Commissions | Committees

Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission

David K Cook Sr. | Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission Chairman

Phone: 937-243-2749 | cookong1976@outlook.com

The American Legion has for over 100 years acted as the nation’s leading advocate for proper health care, economic opportunity and legal benefits for U.S. military veterans. The Legion was instrumental in the creation of the Veterans Administration in 1930 and an ardent supporter of its elevation to cabinet status when it became the Department of Veterans Affairs in 1989. The relationship between VA and The American Legion continues to evolve today.

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National Security Commission

Bernie C Brogan | National Security Commission Chairman

Phone: 614-397-4991 | bernie.brogan532@gmail.com

The National Security Commission is comprised of 14 appointed individuals from the 14 Districts in the Department of Ohio. The Chair person is appointed by the current Commander of the Department of Ohio. The Commission is responsible for reviewing items pertaining to various security issues that involve such items as cyber security, security of our boarders, our armed forces, their equipment and numbers so we don’t get into a position where we can’t maintain our presence in areas needed to insure our safety. The Commission is also involved in military benefits and quality of life items that face our armed forces as well as the veterans that have served. These issues are addressed by either creating Resolutions to address the items or approve submitted resolutions by other committees or individuals. These resolutions are presented at the Department Convention to be accepted and, once accepted, move on to the National Convention. If the resolution is passed at the national level it will then be presented to Congress for possible action.

 

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Americanism Commission

Tom Rowe Jr. | Americanism Commission Chairman

Phone: 614-284-8714 | legionchef@gmail.com

The American Legion is an organization dedicated to God and country, with a membership of military veterans who take deep pride in the U.S. Flag and all that it means. Since its inception over 100 years ago, the Legion has been a stalwart champion of patriotic values, morals, culture and citizenship. The Legion’s pillar of Americanism embodies its devotion to law and order, the raising of wholesome youth, educated and law-abiding citizenship, and respectful observance of patriotic holidays and remembrances.

 

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Children and Youth Commission

Ken P Schutz | Children and Youth Commission Chairman

Phone: 419-605-8595 | ksridwe@msn.com

To contribute to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of children and youth through the dissemination of knowledge about new and innovative organizations and their programs. To make wider, more effective use of the knowledge already possessed by well-established organizations to the end that such information will benefit youth and be more adequately used by society.

 

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Membership & Post Activities Commission

Gary W Cox Jr. & Holly Lewis | Membership & Post Activities Commission Chairs

Phone: 740-802-7262  | 1stvice@ohiolegion.com | rdrunr1969@gmail.com

Phone: 412-298-4648  | 2ndvice@ohiolegion.com | hollywlewis@gmail.com

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Membership Stats

The Department Post Activities Commission is made up of the 2nd Vice Commanders of each of the 14 Districts in the Department. The Commission is chaired by the Department 2nd Vice-Commander each membership year. This Commission is tasked with setting the activity sites and bids as well as oversee the event’s Committee operations of the following membership year which runs from every July 1st to June 31st.

 

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Internal Affairs Commission

Gary W Cox Jr. | Internal Affairs Commission Chairman

Phone: 740-802-7262  | 1stvice@ohiolegion.com | rdrunr1969@gmail.com

The Internal Affairs Commission formulates and recommends policies and oversees the implementation of adopted policies relating to activities conducted for organizational purposes, including but not limited to such policies as do not properly come within the scope of any other Department Commission or Committee. Internal Affairs reviews and gives guidance to the necessary administrative operations of the Department Headquarters. Internal Affairs recommends policies and procedures relating to plaques, certificates, and awards given by the Department of Ohio organization in connection with American Legion activities. Internal Affairs acts on resolutions for the American Legion Department of Ohio and reports recommendations, committee/commission send backs, ‘divide the questions,’ adoptions, and rejections. Internal Affairs is responsible for the contents of Department mandatory forms and the proper distribution and deadlines of such forms. Internal Affairs has such other purposes as may be assigned to it by the Department Executive Committee.

Media, Marketing & Communications Commission

Shallon Smith | Media, Marketing & Communications Commission Chair

Phone: 614-745-7502 | shallonaesmith@gmail.com

The Media, Marketing & Communications Commission provides a forum for each District appointee member to share ideas to improve the Media, Marketing & Communications of the American Legion throughout the state of Ohio and its communities. The MMC Commission includes the communication, collaboration, education, and entertainment of The American Legion membership, and the public at large, about the purposes and activities of the local Posts, Districts, Department and the National Organization. This includes the use of traditional and digital public relations media. The commission consists of 14 members, one from each District in the Department, along with a commission chairperson. The Commission meets during all standing commission gatherings and meets at major conferences and conventions as pertinent business dictates.

