Share your 'Buddy Check' plans

American Legion National Commander Brett Reistad has urged posts, districts, counties and departments to coordinate a team and call Legionnaires and former members simply to see how they are doing, as "Buddy Checks."

And the Legion's Media and Communications Division wants to share those plans.

If you have a Buddy Check scheduled, please email details to magazine@legion.org.

Reistad has noted that the week leading up to the Legion's 100th birthday, March 11-16, is a perfect time to make the calls, but posts that have made other plans to celebrate the centennial at that time can choose another week in the centennial month if necessary.

“This is not a membership campaign,” he said in a letter to post leaders. “It’s a comradeship campaign.”

"Remember, this organization was formed a century ago around personal contact and engagement," he added. "This 'Buddy Check' is about seeing how veterans are doing.

"To discover that, it takes personal engagement."

A Buddy Check toolkit, including scripts for Legionnaires to use when making personal contact, is available online at www.legion.org/membership/buddycheck.