a reservist or a civilian who has a story about the homefront , the Kentucky Oral History Commission (KOHC) wants to hear your story.

The KOHC, administered by the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS), invites veterans and others with military-related stories to preserve their piece of history. Participants can visit the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort to interview with trained KHS volunteers. Interviews will be recorded and take about one hour. Participants will be sent a CD of their interview and will receive free admission for that day for the entire KHS history campus, which includes the Center for Kentucky History, the Old State Capitol and the Kentucky Military History Museum at the Old State Arsenal.

KOHC is soliciting these personal accounts as part of a new KHS exhibition, “Kentucky Military Treasures: Selections from the Kentucky Historical Society Collections.” The exhibition tells the stories of Kentuckians who fought in battles spanning nearly 200 years and includes significant artifacts from conflicts ranging from the War of 1812 to more recent engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The exhibition is on display in the Keeneland Changing Exhibits Gallery at the Center for Kentucky History. It was made possible by generous support from the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation, Martin F. Schmidt, Tawani Foundation and the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs.

“By documenting the oral history of our state’s military story, we can more intentionally add all levels of experience to the record of official history,” said Sarah Milligan, program administrator for the KOHC. “The ‘Kentucky Military Treasures’ exhibition is so interesting because it tells the story of the people behind the artifacts and lends a voice, literally with the use of oral history, to the historical record. By sharing the audio of these interviews we can hear the emotion and better understand the reality of what it means to be in or associated with the United States Military. “

The KOHC invites anyone with a military-related story to participate, especially individuals with experience in recent or current conflicts.

“We want the military collection to truly represent all Kentuckians’ experiences in the military,” said Milligan. “We welcome all stories, but especially need to hear the stories of veterans from the Korean War, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and current wars and engagements, and the stories of women and minorities.”

The KOHC, established in 1976, is a nationally recognized program that has provided for the collection of more than 25,000 oral history interviews, including the stories of tenant farmers, political leaders and nationally acclaimed authors. The commission also offers grant opportunities, workshops, sponsors state conferences and participates in collaborative projects with other agencies and institutions.

To make an appointment to share your story with the KOHC, contact Milligan at 502-564-1792, ext.4434 or email her at Sarah.Milligan@ky.gov.

Fort Knox High School Teaches Patriotism

I was a sideline observer to a remarkable event that occurred Tuesday night at North Hardin High School. Our Fort Knox High School boys varsity soccer team was taking on local rival North Hardin in what turned out to be a well-played and physical match.

It was Senior Night for the Trojans and our Fort Knox players waited patiently on the sidelines while North Hardin parents recognized the many contributions and highlights involving their children.

At the end of the ceremony, parents left the field and the boys lined up for introductions. The announcer called each starting player by position. Once complete, both teams turned and faced the flag and stood ready for the national anthem. After a brief pause, the announcer came on and said he had misplaced the CD and that we would just skip the national anthem and get on with the game. North Hardin broke from its formation and quickly assumed positions on the field. The referees took off at a slow jog to take their positions.

Fort Knox didn’t move. Instead, the Eagles all came together in a mass, continued to face the flag, placed their hands over their hearts, and started to sing the national anthem. North Hardin and the referees froze in their tracks and immediately placed their hands over their hearts. The crowd saw what was happening and quickly faced the flag and joined in.

Voices cracked in the stands and on the field. It was the worst rendition of the national anthem that I’ve ever heard.

Yet... It was perfect. Ever wonder what’s “right” with our kids? Sometimes we find the answer in the strangest places.

Col. Rick Schwartz, Fort Knox Garrison Commander

ABOUT OUR POST NAME

Ninety years ago, The American Legion was born at a caucus of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in Paris, France. This caucus was the result of a proposal by Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. to a group of representatives of AEF divisions and service units. His unwavering service during these vital times won him the affectionate title, “Father of The American Legion.”

It was at this Paris caucus that The American Legion received its name. The honor of naming the new organization went to Maurice K. Gordon of Madisonville, Kentucky, then a major in the 36th Division and later a judge in Kentucky. A controversy had developed concerning the name, and it was Gordon who made the successful motion to label the fledgling group The American Legion. Members of the Hopkins County American Legion Post 6 changed the Post name to the "Maurice K. Gordon American Legion Post 6" in his honor after his passing.