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2018-2019

JOEL FORMAN

DEPARTMENT COMMANDER

Joel M. Forman was elected on July 15, 2018 as Department Commander for The American Legion Department of Nevada. A Vietnam War Era Veteran who served in the U.S. Army for six years as a combat medic/pharmacist. He is a 13 year member of Spirit of Freedom Post 76 in Las Vegas and was Post Commander for 4 years, 2nd District Commander for 2 years and a Department Officer for the past 3 years. Married for 48 years, he and his wife have 2 daughters and seven grandchildren. He was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts and is a 1970 graduate of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and owned a pharmacy for 23 years. He is a graduate of The American Legion College, class of 2016. He has represented The American Legion at 771 interments of unaccompanied Veterans at the Southern Nevada Memorial Cemetery. He is a member of the Color/Honor Guard for his Post. He is a member of the Selective Service System for Clark County.

Since our charter, our American Legion Department of Nevada has been welcoming VETERANS from all branches of our Armed Forces. Today, we continue to welcome all military personnel serving our country. Joining a Post in our state enables you to continue serving your God, Country and Community. Our mission is to implement the goals, aspirations, dreams, peace and blessings for our country, friends and families embodied in our preamble.

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Brett P. Reistad, National Commander of The American Legion 2018/2019

Brett P. Reistad was elected national commander of The American Legion on Aug. 30, 2018, in Minneapolis during the organization's 100th national convention. He has been a member of the nation's largest veterans organization since 1981.

A resident of Manassas, Va., Reistad is a life member and past commander of Post 270 in McLean. The Department of Virginia reached an all-time high in membership while he served as department commander from 2005-2006. He retired as a lieutenant with the Fairfax County Police Department after 26 years of service and began a second career as a law enforcement services coordinator for the Regional Organized Crime Information Center of the Regional Information Sharing Systems Program, a congressionally funded law enforcement investigative assistance program of the U.S. Department of Justice. He holds a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from Virginia's Bluefield College.

Reistad's American Legion membership eligibility is through his honorable Vietnam War-era service (1974-1978) as an active duty U.S. Army infantryman where he served with the Presidential Salute Battery of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) at historic Fort Myer, Va. He participated in the inaugural ceremony for President Carter and other high-profile ceremonies. He has since been honored as a Distinguished Member of the Regiment.

Reistad has served at every level of The American Legion. He is a past president and honorary life member of the National American Legion Press Association. He recently completed a six-year appointment as chairman of the Department Legislative Committee and two three-year terms as a gubernatorial appointee to the Commonwealth of Virginia's Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations where he helped coordinate the input of 23 veterans service organizations in crafting veteran-friendly legislation and advocating the proposed legislation before the governor and General Assembly. He is also a tenured past department historian and was recently bestowed an honorary life membership by the National Association of Department Historians of the American Legion.

He is a past Legionnaire of the Year from Post 270 and a member of the Sons of The American Legion Squadron 10 in Manassas. His wife, Jessica, and his family, are proud members of the American Legion Family.

His theme as national commander is "Celebrating Our Legacy," with special emphasis on the organization's centennial.

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~To our World War II & Korean Veterans who are interested in visiting War Era Memorial

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What The American Legion Does:

In a Nutshell: If you're a Veteran, The American Legion will help you. It will help you with VA health care, GI Bill benefits, sudden emergencies and the needs of your children. And The American Legion does it all for free, because we have an army of volunteers - each one a wartime veteran. So we understand. That's why we're here now - helping veterans, servicemembers and their families.

Processes more than 600 disability claims appeals per month for veterans trying to get their VA medical benefits.
Gives emergency financial assistance to Legion Families hit by Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and other disasters.
Urges Congress to provide enough VA funding to take care of veterans' medical needs - and provide it in advance.
Awards college scholarships to children whose mothers or fathers have sacrificed their lives in the global war on terrorism.
Volunteers about one million hours every year at about 160 VA Medical Facilities nationwide.
Helps familes of deployed troops through the Family Support Network and Operation Military Family Outreach.
Through its Temporary Financial Assistance program, helps the children of veterans who are suffering hardships.
Donates about 100,000 pints of blood annually to the American Red Cross.
Lobbies Congress to upgrade and improve Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits (Legion wrote the original 1944 GI Bill that educated 8 million veterans).
Through its Heroes To Hometowns program works with communities to welcome back their returning veterans and help them make the transition to civilian life.
Sponsors more than 5,000 American Legion Baseball Teams, which are made up by more than 100,000 ballplayers.
Raises funds to improve quality of life for active duty troops with the Wounded Warrior Recognition Program and Operation Comfort Warriors.
Offers community programs that encourage the intellectual and social growth of America's children (Boys State, National Oratorical Competition, Boy Scouts).

To find out much more about what The American Legion does, please visit www.legion.org

To the wonderful patriotic citizens of Nevada Thank You. Join in the support of a Post as a Booster or sponsor. 100% of the monies raised are given back to the community. Help us to continue sponsoring Scholarships for our children; give aid and assistance to our local needy Veterans and their families. Help us to continue to support financially worthy community programs and projects.

737 Veterans Memorial Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101

Department of Nevada

Department of Nevada

737 Veterans Memorial Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101