American Legion Post 57

Commander Ron Freese Sr. Vice Commander Fred Scott Jr. Vice Commander Glenn Flake Greg Lande John O'Connor Dick Stender Finance Officer Dick Dennis Adjutant Don "Rock" Brown Chaplain G.D. Hendrix Sgt at Arms Jeff Carroll Service Officer Hank Berkowitz

The children of military personnel who died in the line of duty since Sept. 10, 2001 can apply for an educational scholarship similar to the new Post-9/11 GI Bill.  Benefits are retroactive to Aug. 1, 2009 . VA begins accepting applications for the Fry scholarship on May 1, 2010 .  For more information or assistance applying, call toll-free 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551), or visit the VA GI Bill Website at http://www.gibill.va.gov/ . VA estimates nearly 1,500 children will receive benefits under the Fry scholarship program in 2010.  Recipients have 15 years to use their benefits, beginning on their 18th birthdays, through their 33rd   birthdays. Eligible children attending institutions of higher learning may receive payments to cover their tuition and fees up to the highest amounts charged by a public, in-state undergraduate institution.  A monthly living allowance and stipend for books and supplies are also paid under this program. VA will begin payin...

Patriotic Cowetans will be gathering at the entrance to Forest Lawn Memorial Park this morning to show honor to fallen soldier Robert W. Collins. Local veterans, led by Dick Stender, have organized the 11 a.m. gathering of people with flags at the Roscoe Road cemetery. The funeral for Collins, who was killed in Iraq on April 7, will be held at 10 a.m. at New Hope Baptist Church -- North Campus on New Hope Road in Fayetteville. After the funeral, the procession will move south on Georgia Highway 85 through Fayetteville, then west on Georgia Highway 54 through Peachtree City. In Coweta County, the cortege will move along Highway 34 to the bypass and then to Roscoe Road and Forest Lawn. Collins, who is from Tyrone, was killed in Mosul when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The first lieutenant was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team from Ft. Stewart, near Savanna...

The first major wave of soldiers from Newnan-based Bravo Company was scheduled to arrive at Fort Stewart near Savannah sometime Wednesday night. The Georgia Army National Guard unit is returning from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan. A few soldiers have already arrived in Georgia, and there will be at least two more "waves," said Robert Stokely, co-chairman of the Family Readiness Group for Bravo 2/121. If all goes well, all members of Bravo Company should be stateside by the end of March. Full Story at www.times-herald.com

After Wendell Whitlock returned home following World War II, he used the skills he'd learned in the Navy to build a better Coweta. "Captain" Whitlock, who was involved in Coweta's road department in various capacities from 1948 to 1988, was honored by Coweta's Boy Scouts at the second annual Golden Eagle Dinner. Full article at: Newnan Times-Herald

ATLANTA - There is an under-used, special monthly pension benefit available to Georgia's wartime veterans and surviving spouses of deceased wartime veterans incapable of self support and in need of regular personal assistance. "Many wartime veterans and surviving spouses whose incomes are above the federally mandated limit for a basic VA pension may still be eligible for pension at the higher housebound or Aid and Attendance rate," points out Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler. "Although this is not a new program, not everyone is aware of his or her potential eligibility." The Aid and Attendance pension benefit may be available to any wartime veterans and surviving spouses who have in-home care or who live in nursing-homes or assisted-living facilities. "Especially helpful if they have large medical expenses that they may not receive reimbursement," noted Commissioner Wheeler. For a wartime veteran or surviving spouse to qualify for ...