The American Legion

I attended the 2022 Department Convention in Binghamton, NY from July 13-16, 2022. I was a delegate for my county.

On the Wednesday before the convention (July 12, 2022), I noticed the Department Adjutant, James Casey and an officer from a different district standing to the side with at least 30 other people going around doing their business.

Casey was screaming at this person accusing him of this and that.

I was appalled at Casey's treatment of this individual. Whatever he was accused of, he kept insisting that he was not guilty. Casey kept reaming this person, not even listening to his side of the story. It seems that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

Eventually the man stormed off saying that he would get a lawyer. I could tell he was very upset. Many people witnessed this and were stunned.

Casey acted in a very unprofessional and incompetent way. He should have set aside a small private room and talked to him in there, away from other people.

That's how it's done at my post.

He also should have allowed another person in the room to represent him. Casey should have also played a neutral role and listened to both sides of the argument instead of being one-sided.

On Friday (July 14, 2022), I found out from another member from the individual's district that he was accused of inappropriately touching a female. He stated that this is something that he would not do. If he touched her, it was unintentional since he knows both him and his wife.

Then he went on to say that the out-going District Commander, a Richard Price, had been banned from Morrisville College, during Boy State, because he threatened somebody. He also assaulted a female during one of the Mid-Winter Conferences. All Casey did was give him a slap-on-the-wrist. He threatened this other individual with expulsion.

I don't personally know Casey but I respected him since I started going to the conventions and conferences back in 2010.

However, he lost that respect. I was planning to get involved at the District level, but I have no desire to do so now.

I hope the individual gets a lawyer.

I recently stopped in Post 241 which I once was a long standing member. I took my membership and my business to another post due to Rudy Avelars poor ability as a commander.

I had heard that Rudy Avelar was no longer the commander at Post 241, and in fact he was not even nominated for re-election.

The current Commander is suppose to be John Lopez, a very well liked and respected man, to say the least.

When I visited Post 241 I was astonished to see Rudy Avelar still running the place! And after speaking with several old friends who are current members there, it was explained to me that Rudy Avelar arranged for John Lopez to be nominated for Commander, which of course he would win the election. However, that is the extent of his leadership at the Post. Rudy Avelar used John Lopez so that he could retain the duties of Commander but under John Lopezs good name. John Lopez admitted to me himself that Rudy refused to hand over the keys and the responsibilities that belong to John Lopez. Rudy Avelar is not an officer in any form and does not have the right to be calling the shots regarding Post 241.

MY COMPLAINTS AND QUESTIONS ARE FOR THE 18th DISTRICT, AREA 6 AND THE CALIFORNIA AMERICAN LEGION!!!

HOW IS IT I COULD SEE IN ONE VISIT THAT RUDY AVELAR IS BREAKING EVERY RULE, BYLAW AND EVERY STANDARD THAT ALL OF THE AMERICAN LEGION COMMANDERS HAVE FOLLOWED FOR COUNTLESS YEARS OUT OF RESPECT FOR SUCH A RESPECTFUL ORGANIZATION AS THE AMERICAN LEGION. YET THE DISTRICT TURNS A BLIND EYE TO THE FACT THAT RUDY AVELAR LAUGHS IN THEIR FACES.

WHEN I LAST SPOKE TO RUDY A FEW YEARS BACK HE MADE A COMMENT TO ME, AND I QUOTE: F&$@ THE DISTRICT AND F&$@ BEING CHARTERED. I WILL RUN MY BAR MY WAY, WITH OR WITHOUT THEM!

AND ON MY RECENT VISIT I OVERHEARD RUDY SAYING F&$@ THE DISTRICT! ALL ***

SO TELL ME AND MANY OTHER CURIOUS PEOPLE, WHAT MORE DOES RUDY AVELAR HAVE TO DO BEFORE THE DISTRICT, AREA 6 OR THE CALIFORNIA AMERICAN LEGION WILL FINALLY STAND UP, TAKE HIS KEYS AND GET HIM THE *** OUT OF POST 241 FOR GOOD!!

HE HAS ALL BUT DESTROYED THE POST. IF SOMEONE WITH AUTHORITY WOULD TAKE A POLL YOU WOULD FIND HE IS THE MOST HATED OF ALL COMMANDERS AND THE LOWEST FORM OF A MAN THERE IS!!!!

Last year I paid my dues with the bill I received in the mail. I kept getting late notices on my phone.

So I paid again to national because I just figured my check was lost in the mail. Finally a few months later post 241 cashed my check but never refunded me because now I've paid twice. This year I paid with the bill I was sent from 241 again. They cashed it the next month but I kept getting late notices again.

Now my membership says it's expired for non payment. I have a check to prove I've payed and my banks statement shows they cashed the check. What's going on with this post? Are you guys just stealing people's money or what?

I'm changing my membership to another post. It's not worth it for me to be in an organization that steals money from their members.

I have contacted the state and national. Beverly from 241 says she will have the adjutant contact me but no such luck yet.

