As an unfortunate consequence of Operation
Iraqi Freedom and America's war on terror, many children of our active-duty
military personnel are now members of single-parent families. In most cases,
this also means their chances to attend college have greatly diminished.
Children of military personnel killed on active duty are entitled to receive
money toward a college education. But it's not enough.
We are raising funds to ensure that higher education will be a reality
for these families. Providing for the children our military personnel left
behind is our civic duty. An education is a powerful way to show our thanks.
That is why we have established the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund.
But we need your help.
The total survivor benefit for these children is slightly more than
$37,000 to be used for a college education. In today's dollars, this benefit
will pay little more than half of what a college education costs in the most
affordable situation. This gap widens when considering the cost of a college
education in the future. The most conservative estimate is that costs will
increase by 5 percent per year, meaning that in 16 years, the most
affordable college education will be $105,800. Military compensation will
not keep up with these dramatic increases.
American Legion Legacy Run helps to
provide a full college education for the children of military personnel who
died on or after September 11, 2001.
You may make your
tax-deductible contribution online by clicking the link below:
