Veterans still serving America
The American Legion helps veterans acquire deserved services
By Mike Jones
Special to the Argus Observer
Saturday, October 17, 2009 8:24 PM PDT
ONTARIO — Since a group of World War I veterans began The American Legion in March 1919, it has grown to be the largest wartime veterans organization in the world with 2.5 million members. Its service to America has included support of a strong national defense, the military establishment, veterans and their families.
The American Legion cares about the young people whose parents have made the ultimate sacrifice during the war on terror. The American Legion’s Legacy Scholarship Fund was created to help pay for the college educations of those who lost a military parent serving since 9/11. American Legion Ontario Post No. 67 supports and has donated money to this very important fund.
The American Legion’s influence can be found in the wards of Walter Reed and numerous other military and VA hospitals. The local Legion post and Auxiliary Unit No. 67 has provided comfort items, daily necessities and monetary donations to the VA hospitals and veterans homes, from Boise to The Dalles and across the state of Oregon.
Not only did The American Legion write a great piece of veterans legislation — the original GI Bill — it also strongly lobbied for passage of the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act, which will enable the current generation of veterans to pursue higher education.
The American Legion also championed the pre-eminent study of the effects of Agent Orange exposure on Vietnam veterans, which was later presented to Congress and the White House. The American Legion helped put Agent Orange and post traumatic stress disorder on the Washington radar.
Furthermore, the organization hires and financially supports American Legion service officers at the state level, like Greg Demarais, with membership dues. Armed with the veterans power of attorney, Demarais’ job is to assist them in receiving hard-earned benefits, whether they are members of the organization or not. Demarais can be reached at (503) 412-4771 or by e-mail at gregory.demarais@va.com.
Currently, his average turnaround time for getting an answer on a new claim is 181 days. The average answer time for someone filing their own claim without assistance is five years.
The American Legion is firmly dedicated to the idea that anyone who advises a veteran to file a claim on their own or without professional help is doing a disservice to that veteran. The organization believes veterans should utilize only experienced and dedicated service officers like Demarais and Malheur County Veterans Service Officer Bill Thomson. The organization appreciates the service of these men, especially since Demarais spends 60 or more hours a week working for veterans and Thomson has been serving Malheur County for many years.
While the American Legion does not financially support county service officers, like Thomson, because they are paid for by the county, it does support them by making every effort to bring them together with all veterans needing to file claims with, or needing answers from, the VA. Thomson has more than 10 years experience as a qualified, accredited and certified service officer. He has helped improve the lives of so many veterans in the community, even he has lost count.
The county has also recently hired an assistant to help Thomson in the office. Thomson can be contacted at (541) 889-6649 or 1178 S.W. Fourth St., Suite No. 3, Ontario, OR 97914.
