AMVETS

American Veterans

Abbreviation AMVETS
Established December 10, 1944 (1944-12-10)
Type Veterans' organization
Legal status Federally chartered corporation
Headquarters 4647 Forbes Blvd.,
Lanham, Maryland
Region served
 Worldwide
Membership (2014)
 200,000
Official language
 English
National Commander
 Larry Via
Main organ
 National Convention
Subsidiaries
  • AMVETS National Service Foundation
  • AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary
  • Sons of AMVETS
  • Junior AMVETS
  • AMVETS Riders
  • ″Sad Sacks″
  • ″Sackettes″
Website amvets.org
Formerly called
 American Veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam

The American Veterans, Inc. (AMVETS) is a volunteer-led organization formed by World War II veterans of the United States. It advocates for its members as well as for causes that it deems helpful to the nation at large. The group holds a Federal charter under Title 36 of the United States Code. It is a 501(c)19 organization.

Background

President Harry Truman at AMVETS headquarters dedication
AMVETS memorial sign on Thruway

AMVETS is active in U.S. politics. Its primary political activity is lobbying for the interests of veterans, including support for veteran's benefits such as pensions and the Veterans Affairs hospital system; in addition, it has promoted other causes such as support for a Flag Burning Amendment.

The AMVETS Silver Helmet Award is an annual award to "recognize excellence and achievement in Americanism, defense, rehabilitation, congressional service and other fields."[1] Sometimes called the "Veterans Oscar," the award is shaped like a small, silver replica of a World War II helmet. Recipients have included Edmund Muskie, Lyndon B. Johnson, Lee Greenwood, and Jack Quinn.

The organization also gives out an award that used to be called the Peace Award, which in later years was called the Silver Helmet Peace Award, to honor people who promoted peace. AMVETS is frequently involved with ROTC and JROTC programs. A local chapter in the schools area may present awards, scholarships, and savings bonds to qualifying cadets in a unit. It has a number of subordinate organizations, which help to advance the aims and purposes of the AMVETS organization. These subordinate organizations are:

John "J.P." Brown III, national commander,[2] AMVETS, 2008

Legislation

AMVETS supported the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014 (H.R. 4031; 113th Congress). The bill would give the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs the authority to remove or demote any individual from the Senior Executive Service upon determining that such individual's performance warrants removal or demotion.[3] The bill was written in response to a scandal indicating that some VA hospitals were keeping secret waiting lists for care, the length of which may have led to the deaths of some veterans.[4] National Commander John H. Miller Jr. said that "under the current, antiquated and morbidly dysfunctional civil service system, it's nearly impossible to dismiss or do more than slap the wrists of incompetent, ineffective and wasteful Senior Executive Service employees."[5] John Miller argued that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs needed "the ability to remove deadweight executives."[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "AMVETS - Our History". Archived from the original on June 7, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2007.
  2. ↑ "Honoring John P. Brown, III". CapitolWords.org. May 13, 2003.
  3. ↑ "H.R. 4031 - Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  4. ↑ Gehrke, Joel (17 May 2014). "Veterans Affairs official resigns as White House says there's 'just a suggestion' of scandal". The Washington Examiner. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Miller Legislation Targets Much Needed Accountability at VA". AMVETS. Retrieved 21 May 2014.

External links

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