 

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Legislative Commission

Suzette Heller | Legislative Commission Chairman

Phone: 734-358-4404 | zheller1105@gmail.com

The mission of the Legislative Commission is to review all State, Federal, House, and Senate Bills pending to gauge the level of support from The American Legion Department of Ohio. This Commission communicates with the Department staff Legislative Liaison and Service Director who performs lobbying tasks on behalf of the 70K+ Legionnaires within Ohio. The Legislative Commission members meet at least 3 times annually and are tasked with maintaining open lines of communication with local Legislators in their Districts to inform them of how The American Legion is at the forefront of helping veterans, their families, and our children & youth and to encourage participation in our programs.

 

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Gifts for Yanks Committee

Thom Stan | Gifts for Yanks Committee Chair

Phone: 509-240-4494 | freedumbsenior@hotmail.com

During World War II, Comedian Eddie Cantor started a fundraising effort to provide Christmas gifts for American Military Personnel hospitalized in England as a result of the War. His national project was called “Give to a Yank Who Gave,” which precedes the program now named “Gifts for Yanks (GFY).” In 1952, Ohio began the program collecting $8,000, which was used to purchase cigarettes for veterans in Ohio Veterans Hospitals. By 1994, the program has grown to support volunteers in all of the Ohio VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, Ohio Veterans Homes, and veterans residing in state mental health facilities.

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Employment & Education Committee

William ‘Bill’ Richard Dittebrand | Employment & Education Committee Chair

Phone: 440-897-8014 | Email: dittebrand@yahoo.com

The American Legion Department of Ohio Employment & Education Committee offers resources that can assist you as a Legionnaire wishing to promote veteran job placement and furthering veteran learning and skills. Please continue to visit the VE&E website as changes will occur on a regular basis. We welcome any and all suggestions in addition to recognizing Post level achievements and awards within the VE&E realm. Contact the committee liaison at Department Headquarters at 740-362-7478 if you have any questions. Thank you for all you do on behalf of the veterans in Ohio!

 

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Religious Emphasis Committee

Ronald E Distel | Religious Emphasis Committee Chair

Phone: 419-862-2344 | Email: crosswindacre@aol.com

As The American Legion is pledged to service “For God and Country” and has continuously emphasized the spiritual foundations of our freedom, The American Legion Department of Ohio Religious Emphasis Committee believes: To preserve this freedom, we must continue to hold before the American people the spiritual foundations of our Country. We must reaffirm our faith in Almighty God and constantly rekindle that spirit of humble reliance on Divine Guidance which inspired the founders of our Country and it behooves us as a Nation to arm our people in times of peril with the ageless weapons of moral and spiritual might and to uphold and preserve, unimpaired the spiritual heritage of America. The American Legion is an organization dedicated to God and country, with a membership of military veterans who take deep pride in the U.S. Flag and all that it means. Since its inception over 100 years ago, the Legion has been a stalwart champion of patriotic values, morals, culture and citizenship. The Legion’s pillar of Americanism embodies its devotion to law and order, the raising of wholesome youth, an educated and law-abiding citizenship, and respectful observance of patriotic holidays and remembrances.

 

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Oratorical Committee

John Looker | Oratorical Committee Co-Chairman

Phone: 513-290-4511 | jclooker1@gmail.com

Gary A Minadeo | Oratorical Committee Co-Chairman

Phone: 440-840-6164 | garyaminadeo@gmail.com

The Oratorical Program is a function of the American Legions’ “Americanism Pillar”. The Oratorical Program is a constitutional speech contest for high school students and it offers scholarships upwards of $25,000. The contest has a prepared oration and an assigned topic which is assigned the day of the contest. The prepared oration must be on some aspect of the Constitution, with emphasis on a citizen’s duties and obligations to our government. The same subject and oration used in the department contest must be used in the national contest. The purpose of the assigned topic discourse is to test the speaker’s knowledge of the subject, the extent of his or her research, and the ability to discuss the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution.

 

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Athletic Committee

Chris Emmons | Athletic Committee Chairman

Phone: 937-681-2080 | emmons0341@gmail.com

The American Legion Department of Ohio’s Athletic Committee was formed to include competitive sports activities. One aspect within this Committee is the Baseball program. American Legion Baseball is one of the most prominent and tradition-rich amateur athletic leagues in existence.The program is always growing, and participation is easy. About 5,000 teams compete each year, so there’s ample opportunity for new players to join, and for coaches who want to start a team. The league also employs a large number of umpires and other volunteers. American Legion Baseball is the finest summer baseball program for high school students in Ohio and the nation today. American Legion Baseball serves as the largest source of talent to major league teams of any youth baseball program. In 2025, over 55% of all players on 30 major league team rosters played American Legion Baseball. 2026 marks the 100th year for American Legion Baseball, an enviable anniversary in any field. For these past 99 years, American Legion Baseball has strived to maintain the reputation as the highest regarded youth baseball program in the nation. This year’s senior tournament will kick off in the summer at Beavers Field in Lancaster Ohio. This tournament is an 8 team, double elimination tournament.

 

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