Kingfisher’s Henry Ellyson-Keith Lowry American Legion Post benefits from two pieces of state and federal legislation signed into law last week.

The first is House Bill 1003, sponsored by State Rep. Mike Sanders of Kingfisher, which gives American Legion posts an exemption from sales tax.

Several local American Legion members attended a ceremonial signing of the bill by Gov. Kevin Stitt last week, including Post Commander Ronnie Smith, Larry Talbott, Sam McPherson (Vice Commander West of the state American Legion) and Kenneth Tollison (Sixth District Commander).

“This aids the Legion in its mission of assisting veterans, their families and our youth with various needs and programs to bolster patriotism and national security,” Sanders said.

“It was a pleasure to be at the signing of the Oklahoma Legion sales tax bill,” Talbott said. “Sanders fought hard and finally won.”

Also last week, President Trump signed the LEGION (Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National Service) Act, declaring the U.S. has been in a state of war since Dec. 7, 1941.

The act allows the Legion to honor approximately 1,600 U.S. military members who were killed or wounded during previously undeclared periods of war.

It also opens the door for approximately 6 million veterans to access American Legion programs and benefits for which they previously had been ineligible.

The law collapses American Legion’s eligibility criteria from seven war eras to two: April 19, 1917, to Nov. 11, 1918, and Dec. 7, 1941, to the present.

“In an era of partisan gridlock, Republicans and Democrats in Congress overwhelmingly recognized the importance of allowing thousands of honorable but previously ineligible veterans the right to join the largest and most influential veterans organization in the country,” National Legion Commander Brett Reistad said.

Talbott said the new legislation encompasses service members who were referred to as the “Cold War veterans,” those who served after Vietnam and before Operation Desert Storm, who were not previously eligible for membership.

“Rusty Sanders is the first local member signed up under the new act,” he said. “We will recognize him at our Aug. 8 meeting.”