American Legion News
Tune in to watch National Oratorical Finals live
Source: May 16, 2024
Articles
- Tune in to watch National Oratorical Finals live
- Stand down for homeless, at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City
- Riders chairman: ‘This is going to be a unique ride'
- There she is … Miss America on the American Legion podcast
- Military Appreciation Month discounts
- Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024
- Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course
- Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th
- Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima
- $10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds
The 85th American Legion National Oratorical Contest gets underway Saturday, May 18, at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Mich. The 52 high school participants won their respective American Legion post, district and department oratorical competition to advance to the finals where they will speak on the U.S. Constitution. See the list of competitors.
The competitors will be divided into nine groups for the quarterfinals Saturday morning where before judges they will give an eight to 10-minute oration on the U.S. Constitution and a three to five-minute oration on a phase of the Constitution selected from Articles and Sections. The top 18 competitors will advance to the semifinal round Saturday afternoon where they will again present their prepared oration and assigned topics. The top three finalists from the semifinal round will advance to the finals Sunday, May 19.
The finals will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday. Watch the competition live by visiting legion.org.
The top three finalists will win $25,000, $22,500 and $20,000 respectively.
Next article: Stand down for homeless, at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City
Stand down for homeless, at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City
Source: May 14, 2024
Articles
- Tune in to watch National Oratorical Finals live
- Stand down for homeless, at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City
- Riders chairman: ‘This is going to be a unique ride'
- There she is … Miss America on the American Legion podcast
- Military Appreciation Month discounts
- Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024
- Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course
- Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th
- Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima
- $10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds
The American Legion Department of New Jersey will conduct a stand down for homeless and at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City.
The South Jersey Regional Stand Down will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at All Wars Memorial Soldiers Home, 1510 Adriatic Ave., Atlantic City, N.J.
Services available to veterans at the stand down include VA medical, mental health, benefits, claims, housing and employment. Lunch will be provided, and men's and women's clothing and hygiene products will be available.
In addition to national and state VA, other agencies supporting the stand down include Elks, New Jersey Casino Control Commission, and New Jersey State Parole.
Next article: Riders chairman: ‘This is going to be a unique ride'
Riders chairman: ‘This is going to be a unique ride'
Source: May 14, 2024
Articles
- Tune in to watch National Oratorical Finals live
- Stand down for homeless, at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City
- Riders chairman: ‘This is going to be a unique ride'
- There she is … Miss America on the American Legion podcast
- Military Appreciation Month discounts
- Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024
- Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course
- Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th
- Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima
- $10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds
The 2024 American Legion Legacy Run will leave from Independence, Mo., on Aug. 18 and arrive in New Orleans on Aug. 22. Register here.
Along the way, the ride will travel more than 1,100 miles, also moving through Arkansas and Mississippi. Prior to and along the way, its participants will be raising money for the American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation (VCF). The foundation feeds and houses children of military personnel and veterans facing urgent, unexpected hardships through Temporary Financial Assistance grants. These grants prevent eviction, keep the power on and fulfill basic needs to hold a family together through difficult times.
The VCF also covers rigorous training and accreditation costs for American Legion claims experts who provide free representation for veterans and families applying for disability benefits, survivor assistance, GI Bill opportunities and more.
National American Legion Riders Chairman and Legacy Run Chief Road Captain Mark Clark spoke with American Legion Social Media Manager Steven B. Brooks about this year's route, while raising funds for the VCF is such an important mission, and how grateful he is for the Riders' commitment to the ride.
Steven Brooks: You're not just the Legion Riders national chairman. You're also very active at the chapter level as well, and your chapter itself is very active. As a whole, the Tirey J. Ford Post 21 Legion Family does a lot in its community. What's it going to be like to showcase that to Legion Riders from all over the nation when your post hosts the Legacy Run's kickoff?
Mark Clark: It's going to be awesome. Our family at American Legion Post 21 is very excited about having this opportunity because they're in it to win it. Our family at the post works together closely on everything, whether it be a local event or something on the national scale like we're getting ready to have on the Legacy Run. So we're very excited about it, and I can't wait for the Riders across the country to experience the hospitality of Tirey J. Ford Post 21. We're looking forward to bringing them all in there.
