Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment

California Detachment of the Sons of the American Legion. Serving vets in the state with the largest population of US military veterans.

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

It is with great sadness that the Detachment announces the passing of Past National Commander Robert Faust. The Sons extend our condolences and deepest sympathies to his family at this difficult time. In 2022, PNC Faust shared his early tenure: #Vimeo https://t.co/YX6GhipCEa

[The American Legion @AmericanLegion]

SAL National Commander Bill Clancy was joined by other Legion Family leadership at the Vietnam Wall to place a wreath and hear a powerful and prominent tribute to women veterans this Memorial Day.

Read the incredibly moving stories:

https://t.co/nQpBZDRqAf

https://t.co/FZrpv8VGxe

#MemorialDay #WomenVeterans #HonorTheFallen #PoppyInMemory

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

Come out to the West LA #Veterans campus Saturday April 25 and help with the clean-up and beautification event!

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

National SAL Commander helps with the recovery after the #PalisadesFire with a tree planting at the recently re-opened Palisades High School. https://t.co/6TS0aptVjL

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

#Legion and #SAL members participated as mentors to the Tampa VA #Hackathon during #ALCon25 including some of our own @Sons_CA, helping hacker teams work through their solutions to issues faced by #veterans using #VA services https://t.co/shU6kSnK8M

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

New SAL National Vice Commander Frank Meraz (center) holds the first Western Region caucus after the 2025 National Convention in Tampa. #ALCon25 #LegionFamily #SAL

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

California Detachment Commander Charles Curtis thanks the assembled Convention delegates for their financial and in-kind support for the members of Squadron 283 in the aftermath of the #Palisadesfire in January. Cmdr Curtis is one of 59 Sqd members who lost their home in the fire

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

Congratulations to Frank Meraz of the California Detachment for being elected as Western Region Vice Commander!

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

At the SAL National Convention in Tampa, California Detachment Commander Charles Curtis presented the delegation's donations to the Child Well-Being and the Veterans' and Children Foundations for 2025.

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

At the annual @Sons_CA Detachment Convention, delegate Logan Crossman reviews his stewardship of the Helmets4Heroes program, which has raised more than $12,000 to benefit veterans since he has taken over from Bill Bryant. #CALegion25 @AmericanLegion

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

Bagpiper leading members outside to the #MemorialDay2025 ceremony @AmericanLegion Post 283 in #PacificPalisades , CA. Many attended despite still-limited access to the fire-ravaged community.

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

Veteran community coming together! Santee Legion Riders and others delivering relief to #PacificPalisades @AmericanLegion Post 283's offsite relief supply center. Next task is to categorize and send out to those in need.

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

A local veteran was struck and killed by a hit and run driver Sunday night. Please take a look at these photos and video and forward any pertinent information to the @SantaMonicaPD #SantaMonica #veterans

[Santa Monica Police @SantaMonicaPD]

Pedestrian Killed In Hit & Run - Public Assistance Needed

On Sunday, December 22, 2024, at approximately 6:40p.m., Police Department officers responded to the scene of a fatal traffic collision at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Chelsea Avenue. The victim was crossing Wilshire southbound when she was struck by a vehicle heading eastbound on Wilshire. The vehicle, a white Toyota Rav4 (photo attached), was seen by witnesses fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed. Tragically, the victim, a Vietnam War veteran and Santa Monica resident, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

SMPD’s Major Accident Response Team responded to begin their investigation, which is ongoing. Investigators have located video footage of the suspect and vehicle.

We are asking for the public’s help in identifying this person.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone who may have information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Raleigh at [email protected], Investigator Lewis at [email protected] or the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at 310-458-8427.

[The American Legion @AmericanLegion]

Nice to have former Sen. Elizabeth Dole stop by our suite @ArmyNavyGame. We were proud to work with the senator & other VSOs to gain passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act.
#ArmyNavy @DoleFoundation

[Elizabeth Dole Foundation @DoleFoundation]

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act passed unanimously in the Senate last night!

[The American Legion @AmericanLegion]

American Legion Natl Cdr LaCoursiere described The Economist story & other arguments in favor of cutting veterans benefits as “abhorrent. We don’t put a price tag on freedom & we should not put a price tag on the health of those who risked their lives to protect our freedoms.”

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

The Sons of the American Legion couldn't agree more with the @VFW_OfficeDC opinion of @TheEconomist 's article on US Veterans' benefits. These veterans EARNED the right to have life-sustaining treatments for their service-related injuries.

[VFW - Washington Office @VFW_OfficeDC]

And now a word from VFW's National Legislative Director Pat Murray -

Normally, Thanksgiving is synonymous with food, family, friends, and giving thanks. For @TheEconomist, Thanksgiving apparently means taking a turkey-sized dump on disabled veterans. The other day I had the unfortunate opportunity to read an unattributed article on The Economist titled, “American veterans now receive absurdly generous benefits” and it left me with a lot of thoughts. (You can read it for yourself here: https://t.co/E2hfOpyRjn, just be ready to sign up for a subscription.)

