To: State Desk

Contact: Warren Stensrud of the American Legion, 517-371-4720 ext. 16

LANSING, Mich., Nov. 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Michigan American Legion State Commander Roger Webster echoes the national American Legion's acceptance of an apology by Sen. John Kerry for his remark suggesting that American troops in Iraq are uneducated.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Kerry issued a statement which said, "I personally apologize to any servicemember, family member or American who was offended" by comments he made about being "stuck in Iraq."

Webster shares the sentiments of National American Legion Commander Paul A. Morin who states, "On behalf of The American Legion, we accept the senator's apology for his intemperate remark." Webster notes the timing of the senator's apology is most appropriate as it comes on the eve of Veterans Day, a national holiday that he calls on all Michigan residents to celebrate. "It's the least we can do for veterans," he concludes.

Commander Morin further stated that, "We hope the senator will use this opportunity to join with his colleagues in both houses to pass a GI Bill that gives members of the National Guard and Reserves educational benefits equal to those received by their regular Army counterparts." Noting that Michigan has a significant deployment of Guard and Reserve troops in Iraq and elsewhere today, Webster repeats the call to improve today's GI Bill.

Morin explained, "Both are standing in Harm's Way and both deserve educational benefits sufficient to pay for a first class education in a decent college. To date the Congress has been unwilling to give guardsmen and reservists the same benefits given to other servicemembers and, compounding the error, the Congress has not seen fit to award any servicemember a level of benefits sufficient to pursue an education full time. It's time to correct this error."

http://www.usnewswire.com/

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/© 2006 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

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