2012 Midwinter Sweepstakes Winners
The Texas American Legion
2012 Midwinter Sweepstakes Winners
The Midwinter Sweepstakes drawing was held on January 20, 2012 at the Omni Hotel in Austin.
Congratulations’ to the following winners:
| Grand Prize | $10,000.00 | Gary Moore | Flatonia | Post 94 |
| Second Prize | $5000.00 | John Scholer | Callaway | Post 36 |
| Third Prize | $2500.00 | Peter Best | Ingleside | Post 345 |
| Fourth Prize | $1500.00 | Maria Saenz | Raymondville | Unit 390 |
| Fifth Prize | $1000.00 | Helen Olson | East Bernard | Unit 226 |
| Sixth Prize | $500.00 | William Kolodzie | New Braunfels | Post 179 |
| Seventh Prize | $500.00 | William Fisher | Denison | Post 345 |
| Eighth Prize | $100.00 | Frank Henderson | Rockport | Post 3 |
| Ninth Prize | $100.00 | Martha Sitka | Hallettsville | Unit 230 |
| Tenth Prize | $100.00 | Shirley McNabb | Victoria | Unit 166 |
| Eleventh Prize | $100.00 | Johnny Patlan | Carrizo Springs | Sqd 379 |
| Twelfth Prize | $100.00 | Raymond Farrell | Austin | Post 83 |
| Thirteenth Prize | $100.00 | Loren Quigg | Schertz | Post 2 |
Winners are posted in the February and August monthly issue of the Legion Times immediately after the drawing and can be found at www.txlegion.org.
Maximum Insurance Coverage for Vets Increases
New Law Change Increases Insurance Coverage for Veterans WASHINGTON (Jan. 10, 2012) - Some Veterans covered under the Veterans Group Life Insurance program (VGLI) now have the opportunity to increase their coverage to the current maximum coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program.
"Currently, 70 percent of the Veterans covered under VGLI are under age 60, have less than $400,000 of coverage, and will greatly benefit from this law change," said Allison A. Hickey, Department of Veterans Affairs under secretary for benefits.
Under the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010, enacted on Oct. 13, 2010, Veterans can increase their coverage by $25,000 at each five-year anniversary date of their policy to the current legislated maximum SGLI coverage, presently, $400,000.
VA Deploys 20 New Mobile Vet Centers
Additions to Fleet Will Expand Veterans' Access to VA Services Across U.S.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (January 4, 2012) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs today deployed 20 additional Mobile Vet Centers from the production facility of Farber Specialty Vehicles to increase access to readjustment counseling services for Veterans and their families in rural and underserved communities across the country.
“Mobile Vet Centers allow VA to bring the many services our Vet Centers offer Veterans to all communities, wherever they are needed,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Robert A. Petzel. “VA is committed to expanding access to VA health care and benefits for Veterans and their families, and these 20 new vehicles demonstrate that continued commitment.”
New Online Tools for Veteran Job-Seekers
Secure Access to Military Records, Skill "Translators"
WASHINGTON - Veterans now have on-demand access and can download official data about their military training and experience, which can be used to help them find jobs and continue their careers. Their service data can be uploaded to job search and networking sites to help identify employment opportunities.
"Savvy employers look to Veterans for the excellent training and unique experiences they bring to the civilian workforce," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "Now, Veterans can have state-of-the-art access to official data about their military service that we will help them land meaningful jobs."
Starting Dec. 3, Veterans can use the VA's online My HealtheVet portal at www.myhealth.va.gov to see official information about their military service, including deployment data, in-uniform experience, and Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes which define the type of work performed and skills learned during their tour of duty. Veterans can electronically download that information to their personal computers by using an enhanced version of the Blue Button. This new capability is the latest addition to a growing suite of job-hunting tools announced by President Obama on Nov. 14.
American Legion Scolds Supercommittee
National commander "profoundly disappointed" by impasse, concerned about national security consequences.
WASHINGTON (November 21, 2011) -- American Legion National Commander Fang A. Wong says he is "profoundly disappointed" that the bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (the so-called "supercommittee) failed to reach an agreement to cut $1.2 trillion from the federal budget over the next decade.
"They were given an important job to do, and they failed," Wong said. "What this means to the future of our military and our veterans remains to be seen, but the challenges have now intensified for those who believe in a strong national defense and want to protect the hard-earned benefits of veterans. We are profoundly disappointed in the work of this committee." The failure to reach an agreement triggers $1.2 trillion in budget cuts set to take effect in January 2013. Among the reductions is an automatic $492 billion in defense spending.