Question: Talk about some of the daily highlights Riders can expect on this year's route.
Clark: When we leave out of Post 21, we're going to go to the Missouri Veterans Home. It's going to be our first stop on Day 1, but on the way we're going to pick up the AVTT Traveling Vietnam Wall and escort that to the veterans home, which will be an awesome day for them and an awesome event for us. From there, we're going to head south to Branson, where we're going to go to the Table Rock Lake Post (637). We're going to let folks enjoy the hospitality of that very exciting town that we like to showcase in Missouri.
On Day 2, we'll head south into Arkansas and stop at the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, which is a really interesting place. It was something near and dear to Dave Schoonover (a longtime Kansas Legionnaire who died after being involved in a motorcycle accident on his way to the 2022 Legacy Run). He was a board member there for 22 years; he and his wife Millie helped build that place, and we're going to go in there and support that facility along the way. After we leave there, we'll ride the history Highway 23, known as the Pig Trail, down to Russellville, where we'll overnight. In Russellville, they're going to have the entire entertainment district opened up just for us. They're going to have food and live music. It's going to be an exciting overnight stop.
The next morning, the ride really gets pretty. When we leave out of there, we'll be on the historic Scenic 7 Byway down into Hot Springs, which is a beautiful ride. A lot of folks don't know that Hot Springs is a national park. All of those historic hotels, we're going to ride right by them through that historic district on our way to Malvern, Ark., where we're going to have lunch at the Boys & Girls Club. At the end of that day, we're going to stop at Duck Commander, and the Robertson family from "Duck Dynasty" is going to be there to greet us. And everybody's going to get a duck call, so that's going to be a fun day.
When we leave out of West Monroe the following morning, we're going to ride to Vicksburg, and folks are going to have the opportunity to explore the historic city of Vicksburg, Miss. We wanted to go en masse into the battlefield, but that's just impossible. So we're going to give them a landing spot and let them go enjoy that city of Vicksburg. From there we'll rally up head on down to Camp Shelby (Joint Forces Training Center), where we'll overnight in the Hattiesburg/Camp Shelby area.
The last day of the ride is going to be a really pretty ride as well. It's going to be our shortest. We're going to ride into the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, where we're going to pay tribute to the fallen heroes of our nation. From there, we'll ride into the entrance to The Causeway bridge, where we'll stage at the tollway area and then take us across the 23-mile bridge across the heart of Lake Pontchartrain into Jefferson Parish. It will be a beautiful way to finish this ride. I can't wait, honestly, to get us on the road and get this thing started, because along the way we've got some other surprises for them that they'll be excited to be a part of.
Question: Can you provide any hints about those surprises?
Clark: They're just going to have to wait. I'll tell you this: This is going to be a unique ride because of where we're riding. We're riding into some very rural country where there's not a lot of American Legion posts or facilities big enough to host us. So we're having to use some unconventional locations to stop and start. And we're going to have some folks who are going to surprise us along the way.
Question: You talked about the stop at the wildlife refuge where Dave and his wife were so instrumental. Why make that stop? Is this a way to honor a Legionnaire and Legion Rider who was obviously so passionate about this ride?
Clark: It is. That's one piece of it. But The American Legion has been the centerpiece of America for 105 years, and on this ride we should find worthy causes for us to support that are outside of that convenient umbrella that we are used to operating in. Because the way that we increase awareness of The American Legion is to be involved heavily in areas that otherwise have no contact with us. So this is a chance for us to support a nonprofit that's doing incredible work to save and rescue these cats and bears and wildlife that have been abandoned by closed zoos and other things happening around the country. I think it's something that would make Dave very proud. It sends the message that The American Legion cares about what happening in our communities beyond the walls of our posts.
Question: Is fundraising for the Veterans & Children Foundation on the Legacy Run a natural continuation from raising money for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund in that it does still benefit military children and veterans' children, but also expands its scope of who it helps?
