New Jersey Legion Family to conduct awareness walk

In conjunction with its department convention, the American Legion Department of New Jersey is hosting a “Buddy Check 1K Awareness Walk” on Wednesday, June 9. The walk promotes suicide prevention efforts by conducting Buddy Checks – calling fellow veterans to check in on their well-being and any needs they may have.

The walk will start at noon from the Wildwood Convention Center at 4501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260. Registration is from 10 a.m.-noon. The fee is $20.

American Legion Family leadership will be in attendance, including National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford, Auxiliary President Nicole Clapp, and Sons of The American Legion National Commander Clint Bolt.

The American Legion’s Buddy Check program toolkit and resource guide for posts and members is available by clicking here. The toolkit provides tips on how to organize a Buddy Check team; provides Buddy Check sample scrips when calling members and non-members; a list of quick answers to what The American Legion does to support its fellow veterans and their families; and space to fill out what the department does.

The American Legion National Headquarters would like to share Buddy Check success stories in its media and invites members to post their experiences with the program at legiontown.org.