Historic Fort Benjamin Harrison Post #510 Color Guard presented the Colors at the KISS Concert in Fort Wayne, Ind., in August. KISS has been a supporter of veterans and welcomed The American Legion both on stage and back stage. Photos by Tien Do, member, Post #510. 

Indianapolis – The Indiana Department of The American Legion hosted Legion Day, a day for veterans, families and the community to come together at Legion Headquarters near Historic Fort Benjamin Harrison, Northeast Indianapolis, in remembrance of Patriot Day, 15 years after the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

The day’s events included the Indiana Legion’s 2nd Annual 5k Walk/Run for Veterans, a 9/11 remembrance ceremony featuring keynote speaker Indiana National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael Osburn, the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame Museum groundbreaking ceremony featuring inductee American Legion Past National Cmdr. Jim Koutz, and a free picnic luncheon for veterans and their families. Some of the nation’s best veteran service officers will be on-hand to provide free VA benefits filing assistance, management and advice to veterans.

“We want to thank our Hoosier veterans, active military and reservists, and their families, not with our words, but with our actions,” said James B. May, commander of The American Legion, Department of Indiana. “And it’s an honor to be able to do this on a day that’s been so significant in shaping the last 15 years of our history, 9/11. Bring your families, get some exercise, enjoy a picnic, and help us honor our nation’s veterans of all eras.”

Our experienced Department Service Officers were on-hand to provide benefits management and advice for free to all veterans regardless of Legion membership. The National Guard and Army Reserves displayed up-armored Humvees, LMTVs and set up an obstacle course for children.

The day was free to participate and all donations went to the Indiana Veterans Emergency Transition System, a fund developed by The American Legion, Department of Indiana to provide emergency financial assistance to veterans in need.