Fall Issue of American Veteran Now Online

The latest issue of American Veteran magazine is now available online. To read the fall 2010 issue, Click Here.

In the latest issue, we sit down for an exclusive interview with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, where the secretary shares his charge to transform VA into a 21st century institution capable of efficiently meeting the needs of veterans and their dependents which, surprisingly, still date back to the Civil War, when President Abraham Lincoln first commissioned his Veterans Administration.

We also discuss the 2010 AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans, which took place at the 66th annual AMVETS National Convention in Louisville last summer, bringing together 50 veterans of the current conflicts to candidly discuss issues critical to their generation. Stay tuned to American Veteran Online for updates on the imminent symposium report, highlighting this summer's findings.

This fall, we also cover the AMVETS Department of Missouri's POW/MIA Recognition Day festivities alongside one of America's most storied Major League Baseball franchises, the St. Louis Cardinals. The day's event was hosted to raise funds for Missouri's POW/MIA museum project.

In a special From the Front, American Veteran also highlights Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, who recently became the first living Medal of Honor recipient in the Global War on Terror.

This fall, we also launched two new sections we hope you will enjoy--"Forward Observer," a by-the-numbers look at critical veterans' issues and "National Archive," which delves into the 60-plus years of the National AMVET and American Veteran magazine to bring you critical stories on veterans' issues from the past, tying them into current issues facing our nation's military and veterans' communities.

We also highlight the AMVETS Department of Virginia's role in this summer's Run For The Wall, which stopped off at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va., before proceeding to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

In "Keeping Posted," you can also read about the great work of AMVETS in Indiana, Illinois, California, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

As always, we're eager to hear your thoughts and see the great work going on at AMVETS posts and departments around the country, so keep your letters, stories and photos coming, so we can consider them for future issues of the magazine.

(Photos: Top: VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki sits down with American Veteran magazine at his office in Washington, D.C. Photo by Luis Jimenez. Middle: AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop, American Ex-POWs St. Louis Chapter President Paul Dillon, and former POW Richmond P. "Red" Dillon stand for the National Anthem at Busch Stadium on National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Photo by Ryan Gallucci. Bottom: A Run for the Wall road guard directs riders at the National D-Day Memorial in Virginia, just one of the historic sites visited on the cross-country ride. Photo by Jay Agg.)

AMVETS Pays Respects to Fallen Heroes at Arlington; Around Washington

On Memorial Day, AMVETS National Commander Duane J. Miskulin and AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary National President Patty Piening joined Vice President Joe Biden, the nation's military brass, and leading veterans' advocates at Arlington National Cemetery to honor America's fallen heroes.

Miskulin and Piening hosted four wounded warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the AMVETS' box for the day's program.

Miskulin and Piening also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns and accompanied their guests on a visit to Arlington's Section 60, where the fallen heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan are laid to rest.

Throughout the day, AMVETS participated in a variety of events around the nation's capitol ranging from the culmination of the annual Run for the Wall motorcycle ride to the national Memorial Day concert at the U.S. Capitol.

AMVETS Riders had participated in the Run for the Wall over the ten days leading up to Memorial Day, starting in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and following two routes across the United States.

AMVETS Deputy National Legislative Director Christina Roof joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), her staff, veterans, and other top veterans' advocates on the Speaker's balcony for the Memorial Day concert.

At 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, AMVETS leaders also joined in the National Moment of Remembrance--the national moment of silence commissioned by Congress to demonstrate national solidarity and honor the sacrifices of America's fallen war heroes.

(Photos: Top: Cmdr. Miskulin and President Piening lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Photo by Jay Agg. Middle Top: AMVETS hosted four wounded warriors from Walter Reed in the AMVETS box at Arlington National Cemetery. L-R: Cmdr. Miskulin, Spc. Cunningham, Staff Sgt. Waugaman, Staff Sgt. Hockaday, Sgt. 1st Class Huey, and President Piening. Photo by Jay Agg. Middle Bottom: Riders participating in the national Run for the Wall cross Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C. Photo by Toni Roof. Bottom: The crowd gathers at the U.S. Capitol for the National Memorial Day Concert. Photo by Christina Roof.)

This Week at American Veteran

This week at American Veteran we will recap AMVETS' participation in this weekend's Memorial Day activities in the nation's capitol and around the country.

AMVETS National Commander Duane Miskulin and AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary National President Patty Piening took part in the national memorial services at Arlington National Cemetery and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

AMVETS posts and departments around the country also participated in a variety of events, which we will highlight.

We will also post some photos from the annual Run for the Wall event, which rolled into Washington, D.C., over the weekend with the support of AMVETS Riders.

We will also post photos from recent events, including the launch of the AMVETS Warrior Transition Workshops and the recent Camp Hope open house, as promised in previous weeks.

Congress is on a break for the Memorial Day holiday this week, allowing for the AMVETS National Legislative Department to focus on the upcoming AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans, taking place prior to this summer's AMVETS National Convention in Louisville. American Veteran will bring you an update on the symposium this week.

We will also highlight the spring edition of American Veteran magazine, which shipped last week.

As always, we're eager to hear what you think, and if you have a Memorial Day story you would like to submit for consideration on the blog or in the print edition of American Veteran magazine, please send them my way, rgallucci@amvets.org.

AMVETS to Join in Memorial Day Honors from Coast to Coast

On Memorial Day, AMVETS National Commander Duane J. Miskulin will join in ceremonies honoring America's fallen heroes across the nation's capitol, including the national wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

AMVETS will also host four wounded warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center for the day's events in Washington, D.C.

AMVETS Riders from around the country will also converge on the nation's capitol for the annual Run for the Wall, honoring America's prisoners of war and those who remain missing in action. American Veteran is accompanying the riders on the final leg of their journey from Norfalk, Va., to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.

AMVETS posts and departments around the country will also play host to special events for Memorial Day, honoring the brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom. These events range from parades to memorial services, speeches and barbecues for veterans and their loved ones.

Memorial Day is one of the most significant holidays to AMVETS, honoring America's fallen heroes. To read AMVETS' official statement for Memorial Day 2010, Click Here.

Next week, American Veteran will bring highlights of AMVETS' Memorial Day commemorations, and we encourage all AMVETS posts and departments to share your Memorial Day photos and stories with us for American Veteran Online and the summer print edition of American Veteran magazine.