Newsletter
NEWS FROM THE ADJUTANT
WHAT'S CURRENT:
The June meeting will be held on the 7th at 2:30 pm. Nominations for all Officer positions are now open. The election will be held at this meeting. Call Ron Stone (215-836-7184) if you are interested in being nominated.
There will be a parade meeting on Thursday, May 7th, at 5:30 pm. At this year's Parade ceremonies, we will be honoring several members of the Post for their efforts in helping the Legion and the Post this past year.
On May 16th at 10 am, volunteers will be placing flags on veterans' graves at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. See Gene Friel or just show up to participate.
Our District Deputy Commander, Bill Douglas, has passed away after a short illness.
Rita's has reopened and parking there is not permitted.
Post finances are currently very weak due to bar revenue shortfall and large expenses for the Post (such as insurance). We are raising bar prices to compensate and looking for ways to conserve. Many suggestions for fundraising have been made, and we hope to implement as many as we can.
Letters to all businesses and residences have been mailed to help defray the cost of the Memorial Day Parade. Please contribute as much as you can.
The Vet banners are up on the poles throughout the township. The program to purchase banners is being handled by Dan Citrone, call or email him for information: 610-724-6538 DC13923@yahoo.com
The American Legion sponsors these programs for youths: Boys State to be held June 14-20: High School Oratorical Scholarship; and an annual Essay Contest, these are open to our children in school. Ron Stone has brochures for each of them. If you have an interest, contact him at: alpost100@verizon.net
Go to the Special Events page for upcoming events.
New bar hours are 11am-10pm every day except every other Sun when Joe Merk makes breakfast starting at 7am. Note: the bar may be kept upon until Midnight on Fri and Sat if there is enough business.
We will also be flying coffin flags at the Vet Park to honor deceased Post members. Signage will be placed to indicate who is being honored. Also a short ceremony by the Honor Guard will be held. Hopeful to do these events monthly.
If you want to receive news about the Post by email, you must give me your email address. Send it to: "alpost100@verizon.net" with the message that you want to be added to my Blast list. Your addresses will be hidden, and I will only send you occasional pertinent info.
The Post has a new Facebook page: "Arthur Savage Post 100"
See notes under "News You Can Use" below to find out about signing up for the Legion Insurance Trust and for tax-free and shipping-free online shopping at the Army-Air Force Exchange Service.
OLD NEWS
The State has gotten into the video game business and we have two video games now which already have contributed to our financial well being as well enriching some who have hit jackpots on them.
Congress has passed the Legion Bill and the President has signed it. This bill opens up membership in the American Legion to ALL honorably discharged veterans since Dec 1941 to the present day.
The Post's email address is: alpost100@verizon.net
Ron Stone represents our Post as a District Deputy Commander.
Bartenders now have an Applications Book for all types of members of the Post. Compiled by Ron Stone, it should make it easier for the bartenders to find the appropriate application when asked.
Currently, only about 90% of our total membership (this includes Legionnaire, Sons, Auxiliary and Social) have filled out and submitted the necessary application form for Home Association. Membership is required by the PA Liquor Control Board. We MUST maintain a file record of all those who are eligible to use our bar facilities, and if you do not belong to the Home Association, YOU CANNOT USE OUR CANTEEN. If you have not yet filled out this required application form, please do so ASAP and submitted to the Adjutant (can give to the bartender). There are applications at the Post, or call Ron Stone at 215-836-7184 to have one mailed to you. Except for Social members, this is a one-time requirement.
Membership
As of May 5th we are at approx 105% renewal for 2026 dues. A handful of Legionnaires are now delinquent and will not be served at the bar. Transfers in: former member, Warren Barnhart, VN AF, Albert Golasa, VN-Gulf AF, James Cohlan, VN Army. We have one new member: Melina Rosa, Active Duty Army NG. We have had several transfers-in and only two deaths this year, which enabled us to pass 100%.
The Communications team will be soliciting the Legion members of "Post 945" to join our Post.
Check the Breavement page to see the names of the members we have lost since last Memorial Day.
