Legion family leads veterans walk in Hawaii
American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett, Auxiliary President Sharon Conatser and Sons National Commander Kevin Collier lead a Walk for Veterans event in Hawaii Dec. 6. Photo by John Raughter.

Legion family leads veterans walk in Hawaii

American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett, Auxiliary National President Sharon Conatser and Sons of The American Legion National Commander Kevin Collier all participated in the Department of Hawaii’s American Legion Walk for Veterans Dec. 6. It was the first time the three American Legion leaders were together for an awareness walk.

The walk also marked the final chapter of flag artist Scott LoBaido’s Flags Across America project as Hawaii became the 50th state to install his latest flag rendering. But rather than painting a flag mural on the department headquarters building, LoBaido painted a flag on panels from his home in New York and shipped them to Hawaii. The panels were each installed while the Legion family conducted the walk around the Ala Wai area of Waikiki.

“Scott was unable to make it here, but Team Home Depot supplied all the paint, wood, measurements and labor at no cost to us,” said Department of Hawaii Commander Mike Soucie. “Scott first called me two weeks ago and said he wanted it done by December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day. Before, it was a drab white building. Now it has a huge American flag on it. It’s a head-turner.”

Barnett said,“I hope when (community members) see this mural, and they see that American flag, that they know there was a sacrifice that went into protecting the flag and protecting our freedoms."

Family and members of Hawaii Posts 1, 11, 17 and 56 distributed miniature American flags to pedestrians and attracted frequent honks of support by motorists unaccustomed to seeing large groups of veterans wearing caps and marching in unison.

“The purpose of these walks is to let the public know that we are here,” Barnett said. “It might be a youth program, our support for veterans or something else, but we all have our reasons for joining and that’s a good thing. Hoosier Boys State had a huge impact on me and led for me to decide to attend West Point. These walks are a way to let people know about what The American Legion family has to offer.”

Collier spelled out his ROCKED theme to members of the department. “Remember our commitment, keep it every day,” he said at an evening banquet. “Involve the youth; mentor them. As you're recruiting that active-duty member, remember he has a wife, more than likely. He has a son, more than likely. He has a daughter, more than likely. Or some may have granddaughters or grandsons. Get the whole family signed up. As we go to Congress, and we have those numbers, that makes people listen.”

Conatser emphasized the need for posts, units and squadrons to welcome and empower new members. “To succeed, we have to let new members come in and give them a job. We have to accept them for what they can do for our organization to grow.”