Clark: Oh absolutely. I believe that us transitioning to the VCF is the perfect transition at the perfect time. We have a lot of pride in what we did in raising money for the Legacy Scholarship Fund, and we achieved the goal that we set 17 years ago. There was going to come a time when were going to have to transition to something that could help us broaden our scope to help more people. And that's what we're doing. The Veterans & Children Foundation is commonly referred to as the foundation of hope because it provides that hope to military members and their families when they're at their lowest point needing financial assistance, The American Legion is there. And when those veterans leave service, and they need to be connected to the veteran service officers, they're going to help them connect to the benefits they've earned. That benefits not just the veteran, but it benefits their family, the community they live in, the support system around them. The Veterans & Children Foundation is one of our more holistic foundations The American Legion has. And I'm excited that the Riders are going to have a chance to contribute to that. And I think the more they learn about this foundation, the more excited they're going to be to ride for it.
Question: What can you say to those posts, those districts and those departments that have already staged or have planned state and local Legacy Runs and getting a head start on this fundraising?
Clark: I just want to say thank you. I want to say thank you to the American Legion Family members that are out there raising money right now for this cause. To the Riders out there who have organized local, state and cross-state rides, I just want to tell you thank you. We know right now that there is an emotional attachment to our past mission, and there are some concerns or questions about the new mission. But I will tell you that anybody who doubted the Riders' conviction doesn't see what I see. They don't see the effort that's being given to raise money for the Veterans & Children Foundation. They don't see the passion that our Riders are beginning to adopt to that. So thank you to the folks who have enough faith in us to keep the mission moving. To accept the challenge that we've been given as the American Legion Riders to carry forward a new mission. To leave a legacy of service to others. That's what this new mission is going to give us. It will give us a chance to broaden our scope. To demonstrate to the American Legion Family that we're so much more than just one cause. That the American Legion Riders are all in to everything that The American Legion is trying to do.
Question: You have American Legion Riders who use vacation time and money to travel to and participate in this ride every year. What do you want to say about them?
Clark: We've got folks who sacrifice their time, energy and treasure to come and support this national Legacy Run. Many of our folks who ride this ride still work, so they take their vacation days and spend their vacation money to come and ride the Legacy Run. So that's why I always try to build something into the ride on every day that makes this worth their investment. We want to build memories on this ride. We want them to leave the ride thinking, "That was such a great experience I can't wait for next year's ride."
Next article: There she is … Miss America on the American Legion podcast
There she is … Miss America on the American Legion podcast
Source: May 14, 2024
Articles
- Tune in to watch National Oratorical Finals live
- Stand down for homeless, at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City
- Riders chairman: ‘This is going to be a unique ride'
- There she is … Miss America on the American Legion podcast
- Military Appreciation Month discounts
- Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024
- Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course
- Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th
- Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima
- $10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds
Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh is quite accomplished, obtaining her pilot's license at age 16, receiving a black belt in taekwondo, earning a degree in astrophysics and completing a NASA internship.
Marsh is also the first active-duty military officer to win the Miss America crown. She is the special guest on this week's American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast where she talks about her motivation to join the military as a way to fulfill her childhood dream to become an astronaut. (Help us grow the podcast to reach even more veterans. Here's how.)
"How do I become something like that?" she wondered. "Once I took a step back, I realized that the (military) academies were an amazing place to get those pilot slots, get an amazing education and also lessen the burden of having to pay for school. That was such a big part for me, really just setting myself up for the future."
Her career plans have changed but her support for military careers has not. "There are so many positives that the military has given me that I would not have gotten elsewhere."
In addition to her time in the service, Marsh also talks about her role as Miss America, what's ahead for her and more.
So, what does she see for her future? Among the priorities is supporting pancreatic cancer research. Her mother died of the disease when Marsh was 17.
"There is not enough being done," she said. "There is more research that needs to be done. We need more money being poured into the pancreatic cancer sector. We have to do more work."
On the lighter side, Marsh is an avid reader, now focusing on thriller and fantasy books but open to any genres. She likes "stories that can help me disconnect from reality."