I started to deal with the Legion back in 2015 in Charlotte County FL, give or take a year, since I was having trouble getting by on my own. I paid my $50, which was a considerable expenditure for me at the at the time, based on what I was told by the member recruiter who said the Legion could handle my problems.

It was all BS, and I gave up dealing with Legion and went to the DAV.

Fast forward to 2021. There are no DAV locations in Ft Myers at this time except through the CC clinic. Overworked by about eight times the population of Charlotte County, I decided to try the Legion again. Different County, different Legion, I thought.

It was different all right. Both places I paid dues to gave me nothing in return, not even an ID card. Both places said they would refund my "dues". That was bogus also.

No refund from either location.

The Legion locations I entered always had a bar prominently displayed right as you enter, as opposed to other service organizations I've dealt with. In fact, my "membership" fee was paid at the North Ft Myers location AT THE BAR! I didn't then, and don't now, need a service organization to serve me alcohol, I need VSO services, area disabled veteran assistance, etc.

Unless you need a cheap drink, the Legion is a waste of time, and more importantly, money from what little VA pension you get if you need a VSO for claims assistance.

My take, different locations, and times the Legion is OK if you only need a hangout. If you actually need assistance, go elsewhere.

Well, it's been just over a year since numerous complaints have been filed regarding the illegal activities Mr. Rudy Avelar, the Commander of Post 241, Baldwin Park, CA, has been involved in. The American Legion - California DID NOTHING TO THIS POOR EXCUSE OF A MAN, The American Legion - California Area 6 DID NOTHING TO THIS POOR EXCUSE OF A MAN, The American Legion - Elegant 18th District DID NOTHING TO THIS POOR EXCUSE OF A MAN --- and every one of their officers should be ashamed of their lack of honor, lack of pride, and lack respect for their fellow Veterans, they were elected into the offices they hold and not one of them upheld the values and integrity of the American Legion, They allowed and contributed to Rudy Avelars inappropriate sexual misconduct, they looked the other way at his racist remarks and verbal abuse of his employees, they did nothing to stop or acknowledge the thousands of dollars he has embezzled from Post 241 and their members.

Rudy Avelar will soon no longer be the Commander of 241 - and I know I speak on behalf of almost everyone associated with our Post when I say:

IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME, THIS MAN HAS RUN POST 241 STRAIGHT TO THE DIRT. LOSING MOST OF its MEMBERS, MAKING POST 241 THE JOKE OF THE CALIFORNIA POSTS. WE ARE GLAD TO BE RID OF HIM, HE WAS NOT EVEN NOMINATED FOR COMMANDER AT THE LAST ELECTION, *** HE WASN'T EVEN NOMINATED TO BE OUR JANITOR.

SADLY THE 18TH DISTRICT DID NOTHING TO STAND BY OUR MEMBERS, THEY DID NOTHING TO UPHOLD THE HONOR OF THE AMERICAN LEGION AND IT'S VETERANS. THEY ARE EQUALLY GUILTY AND LIKE RUDY AVELAR, THEY MAY NOT BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR LACK OF RESPECT AND FAILURE TO DO THEIR JOB IN WHICH THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO, BUT TRUST AND BELIEVE, THEY TOO WILL PAY IN THE LONG RUN, A MAN IS ONLY AS GOOD AS HIS REPUTATION, AND ALL OF YOURS HAVE BEEN TAKEN DOWN WITH RUDY AVELAR.

HOWEVER, MR, AVELAR, AS WE ARE CERTAIN YOU ARE READING THIS, WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT WATCHING YOU QUICKLY BECOME AGED AND OVERWEIGHT AT THE RESULT OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIFE LEAVING YOU, WAS AT LEAST A RAY OF SUNSHINE FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE ABLE TO WITNESS IT. YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING NEGATIVE IN YOUR LIFE, YOU DESERVE TO LIVE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU FAILED AS A COMMANDER, YOU FAILED AS A HUSBAND, YOU FAILED AS A VETERAN, YOU FAILED AS A FATHER, AND ABOVE ALL YOU FAILED AS A MAN.

YOU DISGRACED EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR POST. YOUR DRINKING MAY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN YOUR POOR LEADERSHIP AND INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR, HOWEVER, ONE CANNOT BLAME CHARACTER FLAWS, NO SELF RESPECT, POOR MANNERS, LACK OF INTEGRITY, LACK OF COMMON SENSE AND OUTRIGHT UNLAWFUL BEHAVIOR ON THE DRINKING ALONE! YOU MR. AVELAR WOULD HAVE BEHAVED IN MUCH THE SAME WAY EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T DRINK LIKE A FISH EVERY DAY AND NIGHT. YOU JUST FOUND IT EASIER TO DO SO AND AS A RESULT OF THE DRINKING, YOU BECAME MORE CARELESS AND MADE MORE MISTAKES THAN IF YOU HAD BEEN SOBER.

