Top 5: cast your vote, follow the action, deterring Korean War II

1. Your vote matters to Be the One

The American Legion submitted a Be the One proposal to South by Southwest, a popular event known as SXSW that merges tech companies, entertainers, educators and other professionals. It is attended by 300,000 people annually in March in Austin, Texas.

Now through Aug. 20, you can support The American Legion’s proposal, “Culture Shift: Mental Health Stigmas and America’s Epidemic,” by voting and commenting.

To vote:

1.      Create an account.

2.      Visit the community voting page to vote

Hiking to Be the One: Read why this Legionnaire is hiking with a Be the One flag 29,029 feet uphill, the equivalent of the climb up Mount Everest, as part of the Everesting Challenge series at Snowbasin, Utah. 

2. Follow the World Series in action

The 96th American Legion World Series is underway in Shelby, N.C. Meet the eight regional teams competing for a championship title. To follow along, games will be broadcast on ESPN3 (now through Aug. 13) and ESPNU (Aug. 14-15). Fans can also follow the action online at the American Legion World Series hub. Or download the American Legion World Series mobile app that features live scoring, a complete World Series schedule, news and headlines, stats, photos, weather updates, ticket information, travel resources and access to purchase merchandise.

Be part of a team: Every year, more than 50,000 youth from 2,975 teams play American Legion Baseball. Learn how to participate in Legion Baseball.

3. Air Force veteran beats cancer to win gold

Air Force veteran Matt Cable survived cancer, organ failure and 18 days in a coma. Throughout his ordeal, he focused on fitness for recovery, an inspiring journey he shares as the special guest on this week’s episode of The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast.

“Through it all, I kept fighting; there were dark days of course,” he says. “I had to remember what my goals were and to stay positive and to take each day one day at a time.”

Cable competed on Team USA at the 2022 Invictus Games and brought home seven medals. He also won seven medals, including four golds, at the DoD Warrior Games.

Check out this inspiring story here.

There’s more: In the episode with Matt Cable, Tango Alpha Lima podcast co-hosts Jeff Daly and Ashley Gutermuth also address: a cost-saving way for posts to ship care packages overseas; an upcoming declassified report on UFOs; and how to increase your savings at the commissary.

4. Deterring Korean War II

Alan W. Dowd writes that as of July 27, the Korean War armistice has held for 70 years – thanks only to the deterrent strength and steely restraint of the U.S.-ROK alliance. The bad news is that North Korea is severely testing that restraint. With its growing nuclear arsenal, spasms of missile tests and unpredictable leadership, North Korea has put South Korea, Japan and the United States on edge. In 2022, Pyongyang test-fired more than 90 missiles, including 23 on a single day. Pyongyang has fired off dozens more this year, including ICBM launches in April and July.

The good news is that there appears to be a renewed commitment to deterrence in Seoul and Washington. Read how Seoul and Washington are taking the North Korean threat seriously.

There’s more from Dowd: Alan W. Dowd is a senior fellow with the Sagamore Institute Center for America’s Purpose. He is a contributing writer to The American Legion Magazine and legion.org. Read more of his monthly columns.

5. American Legion’s monthly impact 

The July American Legion Membership Impact report is out and ready for Legionnaires to read and share. In the month of July:

5 – number of bills American Legion Policy Analyst Joshua Hastings presented in Congress that aim to improve VA health care and benefits processing.

$20,600 – amount in American Legion Operation Comfort Warriors grants disbursed in July, purchasing for recovering military personnel and qualified veterans home exercise equipment, a mattress, desk chair and stand-up desk.

196 – number of appeals granted in favor of the veteran in July after free representation by American Legion national staff VA benefits specialists.

25-plus – number of veterans service organizations, including The American Legion, who united to send a letter July 18 urging Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act that would provide special immigrant status to at-risk Afghan allies of the United States in the Global War on Terrorism.

The American Legion’s full July 2023 Membership Impact Report, as well as others from previous months, can be downloaded here.

Share your impact: The American Legion wants to hear the good that posts and members are doing in their local community. Please share on legiontown.org.