August 21, 2025 • 6 mins
For the first time, the American Legion is holding its annual National Convention in Tampa, Aug. 22-28. Some seven thousand Legionnaires, members of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion are expected. We speak with the Legion's convention chair, Michael Walton, about the events in Tampa over the next few days.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Gordon Bird here beyond the News. You'll notice some extra
activity around downtown Tampa in particular, but all around the city.
The American Legion is holding its national Convention in Tampa
for the next several days. Members of the nation's largest
veterans service organization will be in the city, taking part
in and organizing events in and around the convention. We
(00:21):
have Mike Walton. He is from Illinois. He is the
National Convention chairman for the American Legion, and Mike Walton,
welcome in to Beyond the News.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Well, thank you very much, Gordon, it's a pleasure to
be here.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Well, first, this is the first time that the National
Convention has come to Tampa. Specifically, we have a number
of veterans in the region, of course, and the city
area institutions and state government make a point of pointing
out that this makes every effort to be a veteran
friendly area. Did that factor into choosing Tampa as a.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Site, Oh, absolutely it did. We've been to Florida eight
previous times. This is our first time to Tampa. Tampa
is such a veteran friendly area. You know, there's twenty
major military bases throughout this state, and we know how
much the state of Florida appreciates those who defend our
(01:14):
country and those who have served our country. It really
shows here in Tampa, and it's showing where we did
our site visit here, and it's showing while all of
our veterans and their families are arriving here in Tampa today.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
How many are you expecting to attend this year.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
We're expecting around seven thousand be American Legion family members
that would be our American Legion Auxiliary, our sons of
the American Legion, and of course the American Legion. So
we're going to probably be using around fifteen thousand room nights,
and we think it's really going to be a tremendous
(01:50):
convention here. The weather's perfect, the Tampa Convention Center is wonderful.
The folks there have just gone out of their way
to help us out, and so I think it's really
going to have a great economic impact on Tampa and
this area of Florida.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Now, the American Legion is going to have a presence
both inside and outside the convention, starting with events on
the inside. What are some of the main events that
go on at the convention this year and every year?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Well, The big thing is this is like our legislative session.
We are are members of all three of the organizations
get together and they iron out what our next year
is going to be. We have resolutions that come forward
a reference to assisting our brother and sister veterans and
that we send to Congress, and we also have resolutions
(02:40):
and other things to try to get more things for
those serving our country, whether it be in the military
or in public safety. The American Legion is all about America.
It couldn't come up with a better name for us
than American Legion. We're all about you know, you know, duty, honor, country,
law and order.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
I see that there are several news releases crossing our
desk about a number of veterans support efforts, that events
that you're going to be putting on around the convention
or out around the city of Tampa this week. If
you could tell us about some of the activities you
have going on out in the city.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Well, one of them is going to be they're going
to help clean up a cemetery. Every city we go into,
we try to we contact the city and the first
thing we say is how can we help When we
get to your city, how can we help your city
since you're being so kind to host our convention. And
one of the things this year a big deal was
going to help clean up the cemetery and make it
(03:39):
nice again, you know, And our American Legion family is
very dedicated to doing things like that.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
And you I see you have a number of events
involving veterans in small business and you're doing some things
with the VA. So obviously you make a lot of
you're making a lot of effort to be out and
about in town in TOWNPA.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Absolutely know if you do it or not. But you know,
we have Veteran Service officers throughout the United States, and
the American Legion does in all of our states and territories,
and would you believe, and they do this work free
of charge to veterans. In twenty twenty four, they were responsible,
(04:19):
our service officers were responsible for getting twenty one billion
dollars in veteran disability benefits approved for our brother and
sister veterans in twenty twenty four, twenty one billion dollars.
And that's where really the American Legion is all about
that they are you know, we're an organization that we
(04:41):
assist our brother and sister veterans. It's all about community, state,
and nation, and we believe in God and country. That's
part of our part of our existence is all about America.
We love America and we love our country, and we
can't say enough about those serving and those in public
(05:04):
safety that also serve our country.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Now, you're also inviting veterans who aren't already members of
the American Legion to join while you're here.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Oh. Absolutely. The American Legion was the originator and the
writer of the GI Bill rights and so we believe,
we believe every member, every veteran should be a member
of the American Legion if they want to continue serving
their country. That's a big deal to me. And the
(05:36):
leadership of the American Legion is service, service, service. You know,
I've been a volunteer. I joined the American Legion when
I went into service in nineteen sixty seven, so I've
been a member a long time. I grew up in
the American Legion. I know what it's all about. I
know the good it does not only for our brother
and sister veterans and their families, but for the communities.
(05:59):
It's such a wonderful organization. I I you know, I
try to secure as many veterans as possible to become members.
And it's not expensive. I think our leigion posts back
in Illinois, our dudes are like forty five dollars a year.
I mean, you know what's that. That's not even four
bucks a month. So it's it's very inexpensive to be
a member and do a lot of good.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Mike Walton of Villinois the national Convention chairman for the
American Legion. They're holding their national convention starting August twenty second,
starting Friday, for the first time ever in the city
of Tampa, and they'll be out and about all week.
