Santa Maria VA Medical Clinic

There are 57 days until Veterans Day!
There are 10 days until the Coastal Valleys Detachment meets!

You are a Marine! Perhaps you only served 60 days and were medically discharged, or you served 30 years and were honorably discharged! Your service qualifies you for assistance from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
[ http://www.va.gov ] Do you know what you are entitled to?

The geographical area served by the Marine Corps League, Coastal Valleys Detachment, is also served by the Santa Maria VA Medical Clinic. Located at:

1550 East Main Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454
[ map ]

Phone: 805-354-6000, Fax: 805-349-9542, the Santa Maria VA Medical Clinic is our branch of the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.

You know the Clinic exists, but do you know what services it provides?

That is the topic of discussion at our next meeting, September 23, 2008.

Paul Shetley, a United States Army Veteran, and a Volunteer for the Santa Maria Community Based Outpatient, will attend to bring up-to-date information on the Clinic. He will be bringing eligibility forms for those not enrolled.

Can you be cavalier with your health?

There are 56 days until The Marine Corps Birthday!

General James T. Conway, Commandant U.S.M.C.

The 34th. Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General James T. Conway addressed The Americacan Legion National Convention on Tuesday, August 26, 2008.

LegionTV, is The American Legion's newest way to deliver updated multimedia to our members, as well as all other visitors to Legion.org. At LegionTV, you will be able to view coverage of Legion events, public service announcements and much more.

During his speech Gen. Conway was asked to address the following topics:

• How the Corps is currently doing
• Health of the force
• Vision of Corps future

If you want to know how the Corps is doing in these difficult times listen to what the Commandant has to say. Gen. Conway's speech can be viewed on LegionTV.

You may also be interested in a document titled the Commandant's Planning Guidance that is posted on the Marine Corps' official web site.

Veterans Can Always Salute Their Flag

Michael Smith brought this to our attenction recently. The Flag Code, Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1 was amended with P.L. 110-116, 110th Congress, First Session, November 13, 2007 to read as follows.

§ 9. Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, those present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.

You can find the complete US Flag code on The American Legion web site at:
[ http://www.legion.org/national/americanflag/flagcode ]