Post 354 Sponsorship

Dear Business Owner/Manager or Community Leader,

As part of American Legion Post 354’s annual fundraising, we are reaching out to local businesses in our community to help us provide assistance to local veterans and community outreach programs .

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.

The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grassroots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands behind the issues most important to the nation's veterans community, backed by resolutions passed by volunteer leadership.

The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.

Here are a few of the many programs American Legion Post 354 support through corporate and local donations:

American Legion Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State

American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for U.S. high school students. A participatory program in which students become part of the operation of local, county and state government, Boys State was founded in 1935 to counter the socialism-inspired Young Pioneer Camps. The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who organized the first Boys State at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.

American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a separate but similar program for young women called Girls State.

At Boys State and Girls State, participants learn the rights, privileges and responsibilities of franchised citizens. The training is objective and centers on the structure of city, county and state governments. Operated by students elected to various offices, the delegates participate in activities that include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law-enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, choruses and recreational programs.

Legion posts select high school juniors to attend the program. In most cases, individual expenses are paid by a sponsoring post, a local business or another community-based organization.

Temporary Financial Assistance

Since its establishment in 1925, The American legion Temporary financial Assistance (TFA) program has awarded cash grants to minor children of veterans who are eligible for American legion Membership. These grants help families in need meet the cost of shelter, food, utilities and health expenses, thereby keeping the child or children in a more stable environment.

JROTC

Our Post supports local JROTC and their rifle marksmanship programs. The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and also in some middle schools across the United States and United States military bases across the world. The program was originally created as part of the National Defense Act of 1916 and later expanded under the 1964 ROTC Vitalization Act.

Many cadets participate in extracurricular activities such as drill, color guard, rocketry or orienteering. At least two-thirds of JROTC units offer rifle marksmanship programs, and most of these have rifle or pistol teams. During the school year, there are regional competitions between JROTC units, with testing in all areas of military, naval and aerospace science. Some units organize special visits to US military bases during school breaks.

We are asking your assistance in helping us provide these and other services to our local veterans and community members through a cash donation to our American Legion Post.

The William E. Bullock American Legion Post 354 is a tax exempt organization under IRS Code 501(c) (19) , which Congress has designated to all Veterans organizations whose members served honorably in the United States Armed Forces during periods of conflict. Our federal tax identification number is 35-0144250. Please make your donation payable to William E. Bullock, American Legion Post 354. Our mailing address is listed below.

If you have any questions regarding other American Legion programs we support, please contact, Paul Heinrich 804-387-2998 or me directly at 804-240-6303.

Thank you for your donation.

Sincerely,

Bobby Arnold

Post Commander