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Exclusive Resource Event

Written by Jeff Mattingly on . Posted in American Legion Post 281 News, Announcements.

Wilson County Area Vets — May 29, 2025

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs sent this bulletin at 05/27/2025 12:52 PM EDT

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Hey Wilson County Veterans! You’re invited to get assistance enrolling in VA health care, applying for disability compensation, and accessing other benefits you’ve earned. Concerns about your toxic exposure while in service? Find out what resources you are eligible for. Need caregiver support? Need housing or worried about becoming homeless? Ready to enroll in VA health care? Want to connect with resources available in your community? This is an exclusive event for Veterans and their families in the Wilson County area. Don’t miss this opportunity to access the benefits you’ve earned.

 Just show up on Thursday, May 29, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Event Location:
Wilson County Veterans Museum
304 E Main Street
Lebanon, TN 37087
Click Here for More Information

Can’t attend the event? No problem.

Enroll in VA health care.

Apply online: VA.gov/health-care/apply/application/introduction
Apply over the phone: Call VA toll-free at 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411), Option 2.
Apply in-person: Visit your nearest VA medical center (https://www.VA.gov/find-locations).
Submit a VA disability compensation $$$ claim.
Schedule a virtual or in-person appointment with a VA benefits specialist.
Submit your VA disability claim online.
Get help from a VA accredited representative or Veteran Service Organization.

with everyone you know who may benefit, including Veterans, caregivers, service members and survivors.
We’re making millions of Veterans eligible for VA health care under the PACT Act. Here’s what YOU need to know.

  
  • If you served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, or Afghanistan, you can enroll.
  • If you deployed to any combat zone after 9/11, you can enroll.
  • If you deployed in support of the Global War on Terror, you can enroll.
  • And even if you never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or serving on active duty here at home—by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays, and more—you can enroll, too.

Bottom line: all Veterans who meet the minimum service requirements and were exposed to toxins and other hazards-at home or abroad-are eligible to enroll in VA care.

VA provides the best and most affordable health care for Veterans in America – and this is your chance to apply. Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than those who get their care elsewhere. And copays can be as low as $0 for prescriptions, urgent care, outpatient care, and more.  

Choosing VA means getting everything you need in one spot. Come see why 90% of patients said they trust VA for their health care. Even if you don’t need this care today, you may need it tomorrow, or the next day, or 30 years from now. And once you’re in, you have access for life.

VA is here for you. 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411) is always the right number
Veterans Crisis Line: 988 and press 1, Chat, or Text 838255
Vet Centers: 1-877-927-8387
Homeless Veteran Resources: 1-877-424-3838 or Chat 

Download the VA Welcome Kit VA WELCOME KIT Find a VA facility near you. FACILITY LOCATOR

Honoring America’s Flag……tonight, 6:00 pm

Written by Terry Ward on . Posted in American Legion Post 281 News.

Tonight’s the night….. Honoring America’s Flag in honor of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Come and celebrate with us at the Mt. Juliet Veterans Clock tower at with a Patriotic Concert of music, food and enjoyment, in honor of the freedoms we have, because of their service to our GREAT country. 6:00 PM, bring lawn chairs.

13 May 2025, Post 281 Meeting Agenda

Written by Terry Ward on . Posted in American Legion Post 281 News.

Agenda for Post meeting on Tuesday, 13 May with social time and food STARTING 5:30 pm ,   MT. Juliet, Charlie Daniels Park, Community Center, Room Bravo   

NEW START time for the pizza and social time is 5:30 PM.   Regular meeting  begins at 6:00 pm.   We must be done NLT 7:45 pm on meeting nights.  

Welcome guest and all members in attendance.  

Adoption of minutes as posted on the Website 18 APR. 

The busiest Month of the YEAR is here….  Calendar UPDATE as follows: 

Sunday 18 May, Run for the Wall Support, 3:00 pm, at Golden Bear/Beckwith Road, bring your American Flag and support the Run for the Wall riders as they pass by on I 40, headed to Lebanon for a fuel stop at Pete’s Truck Stop, enroute to Cookeville.

Honoring America’s Flag Display in cooperation with the Mt. Juliet Exchange Club

Thursday 22 May,  09: 00 am, Clock Tower at MT Juliet RD and East and West Division, in stall rebar for Honoring America’s Flag event, with post members, Under Armor volunteers and others, in cooperation with the Mt. Juliet Exchange Club.   Bring work gloves and a small ( 5 lb.) sledgehammer if you own one.  

Thursday 22 May,  10: 00 am, begin Exchange Club assistance support.  See signup schedule, with continuous 24 hr. coverage for each day until take down on the 26th of May. 

Saturday 24 May,  6:00 pm to 7:30 pm,   Patriotic Honor Concert at Honoring America’s Flag event, featuring Mt. Juliet’s JBD express, along with the Ed Bray’s Ledgen race car #66.  Food truck will be available.  Tickets for attending are sold at the entrance; recommended donation is $12.  Special tickets for an American Flag set, a burger, chip and drink, and enjoy the concert for $50 donation.  See flyer on this website.    