Stay tuned for the final segment where co-hosts Stacy Pearsall, Joe Worley and Adam Marr:
• Review a Supreme Court ruling related to GI Bill benefits.
• Give a shoutout to an NFL player who takes pride in his Navy Reserve job.
• Recap the recent discovery and identification of a pilot missing since 1967.
Check out this week's episode, which is among more than 240 Tango Alpha Lima podcasts available in both audio and video formats here. You can also download episodes on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or other major podcast-hosting sites. The video version is available at the Legion's YouTube channel.
Next article: Military Appreciation Month discounts
Military Appreciation Month discounts
Source: May 14, 2024
Articles
- Tune in to watch National Oratorical Finals live
- Stand down for homeless, at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City
- Riders chairman: ‘This is going to be a unique ride'
- There she is … Miss America on the American Legion podcast
- Military Appreciation Month discounts
- Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024
- Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course
- Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th
- Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima
- $10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds
Here are some discounts for veterans and servicemembers for restaurants, retail, attractions and more throughout May and during Memorial Day weekend. While these have been verified, check your local franchise to be sure that they are honoring the discounts and for more information.
RESTAURANTS
Chick-fil-A is offering all active-duty military and veterans, along with immediate family, a free meal on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 5-8:00 p.m. Click the link to see participating Chick-fil-A locations. Dine-in only.
Chick-fil-A Metro DC | Partnership & Event Site (cfametrodc.com)
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is offering a free entrée to military members who dine with a guest on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, to celebrate Armed Forces Week. Dine-in only.
Firebirds to Offer Free Military Meal to… | Firebirds Wood Fired Grill (firebirdsrestaurants.com)
Mission BBQ is offering a free sandwich to all active-duty military and veterans starting on Monday, May 13, 2024. Each day of the week is for a different branch of the military. Click the link for details.
Armed Forces Week - MISSION BBQ (mission-bbq.com)
Wendy's is offering exclusive deals and discounts for all patriotic holidays through their partnership with WeSalute. Click below for more information.
WeSalute. | Wendy's (wendys.com)
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Disney+ is offering 25% off the annual subscription price for eligible U.S. servicemembers, veterans and their families.
U.S. Military discount on Disney+ | Disney+ Help Center (disneyplus.com)
Hulu is offering 25% off the annual subscription price for eligible U.S. servicemembers, veterans and their dependents.
Military discount on Hulu | Hulu Help Center
Paramount+ is offering 25% off any Paramount+ plan for the life of your subscription when you verify your military status.
An Exclusive Military Discount, Just for You (sheerid.com)
ATTRACTIONS
Cedar Fair Entertainment Company is offering a free single-day admission ticket to their amusement and water park properties for servicemembers and veterans from May 24-27 and 50% off on tickets for friends and family. Click below for a list of parks.
Amusement Park, Water Park & Resort Properties | Cedar Fair
Colonial Williamsburg is offering complimentary admission for active-duty military, reservists, National Guard personnel, retired military and veterans and up to three dependents during Memorial Day weekend.
Military Visitors (colonialwilliamsburg.org)
Holland America Line is offering a choice from over 500 itineraries and an Onboard Credit of $100 per stateroom to active, retired and veteran military personnel when they book a new cruise.
Military Cruise Appreciation Offer | Holland America Line
Legoland is offering free entry and other discounts at select parks across the country for servicemembers and veterans. Click below for a list of park locations.
The Ultimate Indoor LEGO Playground | LEGOLAND Discover Center (legolanddiscoverycenter.com)
National Endowment for the Arts—Blue Star Museums is offering free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve. The program begins on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, 2024 and end on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024.
Blue Star Museums | National Endowment for the Arts
Sea World San Diego is offering free admission for active-duty military and families through Dec. 31, 2024. They are also offering free admission and 25% off All-Day Dining Deals for veterans and up to three friends or family through May 27, 2024.
Active Duty Military Discount Tickets | SeaWorld San Diego
Veteran Military Discounts for Theme Parks Tickets | SeaWorld San Diego
Vail Resorts is offering discounted 2024-2025 season passes to active-duty servicemembers, retired military personnel, veterans and their dependents.
