General Membership Meeting 16 JAN 2019

Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 holds general membership meetings on the third Wednesday of every month 7:30 PM at La Felisitas 2102 NW Cache Road in Lawton, Ok (the corner of 21st Ave and Cache Road.) Each meeting there is a 50/50 drawing. Tickets are one for $1 or six for $5. The winning ticket receives half the money in the pot and the remaining half raises funds to finance post activities. 

For more information please contact Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 at (405) 300-8330
AmericanLegionLawton@Gmail.com
facebook.com/AmericanLegionLawton

Department of Veterans Affairs Considering Letting Veterans Use Private Doctors

#LoweryWhitehead American Legion Post 29 in Lawton Oklahoma has been monitoring a story concerning new options the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is considering when it comes to #VeteranHealthcare.

The reports from several media outlets suggest VA is taking a hard look at new rules that would allow Veterans to access walk-in clinics on a co-pay system. It would also be easier for Veterans to receive care in privately run hospitals and have the government pay for it.

Reports suggest VA hospitals have struggled to see 7 million Veterans annually. The new rules would be meant to eliminate the long wait times VA notoriously experiences due to "the crunch of an aging Vietnam Veteran population and an influx of Veterans from Iraq, Afghanistan, and the War on Terror." While the move may do much to give quality health care to Veterans in a timely fashion, it may potentially move billions out of the VA hospital system.
President Donald J. Trump is expected to comment on the issue during the State of the Union Address.

#VAHealthAndRehabilitation
National American Legion Press Association (NALPA)
The American Legion Department of Oklahoma

Future Leaders of America Wanted for The Oklahoma American Legion Boys State

(Lawton, Oklahoma - 10 JAN 2019) The American Legion, the nation’s largest Veterans organization, is inviting all members of Lawton-Fort Sill , Oklahoma and Cache, Oklahoma to join them in sponsoring young men to attend Oklahoma American Legion Boys State this summer in the campus of NEO A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma.

“These young men are the future leaders of America ,” said Claude F. Bates, Jr. , commander of Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 in Lawton, Oklahoma. “We are seeking boys with outstanding qualifications in character and leadership to attend one of the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction ever designed for high school students.”

High school juniors are selected in early spring by local American Legion posts to attend the program, which will be held at NEO A&M College from May 25, 2019 - June 1, 2019.
“It is a participatory program where each young man becomes a part of the operation of his local, county and state government,” said Bates.

 In most cases, a sponsoring American Legion post, a local business or another community-based organization pays expenses associated with attending this program.

“I encourage the entire community – and in particular high school counselors, community leaders and business owners – to submit their recommendations for candidates to attend The Oklahoma American Legion Boys State program,” said Lowery-Whitehead Post 29 commander Bates.

The training at Oklahoma American Legion Boys State is objective and practical with city,
county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.
”The Oklahoma American Legion Boys State program is a unique way for young men to learn about the American system of government by taking part in a mock governmental system,” said Bates.

American Legion Boys State is currently conducted in 49 Departments of The American Legion. Hawaii does not conduct a program. As separate corporations, Boys States vary in content and method of procedures, but each and every Boys State adheres to the basic concept of the program - that of teaching government from the township to the state level.

 The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a similar program for girls called Girl’s state.

Lowery-Whitehead is looking to sponsor at least one junior male from each of Lawton, Oklahoma's three high schools and one from Cache High School in Cache, Oklahoma for a total of 4 Oklahoma Boys State delegates. For more information on The Oklahoma American Legion Boys State program, contact Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 by phone at (405) 300-8330 or by E-mail AmericanLegionLawton@gmail.com American Legion An Oklahoma Boys State application may be downloaded at the following link:
https://goo.gl/CcYsp6

Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post Recognizes Law Enforcement Day

#LoweryWhitehead American Legion Post 29 in Lawton Oklahoma would like to express our gratitude for all the Lawton Police Department, Comanche County Sheriff's Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and all Law Enforcement do for all of us everyday. Thank you!


#LawEnforcementAppreciationDay
The American Legion Department of Oklahoma

American Legion Legislative Director Mathew Shuman Legislative Agenda for the 116th Congress

#LoweryWhitehead American Legion Post 29 in Lawton Oklahoma would like to share this video of  Matt Shuman , National Legislative Director for The American Legion, announcing and explaining the 116th Congressional Legislative Agenda for the American Legion Family.

