Posted on Mar 12, 2020
Does having received a draft notice make someone a veteran?
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Last night a person that I know from a local motorcycle group (not Legion) said that the group honored her father who recently passed with a flag line. She said that they pressured her into the flag line even though her father never served in the military and she told them that. The headquarters President justified it by saying, “Well he received a draft notice, didn’t he?”
Later in the conversation, she mentioned one of our mutual friends as being a veteran and that he would not have allowed anything like stolen valor. I told her he was not a veteran and that we actually both belonged to the same American Legion and he grew up hanging around the American Legion post, but he is a member of the Sons of the American Legion; he is not a Legionnaire, not a dual member, and he is not a veteran. We argued for about five minutes over this and I finally hung up.
I’m returning my colors tomorrow; I never even wore them but I don’t feel comfortable with this group now.
I see the draft notice as different from actually having served. Am I wrong?
03/16/2020 Edit: Yesterday, one of the members contacted me back and clarified, "The flag lines are for anyone we want to honor, first responders, military, and our families are very high on the list." As they say here in Phila, "I'm feelin some type of way about this." I told him he needs to educate the entire group on who their flag lines are for, and as a representative of the organization, the secretary should know better.
03/23/2020 Edit: The moto group is NOT the Legion Riders -just a local moto org that promotes themselves a veterans and first responders group)
09/07/20 Edit: Well, after much anxiety, I wanted to update about this. Covid hit and I haven't been back to that group. The Sgt at Arms felt I shouldn't make any hasty decisions, but I just knew it wasn't a right fit. More recently, after watching the group respond to peaceful BLM march with "No they don't" when marchers proclaimed, "Black Lives Matter," and screaming at the marchers "Black Lives Splatter," display their flag line as if fellow protesting citizens aren't patriotic, use the local VFW with confederate flags and a woman veteran screaming and flipping off protesters, and watching two of their trucks dump black diesel smoke right in front of peacefully marching protesters, I cut ties with the group by initially removing the vast majority from facebook. The very next day, their Sgt At Arms felt the need to send me a private message on FB, "I see you unfriended me, friend," with a big ole thumbs up, which I ignored. A few days later, he sent me this big long Trump rant about how he was supporting troops (he never served) and I let him have it. I told him I don't care who he votes for, but his behavior doesn't represent me, and if he contacted me again, I'd file harassment charges -and I blocked him on messenger. Two days later he sends a text, "I've been ordered to collect our patches from you. Namely our backpatch and alpha chapter." I told him I burned them and that if he contacted me again, I'd involve the police. So that's that. Always go with your gut.
Later in the conversation, she mentioned one of our mutual friends as being a veteran and that he would not have allowed anything like stolen valor. I told her he was not a veteran and that we actually both belonged to the same American Legion and he grew up hanging around the American Legion post, but he is a member of the Sons of the American Legion; he is not a Legionnaire, not a dual member, and he is not a veteran. We argued for about five minutes over this and I finally hung up.
I’m returning my colors tomorrow; I never even wore them but I don’t feel comfortable with this group now.
I see the draft notice as different from actually having served. Am I wrong?
03/16/2020 Edit: Yesterday, one of the members contacted me back and clarified, "The flag lines are for anyone we want to honor, first responders, military, and our families are very high on the list." As they say here in Phila, "I'm feelin some type of way about this." I told him he needs to educate the entire group on who their flag lines are for, and as a representative of the organization, the secretary should know better.