THOSE WHO SIT BESIDE YOU AT THE BAR ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS. THEY MAY CONTINUE TO TALK TO YOU, BUT I PROMISE YOU, ONCE YOU WALK AWAY THEY DO NOT HAVE A KIND WORD TO SAY ABOUT YOU. EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO WALKS INTO POST 241 IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF ALL YOU HAVE DONE AND THERE IS NO ONE THERE WHO RESPECTS YOU. THERE ARE HOWEVER QUITE A FEW WHO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE TAKEN YOU OUTSIDE AND SHOW YOU WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A REAL MAN, YOU HAVE ONLY ESCAPED SUCH LESSONS DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU SCREAM FOR THE POLICE AND BECAUSE YOU WERE THE COMMANDER WHO COULD 86 THESE MEN FROM THE BAR. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE RUDY, ONCE THE NEW COMMANDER TAKES OVER AND YOU ARE ONCE AGAIN JUST A MEMBER, YOU WILL HAVE TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR ACTIONS, POLICE OR NO POLICE, YOU CANNOT SEXUALLY HARASS ANYONE AT THE POST OR MAKE RACIST REMARKS OR INSULT OTHERS ANY LONGER BECAUSE IT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. CLEAN UP YOUR ACT RUDY AVELAR.

THE AMERICAN LEGION MAY NOT HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS THEY RECEIVED ABOUT YOU, BUT AT LEAST YOUR EX-WIFE HAD THE COURAGE AND THE DIGNITY TO GET AS FAR AWAY FROM YOU AS POSSIBLE AND START A NEW LIFE FOR HERSELF. THE MEMBERS AND OTHER OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, WILL STILL STAND TALL WITH THEIR HONOR AND RESPECT OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, HOWEVER, THESE SAME MEN WILL BEHAVE AS CIVILIAN MEN WHEN THE OCCASION ARISES.

AND THE LAST THING THERE IS TO SAY ABOUT AND TO RUDY AVELAR IS THAT PERHAPS IT WAS UNFAIR FOR YOU TO HAVE TO WALK IN SHADOWS OF OUR GREATEST COMMANDER "AL" - NO ONE COULD HAVE EVER FILLED HIS SHOES, BUT YOU DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO BE WORTHY OF THE STUFF HE STEPPED IN. SADLY, AL HAD TO WATCH YOU DESTROY ALL OF HIS HARD WORK, YOU SUCKED THE LIFE OUT OF POST 241 AND RUINED ALL THAT WE WERE SO PROUD OF. YOU DISAPPOINTED AND DISRESPECTED JUST ABOUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO CAME NEAR THE 241. NOW WITH OUR NEW COMMANDER IN PLACE, PERHAPS YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION AND WATCH US BECOME BETTER THAN EVER. POST 241 IS NOT FINISHED, NOT BY A LONG SHOT. YOU WORKED OVERTIME TO DESTROY IT, BUT AS WITH EVERYTHING ELSE YOU TOUCHED IN LIFE, YOU FAILED AT DOING THAT AS WELL. POST 241 HAS ENOUGH LIFE LEFT IN IT AND PLENTY OF HEARTS AND SOULS WHO LOVE IT AND WHO WILL REBUILD ITS MEMBERSHIP, ONCE THE WORD GETS OUT THAT WE ARE RID OF YOU.

WE ONLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOUR WIFE IS ABLE TO GET RID OF YOU AS EASILY AS WE DID. YOU ATTEMPTED TO MOVE INTO THE LEGION UNLAWFULLY BUT YOU WERE EVICTED. WE STAND BEHIND YOUR EX-WIFE's EVICTION OF YOU OUT OF HER HOME AS WELL. YOU PLAYED THE BIG SHOT BUT THE TRUTH IS NOW KNOWN THAT THE HOUSE BELONGS TO HER, NOT YOU, BECAUSE YOU NEVER PROVIDED FOR YOUR FAMILY, ASIDE FROM THE THOUSANDS YOU EMBEZZLED FROM POST 241. BY THE WAY, IT APPEARS SINCE YOU NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO THE MONIES AT THE POST, YOU WILL NEED TO SEEK ANOTHER JOB?

Those of us who have been sitting here giving our input to this post do realize that part of it is a personal attack on the character and reputation of Rudy Avelar, but that is because he personally attacked us as well. We took his behavior and disrespectful words as a direct attack, in return we shared how we felt in this post.

CONGRATULATIONS TO POST 241 FOR GETTING YOUR POST BACK!!!! IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR Its CURRENT MEMBERS, IT'S RETURNING MEMBERS, AND ALL THE NEW MEMBERS WHO WILL NOW BE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN SINCE WE NOW HAVE A POST WE CAN BE PROUD OF WITH A NEW COMMANDER WHO IS SURE TO DO A FINE JOB AND WHO WE ALL WILL HAVE MUCH RESPECT FOR!!

Thank you!! A group of 5 current members of the American Legion Post 241 Members and Sons alike.

P.S. Just a quick note, at the end of this post I clicked on the box that said CHECK SPELLING, Once he neTthe only error that came up repeatedly was the word "AVELAR" - imagine that!!? lol