**********  ATTENTION  *************************

Marine Corps League  and ALL Veterans  who have their Power of Attorney (POA) with the Marine Corps League

Contrary to the email sent out yesterday morning by Dutch from Mark Sutton stating that the American Legion would be glad to take your POA since the Marine Corps League VSO here in Michigan is closing it's doors and their Service Officers have been hired by the other Veteran Service Organizations here in Michigan that will continue serving our veterans, is all well and good but just to let all of you know, Mark is the Public Affairs Director for the American Legion, Dept. of Michigan, so naturally he is putting in a plug for the Legion, but in fairness to all of the other VSO organizations, Mark should have also informed you that there are other VSO organizations in the coalition that you can select to represent you. The Marine Corps League wants you to know that YOU HAVE CHOICES TO SELECT THE VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION YOU DESIRE TO REPRESENT YOU, NOT JUST ONE. We  need to be fair to you as the veteran as well as the other members of  the Coalition  here in Michigan.

HERE IS A LIST OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION THAT MAKE UP THE COALITION . Your POA (Form 21-22) Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as Claimant's Representative is also available online at www.va.gov/forms or  you can contact one of the Veteran Service Organization listed below and they can assist you in selecting a new organization to represent you. . The Marine Corps League VSO is required to send out letters informing all veterans that we currently represent and hold their POA, to inform them that we are closing our doors and provide them with information as to how they can change their POA to another Veterans Service Organization. We are waiting on the VA to provide us that list which will most likely be Monday 12/10.

Disabled American Veterans VSO

Director:  Kwan Tillman

Address: Federal Building, .

477 Michigan Ave, 

Detroit, Mi 48226

Tel: (313) 964-6595

Military Order of the Purple Heart VSO

Director: Paul Kaiser

Address: Federal Building, .

477 Michigan Ave,

Detroit, Mi  48226

Tel: (313) 964-6888

Veterans of Foreign Wars VSO

Director: Joe Greene

Address: Federal Building,

477 Michigan Ave, 

Detroit, Mi 48226

Tel: (313) 964-6510

American Legion VSO

Director: Gary Easterling

Address: Federal Building

477 Michigan Ave

Detroit, Mi. 48226

Tel: (313) 964-6641

Vietnam Veterans of America VSO

Acting Director: John Rilling

Address: Federal Building

477 Michigan Ave

Detroit, MI. 48226

(313) 961-9568

Tel: (313) 964-9568

If you should choose NOT to select any of the organizations to represent you, your POA will revert back to the VA which we strongly advise you do not let that happen. As a veteran, you need proper representation from an accredited VSO. It is in your best interest to select one of the above organizations to represent you.

NOTE:  Claims that are currently in Appeal at the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington DC will be handled by our National Service Officer, Lynn Foster  Williams at MCL National Headquarters

Tel : (703) 207-9588   Please be advised that the Marine Corps League,, Department of Michigan Veterans Service Office is the one closing. This is not to be confused with the Dept  of Ohio which will continue to serve it's veteran population..                    

In addition, Please be aware that all VA Hospitals in Michigan have VSO Representatives to assist veterans in filing claims or changing their POA

Veterans Affairs Offices in a majority of Counties also have Accredited Service Officers to assist you in filing claims as well as changing your POA.

Through the courtesy of Garth Wooten, Director for MACVCO of Oakland County, will notify all of the Michigan Counties on our behalf that we will no longer be accepting claims for the Marine Corps League.

For any questions or concerns. please contact our office as we continue to cease operations through the remainder of December our office will be staffed 5 days per week. at (313) 964-6830

If you need to contact the Director,. Jim Tuohy, I can be contacted via email at  jimt205842@aol.com. I will respond to your inquiries as quickly as possible, usually the same day.

We sincerely Thank You for the privilege of serving you throughout the years and we deeply regret  that we are forced to make this decision to close our doors.

Respectfully,

,

PNC Jim Tuohy

Interim Director

Marine Corps League

Veterans Service Office