Military Passes | Epic Season Pass (epicpass.com)
RETAIL
Academy Sports + Outdoors is offering a 10% discount on everything in-store and online from April 28 – July 6 for active servicemembers, veterans and first responders.
Military + First Responders Discounts | Academy
Apple is offering a 10% discount on Apple products and accessories for active-duty military and veterans.
Veterans and Military Store - Apple
Ashley Furniture is offering a 5% discount for veterans and active military. Online only.
Ashley Military Discount (ashleyfurniture.com)
Aveda is offering 20% off your order of men and women's beauty products for military personnel and first responders.
Bass Pro Shops is offering a 10% discount on almost everything in their stores (5% on firearms and ammo) throughout the month of May for current and former U.S. military and first responders.
Military Discounts | First Responder Discounts | Bass Pro Shops
Cabela's is offering a 10% discount on almost everything in their stores (5% on firearms and ammo) for all military, first responders and wildlife agents.
Military Discounts | First Responder Discounts | Cabela's (cabelas.com)
Dash Hydrate is offering a 15% discount for current and former U.S. military and their families, as well as first responders.
Military / First Responder Discount - DASH Hydrate (dashhydration.com)
J.Crew is offering 15% off your purchase when you shop online with a valid ID for first responders, medical professionals and military personnel.
Military, First Responder & Medical Professional Discount | J.Crew (jcrew.com)
KitchenAid is offering 15% off most products for military when they create an account.
Professional Discounts — Military | KitchenAid
L.L.Bean is offering 10% off your order for military personnel and their families. Once you're verified, you'll receive a coupon code that's good for five uses.
Military Discount | Military Discount at L.L.Bean (llbean.com)
Mattress Firm is offering an extra 10-20% military discount for reservist military, veterans, military retirees, military spouses and registered dependents.
Military Discount | Mattress Firm
Maytag is offering 15% off most products and access to exclusive perks on appliances for military when they create an account.
Professional Discounts — Military | Maytag
Michaels is offering a military discount of 15% off your entire purchase—including sale items—through your Michaels Rewards account.
Rack Room Shoes is offering 20% off your entire purchase on Memorial Day for military personnel and spouses. In-store only.
Military Discounts | Rack Room Shoes
Steve Madden is offering a 25% discount to all active, veteran, retired and reservist personnel of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Military Appreciation Discount | 25% Off Shoes & Clothing – Steve Madden
Vivaia is offering a 20% discount via email for military and first responders when you create an account and get verified.
VIVAIA Discount Program - Shop Cheap Women Shoes and Totes
Walgreens is offering 20% off eligible regular-price items with myWalgreens membership for veterans, military and their families from May 24-27.
Military & Veterans Discount | Walgreens
Next article: Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024
Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024
Source: May 13, 2024
Articles
- Tune in to watch National Oratorical Finals live
- Stand down for homeless, at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City
- Riders chairman: ‘This is going to be a unique ride'
- There she is … Miss America on the American Legion podcast
- Military Appreciation Month discounts
- Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024
- Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course
- Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th
- Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima
- $10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds
1. Two Air Force fighter jets recently squared off in a dogfight in California. One was flown by a pilot. The other wasn't. That second jet was piloted by artificial intelligence, with the Air Force's highest-ranking civilian riding along in the front seat. It was the ultimate display of how far the Air Force has come in developing a technology with its roots in the 1950s. But it's only a hint of the technology yet to come. The United States is competing to stay ahead of China on AI and its use in weapon systems. The focus on AI has generated public concern that future wars will be fought by machines that select and strike targets without direct human intervention.
2. The Israeli military intensified its attacks on northern Gaza on Monday, battling a regrouped Hamas in areas it said it had cleared and renewing questions over Israeli strategy in the war as the United States issued some of its harshest public criticism yet. Israel has insisted that it must invade Rafah, the city in southern Gaza where more than one million people had sought refuge, in order to accomplish its core objective of "eliminating" Hamas' presence in the enclave after months of fighting further north. But Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Sunday that even a full-scale ground assault on Rafah would fail to achieve that goal.