03/23/2020 Edit: The moto group is NOT the Legion Riders -just a local moto org that promotes themselves a veterans and first responders group)
09/07/20 Edit: Well, after much anxiety, I wanted to update about this. Covid hit and I haven't been back to that group. The Sgt at Arms felt I shouldn't make any hasty decisions, but I just knew it wasn't a right fit. More recently, after watching the group respond to peaceful BLM march with "No they don't" when marchers proclaimed, "Black Lives Matter," and screaming at the marchers "Black Lives Splatter," display their flag line as if fellow protesting citizens aren't patriotic, use the local VFW with confederate flags and a woman veteran screaming and flipping off protesters, and watching two of their trucks dump black diesel smoke right in front of peacefully marching protesters, I cut ties with the group by initially removing the vast majority from facebook. The very next day, their Sgt At Arms felt the need to send me a private message on FB, "I see you unfriended me, friend," with a big ole thumbs up, which I ignored. A few days later, he sent me this big long Trump rant about how he was supporting troops (he never served) and I let him have it. I told him I don't care who he votes for, but his behavior doesn't represent me, and if he contacted me again, I'd file harassment charges -and I blocked him on messenger. Two days later he sends a text, "I've been ordered to collect our patches from you. Namely our backpatch and alpha chapter." I told him I burned them and that if he contacted me again, I'd involve the police. So that's that. Always go with your gut.
The American Legion
Motorcycles
Selective Service (the Draft)
Stolen Valor
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 93
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Not even close. Unless a person acts; meaning that they entered the Active component, Active Reserves or National Guard, then no veteran status. If they attempt to further perpetrate this sort of conduct, they could conceivably face charges of false valor.
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Looks like there was miscommunication somewhere along the line. The person is not a veteran, but if a family requests any kind of support, Veteran Service Organizations usually help out in any way they can.
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Did the right thing, any jack@$$ that thinks receiving a draft notice, but never attending basic is a veteran, is stealing Honor and Valor. You should report them to the regional headquarters and blast their name everywhere until they recant of their ignorantness.
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SrA Sheila Holmes
There’s no regional headquarters; this is not a Legion Riders Group. They’re backpedaling and saying they do this for everyone now.
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To answer the question. No, just being a recipient of a draft notice without having actually served does not qualify someone as having served. No DD214, no discharge status, etc etc.
But to address the bigger issue that seems to be driving your passion. No military honors were rendered. If the Legion Riders did a flag line to honor someone that’s their discretion to do so. This is not equivalent to receiving a firing party, last salute or military burial. Treating someone as a patriot isn’t a violation of any laws.
But to address the bigger issue that seems to be driving your passion. No military honors were rendered. If the Legion Riders did a flag line to honor someone that’s their discretion to do so. This is not equivalent to receiving a firing party, last salute or military burial. Treating someone as a patriot isn’t a violation of any laws.
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SrA Sheila Holmes
This is not a Legion Rider group; I don’t understand why everyone keeps making that assumption.
Thanks for weighing in; your final sentence is pretty much the idea that they’re now backpedaling toward.
Thanks for weighing in; your final sentence is pretty much the idea that they’re now backpedaling toward.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
SrA Sheila Holmes - You mentioned the American Legion in your original post. I assumed it was a rider org via the same parent group. My mistake for assuming the context.
But the bottom line remains the same. I agree that there should be some clear distinction between Military Honors that Veterans earn and something good they do for a member of the community. Not to say they shouldn't be able to do both but it's good to have a clear line that isn't blurred in the heat of the moment.
But the bottom line remains the same. I agree that there should be some clear distinction between Military Honors that Veterans earn and something good they do for a member of the community. Not to say they shouldn't be able to do both but it's good to have a clear line that isn't blurred in the heat of the moment.
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SrA Sheila Holmes
SSgt Christophe Murphy Thanks for clarifying. I’ll edit the post so that it’s clear that the group is it Legion Rider.
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SrA Sheila Holmes
No; I asked a valid question based on information some of the public appears to believe. Why would that be a joke
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No! Receiving a draft notice does NOT make you a veteran.
Serving and wearing the uniform makes you a veteran.
Serving and wearing the uniform makes you a veteran.
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I received a notice about why I hadn't registered for the draft... while I was going through Basic. I sent a letter back and told them... Too late, Already shaved my head, training and going to Germany.
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No, because a draft notice required you to report to yhe equivalrnt of MEPS for a physical. Lots of guys got out of serving with flat feet, diabetes, enlarged heart, asthma, etc. If he can produce a DD-214 it's a different story.
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