March, 2012 - The American Legion Department of North Dakota

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Page 4 March 2012 North Dakota Legion News 2012 North Dakota Boys State June 10-15 in Wahpeton By Neil Litton, Boys State Director As it has since 1938, the 70th session of North Dakota Boys State Program will educate and inspire young future leaders from around the state in June 2012. This year, the program runs from June 10-15, and will once again be held on the campus of North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton. Each year, Legion members across the state work carefully to select high school juniors from their community to participate the program. This year we encouraged the Posts to make contact with their local high school earlier to talk with the boys about attending North Dakota Boys State. They will not know about the program unless a member of the Post takes the time to arrange for a meeting. This year, boys wishing to register for Boys State can do so on-line by visiting www. ndboysstate.org. Here you can register online for Boys State. The registration goes to the Department Headquarters and is fed back to the local Post. If you haven’t visited it yet, we encourage you to do so. Brochures and other registration materials were mailed out to all posts, high school counselors and high school principals the first part of January. Once selected, the delegates enter a weeklong program that teaches them the form, function and responsibilities of state government. This is done by having the boys run their own simulated state government. The delegates form political parties, campaign for elected office, and write and publish a newspaper of each day’s events. On Tuesday, they elect a governor who presides over the session. They also elect other state and local governmental positions. This “learn by doing” method is the backbone of all Boys State programs. Among the highlights of the week is the emergency management exercise that places delegates in the role of leaders facing to a string of simulated disasters that they must respond to. With the cooperation of college staff, the disaster management exercise is conducted in real time, using telephones and a computer network to deliver news and updates to the delegate-run command centers. Outstanding delegates, cities and counties are recognized at an awards ceremony at the end of the week. The delegates compete for the following awards during the week: ArveDahlen-Milt Rue Award Harold Piper Award A.D. Mckinnon Award Harry Edblom Award Boys Nation The Leroy Pease Memorial Award The M.B. Zimmerman Award John K. Kennelly Memorial Award The Jack Williams Trophy The Pancratz-Morris Award The Marcus L. McDonald Award Kirk Smith Award Emergency Management Awarded (Pod Award) The David Wolf Memorial Award Director’s Award for Excellence More than 29,000 young men have graduated from North Dakota Boys State and many have gone to become leaders and role models. These include North Dakota Senator John Hoeven, Judge Kirk Smith, retired North Dakota Justice Ralph Erickstad, basketball coach Phil Jackson, and Past National American Legion Commander H.F. “Sparky” Gierke. Nationally, the program boasts numerous impressive alumni, including former Presidents Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton. At the end of the week, Boys State staff members select two outstanding individuals from each state to participate in Boys Nation, a national program that parallels Boys State.Boys Nation takes place in July. Know someone that should go? If you have a potential delegate you would like to nominate, please contact Josh Jeffers, Deputy Director in charge of Recruiting, at 701-202-9302 or joshua.jeffers@ ndboysstate.org (student must currently be in their junior year of high school). SAMSUNG SCHOLARSHIP Worldwide electronics leader Samsung endowed a scholarship fund of $5 million to be administered by The American Legion in 1996. Meant to show appreciation for U.S. veterans who came to Korea’s aid during its struggle against communist forces in the Korean War, the Samsung American Legion Scholarship Program established a series of scholarships derived from interest and other income from the principal amount. In 2010, ten $20,000 scholarships and 88 $1,000 scholarships were awarded. Scholarships are restricted to high school juniors who complete either a Boys State or Girls State program and are a direct descendant - i.e. child, grandchild, great grandchild, etc. - or a legally adopted child of a wartime veteran who served on active duty during at least one of the periods of war officially designated as eligibility dates for American Legion membership. Winners are selected according to academic record, involvement in school and community activities, community service and financial need. Applicants who are direct descendants of Korean War veterans receive special consideration. One winner is chosen during the week of Boys State and awarded a $500 scholarship and entered as a finalist in the national pool. A few years ago North Dakota had a finalist that received a $20,000 scholarship. ND Boys State Looks For Support North Dakota Boys State, a non-profit organization of the North Dakota American Legion, is facing ever-increasing costs to sponsor boys for the week they spend at the North Dakota State College of Science during the program. Boys State is unquestionably the finest youth program sponsored by the North Dakota Legion and one that we can be very proud of.We, of the Legion, realize how important the program is in the state of North Dakota and that every effort must be made to maintain the