3. The exodus of Palestinians from Gaza's last refuge accelerated Sunday as Israeli forces pushed deeper into the southern city of Rafah. Israel also pounded the territory's devastated north, where some Hamas militants have regrouped in areas the military said it had cleared months ago. Rafah is considered Hamas' last stronghold. Some 300,000 of the more than 1 million civilians sheltering there have fled the city following evacuation orders from Israel, which says it must invade to dismantle Hamas and return scores of hostages taken from Israel in the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war.
4. Ukrainian troops are locked in intense battles with the advancing Russian army in two border areas, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, while the death toll from a Russian apartment building collapse blamed on Ukrainian shelling rose to 15. Zelenskyy said "fierce battles" are taking place near the border in eastern and northeastern Ukraine as outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian soldiers try to hold back a significant Russian ground offensive.
5. House Armed Services Committee leaders will skip subcommittee markups for sections of their annual defense authorization legislation in a break with tradition that could lead to less public transparency on the massive military bill. Committee officials last week said work on their draft of the bill, which typically stretches over several days and involves every subcommittee hosting a hearing on their priorities, will be condensed this year to the panel's daylong markup of the legislation, expected to be held the week of May 20.
Next article: Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course
Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course
Source: May 12, 2024
Articles
- Tune in to watch National Oratorical Finals live
- Stand down for homeless, at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City
- Riders chairman: ‘This is going to be a unique ride'
- There she is … Miss America on the American Legion podcast
- Military Appreciation Month discounts
- Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024
- Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course
- Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th
- Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima
- $10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds
One year after picking up his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES win of the 2023 season, Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou was right back where he was at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: in the Winner's Circle.
After winning the then-GMR Grand Prix on the IMS road course last year, Palou again grabbed momentum heading into Indianapolis 500 qualifications. After earning the pole on Friday, Palou took the lead with 20 laps to go in Saturday's Sonsio Grand Prix and held off the rest of the field for a comfortable win in the No. 10 DHL Honda that features American Legion branding.
"I give all the kudos to my team for giving me fast cars," Palou said afterward. "Without the fast car I had in qualifying, I could have qualified P17 and had a terrible weekend. I don't think it's all me. I'm just a passenger sometimes in that car."
Fellow CGR driver Linus Lundqvist, driving the No. 8 American Legion and it's Be the One suicide prevention message, spent most of the afternoon racing in and around the top 10, moving up to as high as eighth after starting 19th. But a fuel issue with around 20 laps to go would cost him a lap and drop him to a final finish of 24th.
"Honestly, if we take away where we finished, this was one hell of a race for us," said Lundqvist. "We were probably on track for a P6 or P7, which would have been a great result considering where we started from. The car felt good, and I felt like I drove a good race as well. We were able to pass people.
"It's a shame, but it's racing. We win and lose as a team, so we'll beat ourselves up for the next day or so, but we know there's a big one coming up in a couple of weeks."
Lundqvist moved into the top 10 less than a third of the way into the race and was up to eighth before pitting on lap 37; within 10 laps of his pit stop he was back up to eighth and stayed there until the fuel issue.
"The good thing is that we definitely had the speed," Lundqvist said. "The strategy was on point, I was fast when I needed to be and made the moves when it mattered. All good things, I just need to sort out qualifying and we'll be fighting for podiums in no time."
Palou took the lead on lap 65, was able to maintain it on a restart on lap 69 and spent the final 16 laps building on his advantage, eventually winning by more than 6.6 seconds. He led a race-high 39 of the 85 laps.
"It feels good," Palou said. "Hopefully we can get that momentum that we have now and carry it the same way as we did last year."
The win vaulted Palou into first place in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points race, 12 points ahead of Will Power. Lundqvist is in 14th and maintained the lead over CGR teammate Kyffin Simpson in the Rookie of the Year standings.
Fellow CGR drivers Scott Dixon (fourth) and Marcus Armstrong (fifth) locked down top-five finishes.