The piece on The Economist has no author and reads like it was poorly run through ChatGPT. And the title of the piece is insultingly stupid. The definition of absurd is "wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate." I’d challenge the anonymous cowards at The Economist to illuminate us on which parts of veterans’ healthcare and benefits are inappropriate, illogical, or wildly unreasonable?

I am a disabled veteran. I had my right leg blown to pieces on September 4, 2006, in Fallujah, Iraq. Since that time, I have had to walk with an above the knee prosthetic and I have not had an easy day physically for as long as I can remember. Hey, The Economist, which portion of my healthcare or benefits are wildly unreasonable?

Service to our country can be an incredibly uplifting and positive experience for many who wore the uniform, but that service can also involve hazards. Some disabled veterans struggle physically or mentally with the effects of their service. Bullet wounds, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Post Traumatic Stress, and other effects of a service can sometimes cause chronic issues for veterans, and providing care and benefits for those issues is certainly not inappropriate or illogical.

While the AI assisted “journalists” at The Economist boldly chose not to put their name on this piece, they did attribute a quote to another non-expert in veteran benefits, Mark Duggan from Stanford University. Mark foolishly stated about VA Disability and Compensation, “Once you qualify you have an incentive not to get better.” An incentive not to get better?!?!? Hey Mark, any clue how I can get my right leg back? I’d gladly give back the money I’ve received so I can get up out of bed without the assistance of a wheelchair or a prosthetic.

The meandering poorly structured article in The Economist highlighted a lot of increased numbers and statistics, many of these figures quoted began back in 2001. It highlighted the increased number of veterans with high disability ratings beginning to increase in 2001. However, nowhere in the article does it state what else began back in 2001. These dopes conveniently left out the Global War on Terror that began in 2001 lasted for TWENTY YEARS! A full 20 years of the same all-volunteer force serving over and over, and over again in the same toxic hellholes fighting the same brutal terrorists. Gee, I wonder why today’s veterans are presenting with more chronic ailments than generations that came before us.

Ivy League elitists like Mark Duggan and the pretentious wankers at the Economist clearly didn’t bother to do much research on veteran disability or bother to speak to one of the millions of disabled veterans like me. We would have told these arrogant snobs that certain injuries and illnesses are with us for life, and no disability rating is worth the difficulties that come with some of the aftereffects of service.

The real cherry on top of this turd sundae was the lazy suggestion (possibly lifted from the fools at the @washingtonpost Editorial Board) that VA should means test veterans before receiving benefits. As in, if you make enough money after service, you won’t be taken care of for the costs of war. If The Economist had bothered to attribute a name to this drivel, I would ask that idiot, “how would you means test my inability to teach my son to ride a bike?” It’s a pretty routine joy that most parents get the privilege of taking part in. However, my prosthetic leg doesn’t really function in a way that allows normal bike riding. So that is a simple joy I won’t get. How exactly do buffoons like Mark Duggan and the dollar store journalists at The Economist suggest factoring in that loss?

The last paragraph of this loosely compiled puddle of garbage juice included the statement, “Reducing payments to former soldiers will never be popular, but it would be wise. America’s veteran obsession has gone too far.” -- TOO FAR?!?!? Holy hell, this sounds like it was written by a jealous also-ran who every veteran has probably met. The guy or girl who “totally would’ve joined…but I didn’t because I would’ve told-off a Drill Instructor if they got in my face”. Losers...

In the future, if any major publication wants to embarrass themselves by anonymously taking shots at disabled veterans, I’d like to offer my services. I can start by helping you research this subject to learn about the actual effects of service-connected injuries and illness. I can also connect you with other disabled veterans so you can hear first-hand accounts of some of the difficulties veterans face. I could even help google image search pictures of actual veterans, instead of the stock photo of firefighters The Economist used at the top of its trash piece on veterans. Then finally, if you are still intent on disparaging disabled veterans, I can assist you in removing your head from your ass…free of charge.

Patrick Murray

VFW Legislative Director
USMC 2003-2007

[The American Legion @AmericanLegion]

With a focus on mental well-being, camaraderie & career development, @caLegion Post 283 is providing comfort, connection & careers by connecting #veterans & servicemembers thru @amlegiongaming. https://t.co/GH2YS2DcDz via @jaredcmorgan #gaming #mentalhealth

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

SAL Ronald Reagan Palisades Squadron 283 brings the 2024 National Americanism Award back home to the Golden State from the National Convention. Congratulations to the members of Squadron 283!

[Sons of the American Legion, California Detachment @Sons_CA]

@AmericanLegion National Commander Daniel Seehafer addresses the assembled SAL delegations at the opening of the National Convention in New Orleans.