Mike Walton, thank you very much for joining us on
Beyond the News.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Thank you, Gordon. You take care and we're looking to
having a good time here in sunny Florida.
Gordon Bird here beyond the News. You'll notice some extra
activity around downtown Tampa in particular, but all around the city.
The American Legion is holding its national Convention in Tampa
for the next several days. Members of the nation's largest
veterans service organization will be in the city, taking part
in and organizing events in and around the convention. We
(00:21):
have Mike Walton. He is from Illinois. He is the
National Convention chairman for the American Legion, and Mike Walton,
welcome in to Beyond the News.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Well, thank you very much, Gordon, it's a pleasure to
be here.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Well, first, this is the first time that the National
Convention has come to Tampa. Specifically, we have a number
of veterans in the region, of course, and the city
area institutions and state government make a point of pointing
out that this makes every effort to be a veteran
friendly area. Did that factor into choosing Tampa as a.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Site, Oh, absolutely it did. We've been to Florida eight
previous times. This is our first time to Tampa. Tampa
is such a veteran friendly area. You know, there's twenty
major military bases throughout this state, and we know how
much the state of Florida appreciates those who defend our
(01:14):
country and those who have served our country. It really
shows here in Tampa, and it's showing where we did
our site visit here, and it's showing while all of
our veterans and their families are arriving here in Tampa today.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
How many are you expecting to attend this year.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
We're expecting around seven thousand be American Legion family members
that would be our American Legion Auxiliary, our sons of
the American Legion, and of course the American Legion. So
we're going to probably be using around fifteen thousand room nights,
and we think it's really going to be a tremendous
(01:50):
convention here. The weather's perfect, the Tampa Convention Center is wonderful.
The folks there have just gone out of their way
to help us out, and so I think it's really
going to have a great economic impact on Tampa and
this area of Florida.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Now, the American Legion is going to have a presence
both inside and outside the convention, starting with events on
the inside. What are some of the main events that
go on at the convention this year and every year?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Well, The big thing is this is like our legislative session.
We are are members of all three of the organizations
get together and they iron out what our next year
is going to be. We have resolutions that come forward
a reference to assisting our brother and sister veterans and
that we send to Congress, and we also have resolutions
(02:40):
and other things to try to get more things for
those serving our country, whether it be in the military
or in public safety. The American Legion is all about America.
It couldn't come up with a better name for us
than American Legion. We're all about you know, you know, duty, honor, country,
law and order.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
I see that there are several news releases crossing our
desk about a number of veterans support efforts, that events
that you're going to be putting on around the convention
or out around the city of Tampa this week. If
you could tell us about some of the activities you
have going on out in the city.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Well, one of them is going to be they're going
to help clean up a cemetery. Every city we go into,
we try to we contact the city and the first
thing we say is how can we help When we
get to your city, how can we help your city
since you're being so kind to host our convention. And
one of the things this year a big deal was
going to help clean up the cemetery and make it
(03:39):
nice again, you know, And our American Legion family is
very dedicated to doing things like that.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
And you I see you have a number of events
involving veterans in small business and you're doing some things
with the VA. So obviously you make a lot of
you're making a lot of effort to be out and
about in town in TOWNPA.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Absolutely know if you do it or not. But you know,
we have Veteran Service officers throughout the United States, and
the American Legion does in all of our states and territories,
and would you believe, and they do this work free
of charge to veterans. In twenty twenty four, they were responsible,
(04:19):
our service officers were responsible for getting twenty one billion
dollars in veteran disability benefits approved for our brother and
sister veterans in twenty twenty four, twenty one billion dollars.
And that's where really the American Legion is all about
that they are you know, we're an organization that we
(04:41):
assist our brother and sister veterans. It's all about community, state,
and nation, and we believe in God and country. That's
part of our part of our existence is all about America.
We love America and we love our country, and we
can't say enough about those serving and those in public
(05:04):
safety that also serve our country.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Now, you're also inviting veterans who aren't already members of
the American Legion to join while you're here.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Oh. Absolutely. The American Legion was the originator and the
writer of the GI Bill rights and so we believe,
we believe every member, every veteran should be a member
of the American Legion if they want to continue serving
their country. That's a big deal to me. And the
(05:36):
leadership of the American Legion is service, service, service. You know,
I've been a volunteer. I joined the American Legion when
I went into service in nineteen sixty seven, so I've
been a member a long time. I grew up in
the American Legion. I know what it's all about. I
know the good it does not only for our brother
and sister veterans and their families, but for the communities.
(05:59):
It's such a wonderful organization. I I you know, I
try to secure as many veterans as possible to become members.
And it's not expensive. I think our leigion posts back
in Illinois, our dudes are like forty five dollars a year.
I mean, you know what's that. That's not even four
bucks a month. So it's it's very inexpensive to be
a member and do a lot of good.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Mike Walton of Villinois the national Convention chairman for the
American Legion. They're holding their national convention starting August twenty second,
starting Friday, for the first time ever in the city
of Tampa, and they'll be out and about all week.
Mike Walton, thank you very much for joining us on
Beyond the News.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Thank you, Gordon. You take care and we're looking to
having a good time here in sunny Florida.
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