The INDYCAR drivers and teams don't get much in the way of rest, with practice for the Indianapolis 500 starting back up May 14. The first round of qualifications take place May 18 from 11 a.m.-5:50 p.m., while the starting grid will be sorted out May 19 with two rounds of qualifications before the Firestone Fast 6.
The Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for May 26 at 12:38 p.m. ET.
To learn more about the Legion's Be the One program – including how to participate in training sessions – click here.
Next article: Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th
Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th
Source: May 10, 2024
Articles
- Tune in to watch National Oratorical Finals live
- Stand down for homeless, at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City
- Riders chairman: ‘This is going to be a unique ride'
- There she is … Miss America on the American Legion podcast
- Military Appreciation Month discounts
- Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024
- Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course
- Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th
- Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima
- $10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds
Returning to the road course that launched him toward a second NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship, Chip Ganassi Racing's (CGR) Alex Palou again showed penchant for strong showings in the month of May in Indianapolis.
Driving the No. 10 DHL Honda that features American Legion branding, Palou won the pole in the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. On the same course a year ago, Palou won the then-GMR Grand Prix, which he followed with the pole in the Indy 500 and then three straight wins to seize control of the points race.
"We say it's the biggest month. It's our most important month," Palou said. "We have two races, including the biggest race. We spend here a lot of time. Like I slept last night here at the track, and I'll be spending the full week next week here. It feels like home, and it feels special."
Palou's fast lap of 1:09.0004 in the Fast Six qualifying session edged out Christian Lundgaard (1:09.0921).
"It feels special," said Palou, who currently sits in third place in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points race. "We started a bit slow, struggling a little bit with the car balance in both practices. Yeah, kind of surprised that we are here, but at the same time, we are enjoying the moment and looking forward to tomorrow starting on pole.
"Every time you start from the front it makes it feel (special), but especially if it's here."
CGR rookie Linus Lundqvist, driving the No. 8 American Legion Honda with Be the One branding, ran 23rd in the day's opening practice and 22nd in the second session before qualifying 19th. He started in the same spot in the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix but was able to move up 16 spots and earn his first podium finish.
"Obviously we wanted to start up higher. It always makes your life a little bit easier," Lundqvist said. "But we just didn't have the pace today. I've been struggling all day to kind of wrap my head around it. But we showed last time out it's definitely possible to make up some ground."
Lundqvist currently sits in eighth place in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points race and has a 17-point lead over teammate Kyffin Simpson in the Rookie of the Year standings. He's enjoying being a part of Chip Ganassi Racing on site at what is called the "The Racing Capital of the World."
"I'm extremely proud to be a part of this team and everything that it stands for and everything that it's worked for," Lundqvist said. "Obviously you're going up against some of the best drivers in the world, so it's going to be a tough day at the job every time you get into the car. But what other place would you look at being a rookie and being able to learn from Scott Dixon and Alex Palou. It's an amazing opportunity, and I'm trying to learn as much as I can and hopefully one day give these guys a run for their money."
The Sonsio Grand Prix begins at 3 p.m. ET Saturday and can be seen on both NBC and Peacock.
To learn more about the Legion's Be the One program – including how to participate in training sessions – click here.
Next article: Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima
Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima
Source: May 10, 2024
Articles
- Tune in to watch National Oratorical Finals live
- Stand down for homeless, at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City
- Riders chairman: ‘This is going to be a unique ride'
- There she is … Miss America on the American Legion podcast
- Military Appreciation Month discounts
- Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024
- Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course
- Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th
- Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima
- $10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds
Now in its fifth year, The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast has published more than 240 episodes, won three major awards and increased downloads by 72% year over year.
However, that is only the beginning.
"We're proud of the growth of the podcast," Media & Communications Commission Chairman Dave Wallace said. "It's been a great way to connect with more potential members, especially younger veterans. The podcast has also helped our ability to have meaningful conversations about important topics like veteran suicide, military sexual trauma and others."
