Bedfordtimesregister.com - 91st annual American Legion convention comes to Dayton

The American Legion Department of Ohio will conduct its 91st annual convention in Dayton June 26 through 28 at the Dayton Convention Center. Highlights of the meeting will include addresses by national officers and other dignitaries, the election and installation of the new 2009-10 officers, and consideration of constitutional amendments and resolutions.

VFW 6788 poker run: The post will sponsor its fifth-annual Poker Run July 19. All vehicles are welcome. The first bike will set out at 10 a.m., the last bike at 5 p.m.

A fee of $15 will be good for breakfast and dinner. Breakfast will be served from 9 to 11 a.m. and dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. All proceeds will benefit two young Nordonia area men who are battling cancer -- Josh, 12, who has medulla blastoma; and Robert, 15, who is suffering with AML leukemia.

The event will be conducted rain or shine. For questions, call 330-467-9722.

Honor flights: Organizers of the Honor Flight program, which flies World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit their WWII Memorial, continues to expand and take an increasingly large amount of veterans to see the long-awaited tribute to their service. The program is free.

Most WWII veterans are in their 80s or older and many suffer from a variety of illnesses. Veterans who have returned from the visit have been highly complimentary about the experience.

The program is in need of volunteers. To assist our WWII buddies, people can be at the airport in the morning to send off the vets; welcome them home on their return to the airport with a cheering reception; answer office phones and enter application information into the data systems; mail requested material and purchased merchandise; and contact veterans and guardians to make arrangements for flight schedules. Call 937-521-2400 or e-mail volunteer-application@honorflight.org for more information.

New handbook, hotlines available: The Department of Veterans Affairs recently issued its 2009 edition of "Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors." It is an invaluable and up-to-date collection of information that can provide information on entitlement questions.

The publication can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 979050, St. Louis, Mo. 63187-9000.

Copies are $5, which includes postage and handling. Checks can be written to "Superintendent of Documents." For questions, call 1-866-512-1800.

While waiting for a copy of the publication, here are a few phone numbers that may be helpful. Reach bereavement counseling at 1-202-461-6530; education at 1-888-442-4551; headstones and markers at 1-800-697-6947; health care at 1-877-222-8387; homeless veterans at 1-877-222-8387; home loans at 1-877-827-3702; life insurance at 1-800-660-8477; National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255; pension management center at 1-877-294-6380; special health issues at 1-800-749-8387; Telecommunication Device for the Deaf at 1-800-829-4833; and VA Benefits at 1-800-827-1000.

Send news, please: News items about activities at posts and auxiliaries are welcome.

Tell us about the election of new officers, veteran and auxiliary members of the year honors, special themed dinners to benefit veterans and those in need in the community and upcoming food functions.

Send material to Ron Seman, 5811 Renwood Drive, Parma, Ohio 44129, or e-mail SemanRJ@aol.com.

Remember our men and women serving America in Iraq, Afghanistan and other posts around the world. Keep them in your daily prayers. Write a letter, send a package of goodies and tell them that you support their unselfish service.

God Bless our troops and God Bless America!