Member Information
Burial Flags Available from the US Postal Service
Did you know that you could get a burial flag for your veteran from the Post Office?
The Department of Veterans Affairs, in cooperation with the United States Postal Service, issues nearly half a million burial flags annually to families of deceased veterans. The United States Postal Service is proud to partner with the VA in providing burial flags for our veterans.
Applicants seeking a burial flag should:
- Visit https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-27-2008-ARE.pdf to fill out VA Form 27-2008, Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes
- Submit a completed VA Form 27-2008 and attach a copy of the veteran’s DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty to your local Post Office™
- Applications can be submitted by family members or a funeral director acting on their behalf
- There is no time limit for requesting a flag
Additional information regarding burial flags can be found at: https://www.va.gov/.
Veterans Service Officers in the Local Area
Veterans Hall – American Legion Elk Grove
Veteran’s Service Officer Karen Wilson-Randalls
Available at the Veterans Hall on Thursdays (10 am-3 pm}
Elk Grove Civic Center (District 56)
8230 Civic Center Drive, Elk Grove 95758
916-995-5655
Sacramento County Veterans Office
3970 Research Drive, Sacramento, CA 95838
916-874-6811
El Dorado County Veteran Services Main Office
Located inside the Veteran’s Memorial Building
130 Placerville Drive, Suite B
Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 621-5892
(530) 621-2218 Fax
Hours of Operation: Mon, Wed, Fri by appointment
Tues, Thurs Drop-In schedule
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Call for an appointment (530) 621-5892
Are you renewing your driver’s license? If so, you can have “Veteran” noted on your driver’s license.
Yes, if you contact your local VSO and provide the VSO with a copy of your DD214, they will prepare the form that you can present to the DMV when you renew your driver’s license. So much easier to show your license than looking for some other document to prove you are a veteran to receive veteran’s discounts at local stores.
“I look forward to a great future for America – a future in which our country will match its military strength with our moral restraint, its wealth with our wisdom, its power with our purpose.” John F. Kennedy
American Legion Links
For members who are new to the American Legion, the national organization is broken down into statewide organizations, area organizations, district organizations and finally Posts. Elk Grove Post 55 and Post 233 is in the Department of California, Area 5, District 6.
American Legion National Organization
Department of California
- Official Department web site: https://calegion.org/
- Map of Areas & Districts: https://calegion.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Map_Areas_Districts_900.jpg
- Link to Area 1, District 6: https://calegion.org/district-6/
- Official American Legion Auxiliary web site: https://www.calegionaux.org/
- Official Sons of the American Legion: https://salcalifornia.com/
- Official American Legion Riders: https://alrdoc.org/home.php
- Official California Legion College: https://calegioncollege.org/
Area & District
- Elk Grove is in Area 1, District 6: https://calegion.org/district-6/
- District 6 Website: https://calegion6.org/
eBENEFITS for VETERANS
website: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage
OK, so now you have VA benefits, and you are excited to use them but how? In an age of digital technology, automated phone calls/messages, email, etc. What do you do? Check out the above webpage and register yourself. Put in your information and find out more about benefits both for yourself and your family. If you have questions, you have contacts listed here and you can email or call them. Don’t be afraid to call and please be patient. VA is a big organization with 3 different branches:
- VBA – Veterans Benefits Administration: Veterans & family benefits to include home loans, financial assistance, survivor’s benefits, etc.
- VHA – Veterans Health Administration: Veterans health benefits for health care of veterans
- NCA – National Cemetery Administration: Burial benefits, burial for veterans & eligible family members
Take a moment to check out the website and find out for yourself if you are eligible. Most everything is digital and easy to navigate with patience. Take a moment to get your benefits you deserve it!
SAVE A LIFE! AMERICAN LEGION BLOOD DRIVE
As a participant in The American Legion Blood Donor Program, our Post has an ongoing Blood Drive set up through Vitalant. Our Post and American Legion Family members, families, and friends who are able to give blood are encouraged to participate throughout the year.
Donating blood is safe, easy, and takes about an hour. Further information regarding donor eligibility requirements, Vitalant Donor Center locations, and scheduling appointments is found at www.Vitalant.org.
We will work together to give back to the community in a truly life changing way. Each pint of blood collected can help save up to three lives and will touch the lives of so many more. What a great way to pay it forward and make an impact on people in our community and across the country.
Please consider making a donation TODAY. The local Donor Center is located at 9267 Laguna Springs Drive, Suite 100, Elk Grove; however, blood donations towards our Post’s Center Drive may be given at any Vitalant Donor Center. Prior to your donation, it is important to inform Vitalant personnel to credit the blood donation towards the American Legion Post (Elk Grove): Group No. 0352.
With your help, we can have a lifesaving impact in our community.
If you have questions, please contact D’Ann Moseley, Chair Blood Drive Committee.
Sacramento Valley National Cemetery
5810 Midway Rd
Dixon, CA 95620-9735
Main Number:
707-693-2460
Website
Directions
Burial in a VA national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces and Veterans who have met minimum active duty service requirements, as applicable, and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Members of the reserve components of the armed forces who die while on active duty or who die while on training duty under certain circumstances are also eligible for burial, as are service members who were eligible for retired pay at the time of their death.
A veteran’s spouse, widow or widower, minor children, and, under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities, may also be eligible for burial.
Eligible spouses and children may be buried even if they predecease the Veteran.
View the videos on the website below for some basic information on your burial benefits at a National Cemetery.
National Cemetery Administration
REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE. If you need HELP for a special project we are now requiring that all requests for assistance whether it is funds or other resources for folks to fill out the form you can get from the Adjutant. This allows us to track all the GOOD WORKS that our Post does throughout the year. Our post has to report annually on all the activities that we do so that we know that we are meeting our mission to help others in our post and throughout the community. Please take time to fill this out prior to making your requests. From this point on we will no longer accept verbal requests, this form must be filled out and submitted to the Post Commander or Adjutant so that the Executive Committee and review and vote on the matter or if needed the whole post membership.
Thank you for your cooperation!
JOIN THE AMERICAN LEGION!
Remember that your membership is from January to the end of December. If you have not renewed for 2023, do it now.
ONLINE RENEWAL: It’s EASY to renew online click here
BY MAIL: You will receive a letter in the mail about renewing your membership just send your payment by USPS.
IN PERSON: Come to the monthly General meeting with your payment.
Extend your membership now to ensure you can continue to make a difference for fellow veterans!
Our National Commander is right — Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs depend on The American Legion. That’s because:
- We are the voice of the veteran.
- We are the conscience of a nation that honors military service and patriotic values.
- Without us, government would not know how to effectively fulfill its mission to support and honor our nation’s veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and families and communities across this land.
That is why it’s important for you to renew your membership for our Post now.