Indiana American Legion Appoints New Chairman of Oratory Committee

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On, July 25, 2013, Edward J. Trice, 2013-2014 Commander of the 89,000 member American Legion, Department of Indiana Commander, announced the appointment of Daniel J. Buksa of Munster, Indiana as chairman of the Department of Indiana Oratorical & School Awards Committee.

The Legion's Oratorical Contest presents participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation's laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.  Open to high school students, participants compete at the post (community), zone (regional), department (state) and National levels, which the first, second and third place winners being awarded college scholarships in the respective amounts of $18,000, $16,000 and $14,000.

As Indiana Committee Chairperson, Mr. Buksa will be responsible for chairing committee meetings, providing education and certification to district chairs and volunteers, and organizing and moderating the state competition, inclusive of preparing all volunteers and contest judges.

Mr. Buksa has served for the past six years as chairperson of the 1st District (Indiana) Oratorical Committee, and continues to serve in that capacity as well.  He is a past Commander of American Legion, Munster Post 16.  Mr. Buksa is a veteran of the United States Army, having served from 1984-1988.

Mr. Buksa is employed by the Academy of General Dentistry, a 38,000 member professional society headquartered in Chicago, where he serves as the association's chief advocacy officer.  He is a 1993 graduate of the Valparaiso University School of Law and holds the designation of Certified Association Executive (CAE).  Mr. Buksa resides with his family in Munster, Indiana, where he also serves as Vice-chair of the Munster Board of Zoning Appeals and is involved with several other civic, political and fraternal organizations.

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.

Hundreds of local American Legion programs and activities strengthen the nation one community at a time. The Legion raises millions of dollars in donations at the local, state and national levels to help veterans and their families and to provide college scholarship opportunities.  The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill. Legionnaires' sense of obligation to community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands behind the issues most important to the nation's veterans community, backed by resolutions passed by volunteer leadership.

SOURCE American Legion Department of Indiana