American Veterans (AMVETS) CA. Post 66 is a Congressionally-chartered , not-for-profit  Veteran Service Organization (VSO) located in Palm Springs, California. Post 66 is named in memory of fallen gay Army soldier Frank Moulton who was killed in battle in World War II. American Legion Post 448 in San Francisco and AMVETS Post 66 are the only two VSO that are named after LGBTQ soldiers and have pre-dominantly LGBTQ membership.  We welcome membership/ from our straight allies.

 

Post 66 is an inclusive veteran organization that welcomes everyone to join. AMVETS was the first VSO to adopt a diversity statement in 2005 that included sexual orientation. AMVETS was the second VSO to elect  a woman as the national commander. We have had  many women, transgender and veterans of color serve as Post Officers.

 

President John F. Kennedy was an AMVETS Post Commander. Post 66 presented an award to AMVETS charter member President Gerald Ford.  

Our Post also presented an award to President Joe Biden.

 

Many of the LGBTQ members of the armed forces served in silence. Post 66 believes no sacrifice should be forgotten so in 2001 we dedicated America’s first LGBTQ Veterans Memorial in Cathedral City, California. In 2018 this memorial by state law became the California LGBTQ Veterans Memorial. California is the first and only state to have a state memorial for our brave LGBTQ war dead. This memorial was the third landmark in the United States to honor transgender people. Six American Presidents and four California Governors have written special letters about this historic memorial.

 

For twenty years we have operated the only free veteran transportation from the desert to the VA Hospital in Loma Linda, California. We have transported over 15,000 veterans during this period. We use volunteer drivers.

 

We frequently meet with elected officials to preserve and expand veteran benefits. Our Founder and Commander has held many meetings at the White House, Congress and state legislature. Our Post dedicated the LGBTQ paver at the California Veterans Memorial at the state capitol in Sacramento, California.

 

We were nationally-recognized leaders in the effort to repeal the military “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell “ (DADT) policy. Our Post Founder and Commander with the help of the ACLU won a historic discrimination case against the Department of the Navy in 1994. Our Post Founder and Commander and Facebook page moderator Bill Kibler were invited to be with President Barrack Obama at the repeal signing ceremony.

 

Our Post 66 service officer can help you and your families receive the veteran benefits they deserve. We can also help you upgrade your discharge papers. We have hundreds of successful cases.

 

Several of our members are living with HIV and our Founder and Commander has served on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs HIV Community Advisory Board since 2000. In this role we have improved the quality of care at VA health facilities. We recently presented an award to Dr. Anthony Fauci.

 

Our Post has dedicated several Peace Poles including the pole at Congressional Cemetery in Washington D.C. The Peace Pole says “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in several languages. Peace Poles are one of the most widely-recognized symbols of world peace in over 180 countries around the globe.

 

AMVETS has led the effort to reduce and eliminate veteran suicides. The AMVETS Department of California has conducted nationwide bus tours to bring this topic to the forefront of discussion. Our Post distributes suicide prevention wristbands to the public.

 

Our Post presents medals to the top High School JROTC cadets in our area. We sponsor a drug  and alcohol awareness essay/poem contest at a local high school. We distribute CARE bears to law enforcement and fire departments in our area.

 

We have honored all of the Tuskegee Airmen and Pearl Harbor Survivors in our area. We help homeless veterans and visit veterans in nursing homes. We celebrate Peace Day, Veterans Day and hold a Memorial Day awards luncheon where we  honor Holocaust survivors. .

 

We have worked to pass legislation so immigrants in the military can have a path to citizenship. We have tried to help veterans that have been deported. Our Post Founder and Commander and his husband held the first same-sex marriage in immigration history. This was an international news story.

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There are many veteran organizations that you can join but you have to agree that AMVETS Post 66 has made a difference and improved the lives of LGBTQ and HIV-affected veterans for over two decades. We have won the Quality Post Distinction Award from national headquarters three of the past four years. Membership dues are only $42 per year. You need to complete a membership application and submit a copy of your DD Form 214. AMVETS offers free membership to college students. AMVETS is the only VSO that active duty military can join and their dues are free.

 

If you would like to join or volunteer to be a driver for our van contact Post Founder and Commander Tom Swann Hernandez at (760) 324-5670 or send an email to tom@amvetspost66.org. We also want to thank all veterans for their service to our great nation.