In the video from the American Legion Auxiliary Legislative Group's facebook page Shuman relays the 115th Congress was the most successful session in the way of Veteran friendly policy in decades and says some of the keys for success within the 116th Congress is implementation and oversight of the passed bills. Examples of the those successes include: The Appeals Modernization Bill, VA Accountability Bill, The Choice Extension Bill, The American Legion Coin Act, and the VA Mission Act. 

Shuman goes on to say the Agenda for the 116th Congress will include the following: Funding the DOD, Veteran Suicide Prevention, Quality Female VA Health Care, Reclassification of Cannabis, Reduce Veteran Homelessness, Expansion of the GI Bill, U.S. Citizenship for All U.S. Veterans, Repeal Veteran Offsets, and The Gold Star Family Initiative.

To learn more about the elected officials in your area please visit:
http://capwiz.com/legion/dbq/officials/ 


The following are the elected officials representing Lawton, OK

Contact Sen. James Inhofe via Web Form.
Website: inhofe.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
205 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4721
Fax: (202) 228-0380                                 
Oklahoma City Office: (moredistrictoffices)                                     
3817 NW Expressway #780
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112
Phone: (405) 608-4381
Fax: (405) 604-0917    



Contact Sen. James Lankford.                                             Website: lankford.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
316 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5754
Fax: (202) 228-1015                                 
Oklahoma City Office:                                    
(moredistrictoffices)                                    
1015 North Broadway Avenue, Suite 310
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
Phone: (405) 231-4941                                    


Contact Rep. Tom Cole.
Website: cole.house.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
2207 Rayburn House Office Building,
District of Columbia 20515-3604
Phone: (202) 225-6165
Fax: (202) 225-3512                                 
Norman Office: (more district offices)                                      2424 Springer Drive, Suite 201
Norman, Oklahoma 73069
Phone: (405) 329-6500
Fax: (405) 321-7369
 

Oklahoma City Office:
3817 NW Expressway #780
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112
Phone: (405) 608-4381
Fax: (405) 604-0917

Tulsa Office:
1924 South Utica Avenue #530
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-6511
Phone: (918) 748-5111
Fax: (918) 748-5119

Enid Office:
302 North Independence #104
Enid, Oklahoma 73701
Phone: (580) 234-5105
Fax: (580) 234-5094

McAlester Office:
215 East Choctaw Avenue #106
McAlester, Oklahoma 74501
Phone: (918) 426-0933
Fax: (918) 426-0935                                                 

#Legislative #AdvocateForVeterans
National American Legion Press Association (NALPA)
The American Legion Department of Oklahoma



Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29: Pay Our Coast Guard Act During Govdernment ShutDown

#LoweryWhitehead American Legion Post 29 in Lawton Oklahoma would like to pass along this message from National Commander Brett P. Reistad - The American Legion.
 
"We are pleased that Senator John Thune, Senator Wicker, Senator Cantwell, Senator Dan Sullivan, Senator Blumenthal, Doug Jones, Senator Collins & Senator Brian Schatz have come together in bipartisan fashion to introduce S. 21 the "Pay Our Coast Guard Act," during the #GovernmentShutdown.

 Please call your senator or... click this link : https://t.co/sAnP9AAODy?amp=1 and ask them to cosponsor S. 21, encourage the Senate leadership to bring it to the floor for a vote, and to promise to vote for this legislation, to ensure our members of the Coast Guard do not go without pay."

Listed below is the contact information for the legislators from our area:

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK)inhofe.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
205 Russell Senate Office Building
District of Columbia 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4721
Fax: (202) 228-0380
Oklahoma City Office:
3817 NW Expressway #780
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112
Phone: (405) 608-4381
Fax: (405) 604-0917

Sen. James Lankford (R-OK)lankford.senate.gov
Washington, D.C. Office:
316 Hart Senate Office Building
District of Columbia 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5754
Fax: (202) 228-1015
Oklahoma City Office:
1015 North Broadway Avenue, Suite 310
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
Phone: (405) 231-4941
Fax: N/A
#Legislative #AdvocateForVeterans
National American Legion Press Association (NALPA)
The American Legion Department of Oklahoma

American Legion Department of Oklahoma 2019 Midwinter Conference Slated for Shawnee, Oklahoma

#LoweryWhitehead American Legion Post 29 in Lawton Oklahoma would like remind everyone The American Legion Department of Oklahoma 2019 Midwinter Conference will be at The Grand Casino Hotel & Resort in Shawnee, OK. 25 JAN 2019 and 26 JAN 2019

To see the agenda for the 2019 conference please visit: https://www.facebook.com/pg/AmericanLegionLawton/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1664130133732215