Vet News
/Vet News
By: Dennis Duddie
The American legion is a veteran’s organization that was founded in 1919 after World War I. It was charted by Congress and has since grown to become one of the largest veteran’s service organizations in the United States that advocates for Veterans, veterans families and veteran communities. The American legion has played a significant role in advocating for veterans rights and benefits, including the G.I. bill and the establishment of the VA healthcare system and most recently the packed act. The American legions missions are built on four pillars. They are veteran affairs and rehab rehabilitation, national security, Americanism, and children in youth. The Legion also has a long history of supporting you through programs like American legion baseball, the Boy Scouts of America, the national oratorical contest and Boise state
My name is Dennis M. Duddie, I am the current Commander for the Rochelle Park American Legion in Rochelle Park New Jersey for the past five years. I am also the Bergen County Commander for the American Legion where I get to help 34 other American legion‘s within that county I became Legionnaire 13 years ago and when I first heard about the American Legion, I thought it was just a bunch of old people sitting at a bar telling war stories we didn’t like anyone, to my surprise I was very wrong. I am proud to say that I am a part of a special group of veterans who assist at risk and homeless veterans and help them get off the streets and into new housing. We host fundraisers and stand down’s to give veterans new clothing and outreach services to help them with their benefits I never would have known how much not only veterans need our help but how much that I can help them, had I not joined the American Legion.
As a veteran, we all know it’s hard to talk to other people who aren’t veterans. There’s a certain sense of family and brotherhood when you sit down and you’re having a bad day and you can talk to another Veteran and just let it out without a fear of being disregarded or judged. You’re not going find that anywhere else most civilians don’t understand how a veteran acts or reacts to things but when you’re around the same people it’s calming you’re at home. I don’t ever want to lose a feeling like that. The American legion has given me purpose again. I feel I can do anything when it comes to helping another veteran or a veteran’s family member that are in need of help. The Legion is my family and I can only hope future members who join will get out of it what I have gotten. The chance to help my fellow Veteran family members and a sense of fulfillment from my obligation to the community state and nation.