Still, more can be done to increase the reach and audience, Wallace said. He recommended to follow, rate and review Tango Alpha Lima, which helps connect the podcast to those interested in military and veteran topics.
Here's how:
• Make sure you have the Podcasts app on your iPhone. If you don't already have the Podcast app on your phone, first go to the App Store on your iPhone, browse to the Podcasts app (link in Resources) and tap the "Free" button to install it.
• Search for and follow Tango Alpha Lima. Tap the logo and then hit the "Follow" button. The podcast will then appear in your library. You can choose to automatically download each episode, or manually download them. When the download is complete, the most recent episode appears in your folder named Downloaded. Tap the title to listen to it. You can also click on "See All Episodes" to download and listen to earlier episodes.
• Rate and review the podcast. Scroll down to the "Ratings & Reviews" section. Click 5 stars under "Tap to Rate." You can also scroll down a bit more and click on "Write a Review," which does not have to be long. A sentence or two about the podcast is sufficient.
Each Tuesday, a new Tango Alpha Lima episode will be published. And on the first of every month, a new Be the One podcast will be available. To learn more, visit legion.org/tangoalphalima
Next article: $10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds
$10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds
Source: May 10, 2024
Articles
- Tune in to watch National Oratorical Finals live
- Stand down for homeless, at-risk veterans May 22 in Atlantic City
- Riders chairman: ‘This is going to be a unique ride'
- There she is … Miss America on the American Legion podcast
- Military Appreciation Month discounts
- Five Things to Know, May 13, 2024
- Palou a repeat winner on Indy road course
- Palou nabs Sonsio GP pole, Lundqvist to start 19th
- Give a boost to Tango Alpha Lima
- $10.8M in bonuses for senior VA managers were improperly paid out, watchdog finds
Incentive bonuses totaling $10.8 million were improperly paid to 182 senior managers at the central office of the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to a new report from the VA Office of Inspector General that stated the agency is still trying to recoup the money.
The inspector general referred the findings from a seven-month investigation to the U.S. Attorney's Office to determine whether nine managers who approved granting bonuses that they later received violated federal law, according to the report made public Thursday.
However, the U.S. Attorney's Office has declined to open a criminal investigation, the report states. Federal employees are prohibited from participating in government matters where they have a financial interest.
Several managers collected more than $100,000 in payments. In September 2023, VA Secretary Denis McDonough canceled the payments when he learned about them and ordered the managers to pay them back. He announced the agency had incorrectly awarded millions of dollars in "critical skill incentive payments" to senior managers that were intended for workers needed to process a growing demand for veterans benefits.
The bonuses were authorized by Congress to help the VA recruit and retain employees in anticipation of a greater workload from veterans filing for benefits under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, also known as the PACT Act.
The critical skills incentive pay was to supplement the salaries of employees in high-demand jobs where there is a shortage of trained workers. Specifically excluded from the payments were senior VA managers.
"The incentives were meant for high-demand health care and benefits support staff who are vital to VA's operations following implementation of the PACT Act," said Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. "The over $10 million dollars in overpayments to VA central office employees were not some type of administrative mistake. That's a serious problem for the second largest agency in the federal government, and we're going to get to the bottom of it come hell or high water," Bost said.
The inspector general report states awarding $10.8 million in critical skills incentive payments to senior managers conflicted with VA policy and language in the PACT Act. The report cited the VA for a lack of internal controls to prevent the improper awards from being made to senior executives.
The report stated there was a reluctance by managers in human resources to vet the plans for making the payments and the office of general counsel missed opportunities to identify legal issues about how the payments were made.
The VA issued collection notices in October to "all senior executives" who received payments, according to the report. Managers were given the option to return the bonuses by Dec. 31, 2023, or enter a repayment plan. They also could ask for a waiver or challenge the debt through an appeals process.
"While the [inspector general] has not examined this process, the investigative team received information during this investigation suggesting that VA's handling of the [bonuses] had significantly damaged the morale of senior executives at the central office, and that several had experienced financial hardship as a result of having to repay the incentives," according to the report.
Next article: Tune in to watch National Oratorical Finals live