high standards that Name: Address: Carl. E. Rogen Post #29 of Watford City Endorses Jerry Samuelson For Alternate National Executive Committeeman National Positions Held: VA & R Distinguished Guest Americanism Council Rehabilitation Advisory Board Post Offices Held: Post Adjutant Post Service Officer Post Boys State Chr Post Drill Team have always been upheld in the program. It seems that each year expenses and charges from the college and for supplies necessitates an increase in costs for the program.The Boys State Committee and the Department Executive Committee has set the registration fee at $200 per delegate. To help hold down yearly sponsorship fees in the coming years, donations are requested to help defray housing, food, supplies and other necessities of the program. We urge Posts and individuals to consider a donation to North Dakota Boys State to help with maintaining costs for the nearly 150 boys from across the state who participate in North Dakota Boys State each year. With your help, we will be able to maintain the high quality of the program from year to year. Use the below form to send your donation to North Dakota Boys State, PO Box 5057, West Fargo, ND 58078.Thank you for your support. CONTACT INFORMATION Questions or comments regarding ND Boys State can be addressed to: Neil Litton, ND Boys State Director, PO Box 5057, West Fargo, ND 58078 or by calling the Department Headquarters at 701-293- 3120.For specific inquiries contact Teri at Department Headquarters at programs@ ndlegion.org North Dakota Boys State Donation Form Town: Amount of Donation: ($10.00) ($25.00) ($50.00) (Other) Send To: North Dakota Boys State PO Box 5057, West Fargo, ND 58078 Jerry Samuelson USN Ret. Department Positions Held: Chairman DEC Department Commander West Region Vice Cmdr. West Region Oratorical Chr. 9th District Cmdr. 9th District Vice Cmdr. Professional Positions: Past President ND Assoc. Of County Veteran Service Officers Past President Arnegard Lions Club Mckenzie County School District #1 Board Member Veterans Organizations: American Legion 40 et 8 VFW
North Dakota Legion News March 2012 Page 5 Chaplain’s Message Why Not Give Praying A Try Greetings fellow Veterans, After living most of my life in the Great State of Minnesota right next door to Ole and Lena,I need to admit that the older I get the more I look forward to spring! Not that I’m complaining about this winter! Not one little bit! I sold my snowmobile years ago and my cross country skis are doing just fine where they are in the garage! I still really enjoy the change of season from winter to spring and for me the month of March is the beginning of spring. When March comes, I know that the weather will be warmer and the warm sun will change the landscape. All the ducks and geese will be coming back soon, the trees will start budding out soon and we will be celebrating what Jesus did on the cross for us at Easter! All these changes represent new life and that always gets me excited! I love seeing the Lord’s handiwork keeping life fresh and new. This morning I read one of my favorite bible verses that always reminds me of keeping my life “Fresh and New”! This verse is found in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians! It is 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Actually, this verse is about one of the only bible verses that I have been able to memorize! The verse is “PRAY CONTINUALLY”!That’s it! Just two words! I like short verses! This short verse says a lot without a lot of words. This short verse is easy to memorize, easy to figure out and this short verse should be very easy to do! Or is it? So why does the Apostle Paul remind us that we should “PRAY CONTINUALLY” you ask?Well, since you asked; I would say because Jesus set the standard for us by being in communication with His Father all the way up to His crucifixion. Not only did Jesus pray for Himself, but Jesus also prayed for His Disciples and Jesus even prayed for all of us that believe in Him. You can find all these prayers in the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel of John! Well you say, my life is okay, I’m getting by! When I’m really, really, really in a real tough bind I’ll pray for some help from Jesus! Or when Great Uncle Ole fell and broke his other bad hip I asked Jesus to heal Him. I even pray once in a while at church. I don’t want to overdo this praying thing, besides; Jesus is just too busy to listen to me! And besides He doesn’t answer all my prayers anyway! Well I believe Jesus does want to hear from us a little more than two or three times Al Gaines Department Chaplain a year! The Good Word tells us that Jesus does hear our prayers and Jesus does answer our prayers. The answer to our prayer may not be in our own timing as fast as we want the answer! Our prayer may not be answered how we would like it answered! But your prayer will be answered! When Paul says “PRAY CONTINUALLY” that is for our benefit more than Jesus’ benefit. I truly believe that Jesus just loves to hear from us. Just like when I call old Lars on the phone back in Minnesota we just talk and talk and talk! This is the same way we can be talking to Jesus! When I strike up the conversation with Jesus we just talk, I find out that I have a lot to tell Him and a whole lot to thank Him for! Sometimes I do all the talking and sometimes I just do all the listening! An Old Veteran, Walter Kallis, down in Mott, North Dakota, showed me that prayer is one of the greatest blessings that the Lord has blessed us with. Prayer is so powerful it brings us together with Jesus and remarkable amazing things happen when we pray. All