Membership dues mail payments should be sent to the home of the Adjutant, Ron Stone, instead of to the Post's address. Send to: 7701 Gate Rd Wyndmoor PA 19038-7628. For 2026 and the foreseeable future, the dues will remain at $50 ($34 of which goes to Nat'l & Dept) If you pay by check, the bank insists that the full name of the Post be on the check: "Arthur V. Savage American Legion Post 100". Do not put Ron Stone on the check. Membership cards were mailed the third week in December.
Social Memberships are handled by Ron Stone. See him or the bartender to fill out a Home Association membership form and pay dues (for 2026) of $50 to get your annual (Jan -Dec)membership card.
For Legionnaires and Sons--Per our Post Bylaws as dictated by PA Department, annual membership renewal payment is due by October 20th of each year. After Jan 1, 2026, you will be considered delinquent and if not paid by the end of January, your Legion privileges will be suspended. This also means that you will not be able to use the Post bar. In addition, at the Febuary Meeting, your continued membership in Post 100 will have to voted upon by the Legion members present at that time. If voted out, your membership in the Legion could be transferred to the State "Umbrella"Post known as "Post 945". If still not paid by June 30th, membership in the Legion is forfeited.
There are three ways to pay your dues:
1. Annually by direct payment to the Adjutant or the bartenter (be sure your info is on the envelope).
2. Online at the American Legion website using a credit card. This is the easiest way. You will get a temorary card online and then a permanent one in December.
3. Purchasing a life membership. All Life membership applications are now handled by and must go through National Headquarters). Go to their website.
VA ISSUES
New News: The backlog of VA claims is down by 57% for 2025. All Vet family claims have been eliminated. The Va's approval rating is up. The president has reinstated the GI bill for all Veterans who were discharged during the last administration for not receiving the COVID vaccine. Their discharge status has been changed to "Honorable." Any military person who wants to join the American Legion must have a discharge status of "Honorable".
Montgomery County has a great website for Veterans Affairs, etc. Go to: https://www.montcopa.org/266/Veterans-Affairs
The VA will be issuing a Veterans ID card to those who request one even though they are not in the VA health system. In addition, Bucks and Montgomery Counties are issuing Vet picture ID cards at their Recorder of Deeds office. They will place your DD-214 in their files for you and give a list of places that will honor your card with discounts. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT FAMILY MEMBERS KNOW WHERE YOUR DD-214 IS LOCATED IN YOUR HOME. IT IS NEEDED TO HAVE MILITARY HONORS AT FUNERALS.
MILITARY RECORDS can be obtained either by writing to:
National Personnel Record Center 1 Archives Drive St Louis MO 63138, calling 1-314-801-0800 or you can request a Form 180 to send in to get your DD214 from Ron Stone or Fred Kluxen. You can also go to this website to handle the process: www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/index.html
The Post can provide you with applications for applying for VA health benefits. See Ron Stone for the forms.
The Dept of Veteran Affairs in Norristown can issue all vets an ID card that will allow for discounts in many places of business. Call 610-278-3285 for info.
You can access VA health care at www.va.gov or call the Health Benefits Center at 1-800-222-8387.
If you are a low income vet with lots of medical expenses and have a NON-service related disability, you may be eligible for a VA pension. Call 1-800-827-1000 or go to : www.vba.va.gov/bin/21/Milsvc/Docs/Pensoneg.doc
The VA has a program called "Aid and Attendance" with can provide as much as $1949 per month to Vets who need care, either at home, in a nursing facility or assisted living facility. Go to www.ebenefits.va.gov and www.veteransaid.org for information. Also see the link below for Montgomery County's website which explains the three types of VA Pensions available to you.
Funeral and burial expense money can be received from the VA in the amount of $700 for each item as well as $100 from Montgomery County. Make sure your family is aware of this since some Funeral Directors are not.
If you are receiving 100% disability from the VA, you are eligible for an exemption for your Property and School taxes. You must contact the VA to get the necessary forms to get an Awards Letter certifying your disability. This benefit is not being advertised, you must inquire to get it. The increase in disability benefits for all has been increased by 2.8% for 2026.
