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By Chuck N. Baker 
(Henderson) ‚Äî Abraham Lincoln died a half-century before the American Legion was born. But according to current Legion Commander Denise Rohan, Lincoln anticipated the government’s obligation to care for those injured during the war and to provide for the families of those who perished. In his second inaugural address, Lincoln words, ‚ÄúTo care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan,‚Äù became the motto of the Veterans Administration and a pillar of the American Legion.  
 
Rohan, the first female National Commander of the Legion (coincidentally sworn in during the group‚Äôs National Convention in Sparks in 2017) toured Southern Nevada in February 2018. During a visit to Post 40 of the Legion in Henderson, she said too often individuals think it‚Äôs ‚Äúall bad news‚Äù when they hear the ‚ÄúVA.‚Äù That‚Äôs an incorrect assumption, she explained. ‚ÄúThe Secretary of the VA (David J. Shulkin) is doing amazing things.‚Äù She added that veterans issues are non-partisan and ‚Äúlots of bills are being passed‚Äù in Washington D.C. to help veterans. She also noted the recently passed Accountability Act, that allows for speedier dismissal of VA employees found to be derelict in their duties, has made a major difference in VA staffing. 
 
Rohan acknowledged that the VA has long had difficulty in bringing in doctors and other health care professionals due to pay scales. ‚ÄúI will be testifying in Washington D.C. about compensation and will bring up that topic,‚Äù she said.  
 
As an Army veteran, the Iowa native initially attempted to join an American Legion post when she lived in Wisconsin. But she was incorrectly told in 1982 that women could only join the auxiliary. Not knowing that she was eligible to become a Legion member, she declined the auxiliary offer. She said several years earlier she had joined the Army because, ‚ÄúI didn‚Äôt really know what I wanted to do when I grew up.‚Äù She laughed when she added that after she left the service, ‚ÄúI still didn‚Äôt know what I wanted to do!‚Äù But as time went on she was approached by another Legionnaire who knew the rules, and he asked her to join the organization as a full-fledged member. She became the Post Commander and then was elected to the Adjutant‚Äôs post. She continued to move up, reaching the peak in 2017 when she was elected National Commander. 
 
Rohan was welcomed at Post 40 by local American Legion Committeeman Ron Michalski, Jeanette Rae-Evans, Alternate Committeeman and Yvette Weigold, Commander of the Legion‚Äôs Department of Nevada. Weigold commented that it is important to get the word out to veterans that they are eligible to apply for VA benefits. The Legion supports Veteran Service Officers who provide legal representation to veterans to apply to the VA at no cost. Also at the event was Nevada Legion Adjutant Lionel Motta, who discussed a new program called, ‚ÄúHear Today, Learn Tomorrow.‚Äù The program provides financial assistance to elementary school children with hearing problems so they can gain access to medical care.  
 
During her visit to Southern Nevada, Rohan also paid visits to Post 76 in Las Vegas, and the Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City, where she was given a tour by Administrator Linda Gelinger.