FODPAL: The Legion around the world
Dale Barnett of Georgia, who spent a portion of his Army career stationed in Germany, told leaders of The American Legion’s foreign and outlying posts and departments that their support is vital to military personnel and veterans living beyond the continental United States.
“Having served in foreign countries, I know what it’s like,” said Barnett, leading candidate to become national commander of The American Legion for 2015-16. “They need an advocate.”
Barnett and Charles Schmidt, who is running for the top office in the nation’s largest wartime veterans organization in 2016-17, followed current American Legion National Commander Michael Helm by speaking at the annual FODPAL (Foreign and Outlying Posts and Departments of The American Legion) breakfast Monday in Baltimore during the 97th American Legion National Convention.
Barnett told the FODPAL group about his plans to conduct “Walk For Veterans” events during his year, if elected. He said the organized walks are opportunities for Legionnaires to invite community members, young people, alumni of youth programs and others to get to know the Legion better, and in a healthy way. The program, he said, is not limited to the continental United States.
“I want to go out in communities all over the world to spread the message of The American Legion,” Barnett said. “It’s not a membership walk, but membership will come out of it.”
The walks are designed to give Legionnaires a chance to share stories of their activities and advocacy with entire communities, no matter where.
The Legion, Schmidt explained, needs to do more of that as the organization’s centennial nears in 2018 and 2019.
“It’s our turn to carry the legacy forward,” said Schmidt, of Oregon. “The principles The American Legion was founded on are still important today. Let’s accentuate the positive. There are a lot of good things The American Legion is doing that too many veterans don’t even know about. We have a lot of good stories to share.”
He shared one example: the recently concluded summer-long bicycle ride by three Boy Scouts and a Vietnam War veteran that raised $20,000 for Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW). The funds are used to purchase comfort items for military personnel recovering from wounds and illnesses at DoD health-care facilities and transition units. The Scouts rode more than 3,600 miles from Oregon to New York to raise the money and spread awareness about one of the Legion’s marquee programs.
Schmidt said that is just the kind of story the organization needs to share. “These three teenagers took their whole summer off to benefit those who have borne the battle,” he said.
Also during the breakfast, The American Legion Department of Mexico was honored for its performance in membership, and Flanders Field Post BE02 in Belgium was recognized with the Joe Frank 2015 Award after a year increasing membership by 164 percent. The post has rebuilt membership by actively promoting youth programs, Legion Riders and personal connections with military personnel and veterans stationed in Brussels. (See story here)
The FODPAL breakfast also provided an opportunity for President James Grosset to announce two donations of $500 each for the Legion’s Legacy Scholarship Fund and for OCW. In addition, those attending the breakfast passed a bowl from table to table and raised another $283 for the Legacy Scholarship, which provides college money for children of military personnel who lost their lives while on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001.
The breakfast meeting wrapped up with the installation of new officers. H. Ownby of China Post 1 was elected president of FODPAL for 2015-16.
FODPAL consists of the departments of Alaska, France, Hawaii, Mexico, Philippines and Puerto Rico, along with posts in Canada and China Post 1. Learn more about the group at www.legion.org/fodpal or follow it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fodpal.