Montgomery County has many benefits for Veterans such as: Burial allowance, headstone allowance, flags and bronze flag holders, emergency assistance payments, real estate tax exemptions (see above), disability pensions, State Vet Homes, fishing license discount, etc. For more info, contact the Philadelphia Adjutant General's office at 215-381-3040 or go to the PA Dept of Vet Affairs website at: www.milvet.state.pa.us or go to http://mcva.montcopa.org to access links to many different programs. One such link provides up to date info about the three levels of VA Pensions: Basic, Household and Aid & Attendance.
Vets can get free tickets to sporting events. Go to: www.vettix.org
NEWS YOU CAN USE
A searchable database of resources (National Resource Directory) for vets and their families can be found at: https://nrd.gov
The Army-Airforce Exchange Service (AAFES) is now opening up to ALL veterans to use their online website to order items from them tax free and shipping free (over $49). Go to: ShopMy Exchange.com to verify your eligibility and sign up to start shopping. In addition, Vets who are service disabled, POW, MofH will be able to enter military bases and use their commisary or military exchange. Your Vet Health ID access card must be shown.
The Legion Insurance Trust is accidental life insurance of $1000 (or $5000 if you are on Legion business) for NO COST TO YOU. It can be had for life by signing up just one time. Go to: https://thelit.com/no-cost-legioncare to sign up for life. This also applies to Sons and Auxiliary members as well. You can also call 1-800-235-6943.
The Dept of Motor Vehicles has a place on their new Driver's License applications to designate you as a Veteran with a "V" on your driver's license. You must check the box on your application or tell the clerk when you renew your license.
The Montgomery County and Bucks County Recorder of Deeds office in Norristown will record your DD214 in it's official records so that you will always have access to it. They will also issue you a Veteran's ID card which will get you discounts in hundreds of retail locations. They will provide a list of them to you. Call 610-278-3294 or go to www.montcopa.org/ROD for more info.
How to subscribe to DISPATCH, the National Legion newsletter. This newletter is delivered digitally by email to you. Go to www.legion.org/media and click on "subscribe" under "e-newsletters". From there, you can choose to receive an email link for electronic DISPATCH. The e-newsletter will be published with fresh links on a monthly basis and at other times as warranted. The Department of PA's newsletter...the Keystone News, comes out monthly. You can subscribe for $6 per year.
Veterans who have asbestos-lung related problems can find info they need with regard to claims at: www.asbestos.com/va-claim.php
Pennsylvania passed a law which permits residents to place a "security freeze" on their credit reports. This goes a long way in preventing identity thief because only YOU can unfreeze access to obtain credit. The freeze costs $10 but is free to those over 65. Call the credit bureaus for the forms to sign up.
TransUnion 1-800-680-7289
Equifax 1-800-685-1111
Experian 1-888-397-3742
Flag Saluting
Who and when and what can be saluted is very confusing. Here are the up to date regulations.
Members of the Department of Defense in uniform are only allowed to salute the National Ensign, and on six days of the year, they also can salute the POW/MIA flag. Those six days are: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, POW/MIA Recognition Day and Veteran's Day.
Veterans, in addition, can salute Organizational flags as well and they can do so whether in uniform or not, indoors and outdoors, with or without head cover. Legionnaires recognize as Organizational flags: POW/MIA, Post, Sons, Auxiliary, Riders, Blue Star, Gold Star, the States, Commonwealths, and Territories of the USA, President and Vice-Presidential flags. When you are wearing Legionnaire apparel (such as a hat) and you salute, you do so representing the American Legion. When you salute without uniform, you do so as a veteran citizen.
Whether in uniform or not, you can salute the National Ensign during the playing of the National Anthem or hold your hat or hand over your heart. You hold your hat or hand over your heart when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
VOLUNTEER HOURS INFO NEEDED
Each year, I have to send a report to Department about its activities regarding community service. Department then passes this info on to National which uses it in its annual report to Congress in order to get funding.
It is very difficult for me to know about all that our members are doing, so I need input from each of you if you are in any way engaged in community service. I basically need the number of hours you spent performing such activity. Examples of what I mean are: election poll worker, mentoring, scouting, community/church committees, donating blood, volunteerism, helping the sick or needy, etc. Just give me a call or email or let me know when you see me at the Post.
MY CONTACT INFO
You can contact me , Ron Stone, at 215-836-7184 or by email at: alpost100@verizon.net