throughout history nothing great ever happened without prayer! Prayer is a direct link to the Creator of the Universe! Sorry to break this news to you if you believe in evolution! Can you imagine what could happen if all of God’s Children got together and prayed! Look what happened to the very first church when all of God’s people were together in Acts 2! WOW!!!! I truly believe that Jesus would just love to hear from you today and answer all your prayers because every answered prayer brings 100% glory to the Father in Heaven. So my encouragement to you today is to give this praying thing a try! Get into a good habit of “PRAYING CONTINUOUSLY”! Take the time to thank the Lord for all your blessings! Thank the Lord for meeting your needs! Ask the Lordto meet the needs of others! Especially the poor, the widows and the orphans! Pray for those that don’t know Jesus and are headed the wrong way! And thank The Lord for bringing spring like weather to North Dakota! If you don’t know where to start praying, just start by thanking Jesus for dying on the cross for us! Enjoy the Easter season with a prayer on your lips. If I can serve you in any way, my e-mail address is foreveryoungranch@ hotmail .com. God Bless. Traumatic Brian Injury and Veterans By Dr. Alan Fehr Every day is an opportunity to learn new things. For example, I have learned that if I want to know what percent of Veterans have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the answer depends on how I ask the question. I have recently had the experience of standing in front of a group of National Guard Service Members, most of Dr. Alan Fehr whom had combat experience, and learning that nearly all of them have had a TBI at some time in their life – if I ask a broad enough question. If I ask the audience if they have ever had a head injury or TBI, I would get few responses. If I ask if they ever had a concussion, I would get more affirmative responses. I get nearly 100% affirmative response when I ask if at any point in their life they have ever had a concussion or blow to the head from accident or injury that resulted in being either unconscious or at least resulted in being dazed for a few seconds. Being dazed, consistent with the statement “had my bell rung,” is the threshold of a mild TBI. Mild TBIs or concussions are common life experiences from many situations, including battlefield blasts, motor vehicle accidents, falls, and sports injuries. There are many symptoms common to TBI. Loss of consciousness or alterations of consciousness (e.g. being dazed) are common. Other symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, sleep problems, disorientation, nausea, and problems with attention, memory, and balance. And the symptoms can be subtle – it just takes longer and is more effort to do the things a person used to do with ease. Most TBIs are mild with symptoms being temporary. Complete recovery is expected within hours or days. More severe TBIs are less common and involve neurological problems that may take up to two years to achieve maximum recovery. Moderate to severe TBI involves more severe problems that interfere with ability to function in daily life. With severe TBI recovery may be incomplete but the good news is that we are learning that the brain is more flexible to recover than we had previously thought possible. People can learn ways to retrain themselves, compensate for lost skills, and overcome many of their deficits. We used to think that there wasn’t much that could be done to overcome a TBI but now we know that isn’t true. Although TBI rehabilitation takes hard work and the involvement of family and many professionals, this field is rapidly changing and developing as new treatments and strategies continue to challenge what we had thought were limits to recovery. People don’t recover by themselves; they need support and encouragement from their families. They need the skilled treatment of many providers, including medical professionals, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech and cognitive therapists. And they may need the wisdom of professional counselors to help them to stay focused and on track. I expect that in five years the field of rehabilitation for TBI will be dramatically improved as treatments and therapies continue to evolve and change our knowledge of the field. Veterans having problems should keep knocking on their professional’s door as new answers will continue to emerge. For more information, go to the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center wesite: http://www.dvbic.org/ Dr Alan Fehr is a clinical psychologist and the Director of Psychological Health for the ND National Guard. He can be contacted at: alan.fehr@us.army.mil or 701-225-1050. David Rolfson for Western Region Vice Commander Carl E. Rogen Post #29 of Watford City is proud to endorse David Rolfson to seek the position of Western Region Vice Commander. David is a member of the Watford City Post #29 and has served as Post Commander, 9th District Vice-Commander and 9th District Commander and is currently the Post Chaplain and a life-time member of the VFW. David and his wife Jan, farm and ranch in McKenzie County. David has served in various farm and community organizations including the western ND District Council (ELCA), Area Council on Drug Abuse and Alcoholism (United Way), County Chairman-Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and is currently President of the Lutheran Church he attends.
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March, 2012 - The American Legion Department of North Dakota

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