Monday 26 May, 3:00 pm,  Take down and storage of flags and posters.  

2.  Thanks to former Executive Committee members, Mike Faoro, Bob Snuck, Shawn Taylor, and Don Barnes for their dedication and service to the post.   Member Mike Faoro is presenting two JROTC award to students at GHHS at 5:00 pm, 13 May.  

3.  Oath of Office to our next Executive Committee for the year 2025-2026 will be conducted by former CDR Lew Hightower New 1st Vice, Jeff Mattingly, 2nd Vice Brandon Adderholt, S.O. Patti Whitmore and new S@A Mike Adams will not be at the meeting due to planned vacations.   New Adjutant Bruno Padovani, F.O. Steve Iles, and Chaplain David Hale will be administered the Oath of Office.     

4. Boys state update, we have 11 young men have registered with Dept attending. 

5.  Mid-Year Department Convention, Murfreesboro 14 -15 June, basically 8 am to  Steve Iles , Patti Whitmore and I will be attending. 

6.  Wilson County Memorial Day (26 May) at the Vet Center in Lebanon @ 10 am, for all of Wilson County.   HG will be present to conduct rifle volley.   

8.  Next big event on the horizon is the State/County Fair in 14-23 Aug.

Officers Reports , 1st V/2ndV/ADJ/FO/SO/CH (sick call) HG/ALR/ Committees  

Closing Protocol to follow.  

9.  Next regular post meeting scheduled for 10 June 2025     

Honor America’s Flag 2025 #2 #2

Written by Jeff Mattingly on . Posted in American Legion Post 281 News, Announcements.

Hey, I goofed! We need more help. Especially setting up the flags! I’ve changed the Sign Up app. Please click the link below to get on board. There’s also several other opportunities to help, so let’s getter done!

Our biggest fundraising event of the year, so far. We Need Your Help!

Please click the link below to sign up. This year is going to be really special!

Click Here to go sign up!

We will also need your help with promoting our Patriotic Honor Concert! Stay Tuned for more information!

April 2025 General Meeting Minutes

Written by Shawn R. Taylor on . Posted in Minutes.

COMPILED/SUBMITTED BY:  ADJUTANT Shawn R Taylor   

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – Date: 8 Apr 2025

Reviewed By: COMMANDER Terry Ward, POST 281, Tyler Cates, Dept of TN      

CONVENED:  1830   ADJOURNED: 1945  

MEMBERS PRESENT: 28   VISITORS: 10   POST OFFICERS: 9    TOTAL: 47

ASSEMBED

At 1730 hrs., the doors of the Mt. Juliet Community Center (MJCC) were opened for food and fellowship.  Merry Roberts, with Mission BBQ, provided food and drinks for members and guests.

Continue reading

Post 281 regular meeting, 8 APR 25

Written by Terry Ward on . Posted in American Legion Post 281 News.

Agenda for Post 281 regular meeting, 8 APR 25 @ The Charlie Daniels Park, Community Center, Room “B” as in BRAVO   

6:00 PM, Mission BBQ is serving tonight with a variety of their wonderful BBQ options, along with green beans and cole slaw and drinks and dessert too along with soft drinks, tea, and cookies too. Socializing while eating. Mary will address our members and give everyone an update on their special days for veterans 17 May, (Armed Forces Day) at their restaurant located at Opry Mills Malls and when free sandwiches for Veterans will be available. 

On or about 6:30,  Begin opening protocol for the meeting.

Quits of Valor Presentations for members Arnie Painter and Don Moody/ by Robert St. John and John Herko.      

Adoption of the minutes as posted on the Post website;  28 March, February as posted by the Post Adjutant.   

Officer reports:     1st Vice, 2nd Vice,  ADJ, FO, SO,  S@A, CH (sick call)

HG, ALR, SAL, Auxiliary updates ,  Buddy Calls update/ John Herko

CDR     New Business / Correspondence/ CDR’s Comments 

  Nominations for 2025/2026 Post Officers are open and looking to fill the  1st Vice, 2nd Vice, Adjutant, and Sergeant at Arms post positions.   

 Update on Honoring America’s Flag event,  in May, and special music concert on Saturday, 24 May at the Clock tower.   Cover sequence of timing and special coverages for security.    Set up on 22 May….overnight coverage…..Concert 24 May…take down and storage 26 May.   

Boys State, with our 10 boys we will sponsor, runs from 25 May to 30 May.     

Memorial Day event in Lebanon at the Veterans Center, starting at 11:00 am. 

Next regular post meeting scheduled for 13 May, CDP CC, room Bravo.   11 Mar.      

Anything else for the good of the legion.  

Closing Protocol.