Between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., meet with Legion representatives at Peoria Heights Village Hall.

Media Advisory

PEORIA, Ill./EWORLDWIRE/Nov. 7, 2007 --- Wartime veterans of Peoria Heights have found a novel way to celebrate Veteran's Day: by commemorating their own post with a Veteran's Day Birthday through which to serve veterans and their community of Peoria Heights. The nation's largest veterans' organization, The American Legion, is inviting all wartime-era veterans in the area to join in establishing an American Legion Post in Peoria Heights, Illinois, on November 9, 10, and on Veterans Day, November 11, 2007, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Wartime veterans can visit with Legion representatives and members of the Indianapolis-based American Legion National and Illinois-based State Headquarters staff at the Peoria Heights Village Hall, 4901 Prospect Ave. Peoria Heights. After helping to organize the Peoria Heights' post, headquarter's representatives will initiate the new members.

In keeping with the over-89 years of tradition of The American Legion, the Peoria Heights Post will focus on community service and assistance to veterans, with the scope and nature of the post's community service to be determined by its members and with input from local, civic and community officials.

"This new post in the Peoria Heights area will enable us to reach out to more veterans, and because the people of Peoria Heights care about their community and practice good citizenship every day, the location is an ideal place to start a partnership between The American Legion and the community - that's what The American Legion is all about," said National Commander of the American Legion Martin F. Conatser. "What a great way to honor our Illinois Veterans - with a American Legion birthday in Peoria on Veteran's Day 2007. There has never been a more important time to take care of veterans and active duty military who provide a strong defense for the United States."

Since its inception in 1919, The American Legion has been an outspoken advocate for veteran's benefits, children and youth, patriotic American values, a strong national defense and quality-of-life issues for those serving in today's armed forces. The organization spearheaded the original GI Bill and has been advocating reform of the veterans' health care system under its GI Bill of Health. Creation of the federal forerunner of the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as the agency's ascent to cabinet-level status can be attributed in part to The American Legion's advocacy. Also instrumental in the establishment of the Veterans Home Loan, The American Legion is a proponent of veterans' hiring preference and just compensation to veterans suffering from illnesses related to military service, including ailments stemming from exposure to Agent Orange and of mysterious Persian Gulf origins.

The American Legion instills values in young people through its wide range of youth programs including:

. American Legacy Scholarship
. Heroes to Hometown
. American Legion Boys State
. American Legion Boys Nation
. Junior Shooting Sports
. The National High School Oratorical Contest
. American Legion Baseball
. Teenage Suicide Prevention
. Child Health
. McGruff Safe Kids Program.

The American Legion has supported Scouting since 1919. Many American Legion posts also support Junior ROTC high school units, fund-raising for handicapped children, and partnerships with other nonprofit organizations such as the Childrens Miracle Network.

To learn more about how to get involved, contact Frank Prosser of the Department of Illinois at 309-838-6706.

HTML:   http://www.eworldwire.com/pressreleases/17854
PDF:   http://www.eworldwire.com/pdf/17854.pdf
MOBILE:    http://e4mobile.com/view_release.php?id=17854
ONLINE NEWSROOM:   http://www.eworldwire.com/newsroom/313007.htm
NEWSROOM RSS FEED:   http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/xml/newsrooms/313007.xml
LOGO:   http://www.eworldwire.com/newsroom/313007.htm

CONTACT:
Frank W. Prosser
American Legion
Department of Illinois
Headquarters P.O. Box 2910
Bloomington, IL 61701
PHONE. 309-838-6706
FAX. 309-663-5783
EMAIL: Frank@JointheLegion.org
http://JointheLegion.org

SOURCE: American Legion Department of Illinois

AVAILABLE MEDIA:

View fullsize
: American Legion Department of Illinois (size: 0.1 kb)
Nov. 9-11: American Legion Post Set to Welcome Peoria Heights Veterans with Ennobling Post
http://www.eworldwire.com/mediauploads/al-VISION.jpg

View fullsize
: Celebrate Veteran's Day (size: 0.0 kb)
By commemorating their own post with a Veteran's Day Birthday.
http://www.eworldwire.com/mediauploads/al-etterlg_110607.jpg