Duty, honor, country
New National Commander Dale Barnett is sworn into office by Past National Commander Dave Rehbein. (Photo by Lucas Carter)

Duty, honor, country

Legion family members will have no trouble remembering newly elected American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett’s motto. The Department of Georgia Legionnaire made sure to have it placed on this year’s membership shirt.

“Duty, honor, country – these three words have great meaning to my life, and I hope this year will have great meaning to you,” Barnett told Legionnaires on Sept. 3 at the 97th National Convention in Baltimore. He then broke down what each word means to him.

Duty. “The first lesson of basic training was to know your job and do your job to the best you could,” Barnett said. “Your life depended upon it, and the life of your buddies. In The American Legion, people depend on us each and every day to do the right thing. To get them to appointments. To mentor the youth. To help families in need.”

Honor. “It was an honor to wear the military uniform, and I’m sure many of you still have your uniforms and you’re proud to share those stories,” he said. “But I’m also proud to wear the uniform of The American Legion. It’s an honor to be in this organization and to serve alongside you. I guarantee you your communities respect what you do, and they understand what you do each and every day. That makes their communities a better place.”

Country. “Our country needs us,” he said. “It’s the greatest country on earth. I’m so proud to be an American, but I’m so proud to be standing before you today to say I’m part of the greatest organization that, since 1919, has been fighting for the principles that have made this country great. We will continue to fight for those principles. Our country needs us, and we must step forward now.”

“So this year, when you see those words, I want to challenge you,” Barnett added. “When you see them with your eyes, I want you to live it in your heart, and I want you to execute it with your body and soul.”

A member of Post 105 in Fayetteville, Ga., and past Department of Georgia commander, Barnett was raised in central Indiana and attended Whiteland Community High School, where he was student body president, captain of the track and basketball teams and president of the Whiteland United Methodist Youth Basketball Team. He also attended Hoosier Boys State in 1969, which he said was the determining factor in his decision to attend the U.S. Military Academy.

“The American Legion has shaped my life,” he said. “When I went to Hoosier Boys State in 1969, it planted for my attendance, and it was only because of The American Legion and Boys State that I think that I was selected to attend the Military Academy. It led to an opportunity of service

Barnett was an Army infantry officer from 1974 to 1996, and served from 1990 to 1991 as the battalion executive officer of the 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. After retiring as a lieutenant colonel, he taught high school social studies and coached basketball, baseball and cross country.

Walk of Veterans

The former coach is introducing a new initiative this year: Walk of Veterans. Barnett said the walks will take place in communities throughout the nation and are aimed to raise awareness about the Legion’s impact on its communities. Barnett wants the walks to include Legion family members, Legion youth program participants and their families, Scouts and local high school JROTC units, as well as community leaders and anyone else interested in participating.

“We walk for veterans each and every day in our communities,” Barnett said. “We mentor our kids, we do things for our community. I want to walk with all the people we touch, and that’s a lot of people. I want you to walk, and I want you to tell your story about why you joined The American Legion and why you stay a member in The American Legion. I guarantee … that when people in your community walk with you and walk with us, and learn about what we’re doing, we’re going to see people join this organization. We’re going to see goodwill with public relations. And we’re going to get the message of The American Legion out to the communities."

VA health care system a priority

Caring for those who have worn the nation’s uniform – and monitoring the health-care system designed to care for them – will be a priority for Barnett.

“I want each and every one of you to know that I pledged to the (Department of Veterans Affairs) secretary – you have pledged to the VA – that it is a system worth saving, and we’re in it together,” he said. “We’re going to do everything possible to make the VA health-care system provide the best health care in the world to our veterans because they have earned it and they deserve it.

“We will continue to look at the timeliness of VA claims, appointments and services, as well as the accuracy of that reporting. We will continue to partner – through our network of service officers, volunteers and town hall meeting – to monitor and to work with VA to ensure timely delivery of health care.”

Barnett said VA employees must perform their responsibilities in an acceptable manner or deal with the consequences. “We will continue to support further empowerment of the VA management to hold people accountable in the VA system who do not perform and provide that quality health care to our veterans,” he said. “The American Legion wants to build bridges with the VA, and I will guarantee you I will do that, and I will be your spokesman in that area.Goal to raise $1 million for NEF

The National Emergency Fund, which provides financial help to Legion family members impacted by natural disasters, will be Barnett’s fundraising project this year. “It has unique meaning in Georgia,” he said. “Our state was hit by floods in 1994, and it was the NEF that came to the aid of many in Georgia. We need to continue to support this. I would like to see us raise $1 million this year for the NEF because it does so much for so many people.”

Focusing on membership

Barnett’s own Legion post has grown from 81 to 307 members in the past 20 years. He used that example to encourage Legionnaires to continue to focus on bringing in new Legion family members, as well as the need to share the narrative of the nearly 100-year-old organization.

“All of us need to encourage growth,” he said. “We need to capture our histories. We need to tell our stories to our communities. Our communities want to know more about the history of The American Legion and how your post fits into it. And of course, always ask them to join this great organization.”

“I challenge all our posts, (Auxiliary) units and (SAL) squadrons to grow this year, to know and execute our five-year strategic plan,” he said. “Our communities need The American Legion now more than ever. Do not hesitate to ask someone to join our great organization.”

In closing, Barnett asked the organization’s member to make the most of their time as Legionnaires. “I challenge each of you today to dedicate yourself to the principles of duty, honor, country,” he said. “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.”

Elected as national vice commanders were George E. Cushing (Arizona), Alan A. Davis (Minnesota), David L. Gough (Wisconsin), John W. Hargreaves (Maine) and Jimmy Lane (Arkansas). Rev. Dr. H. C. “Ted” Kelley (Pennsylvania) was appointed national chaplain, while James E. Copher Sr. (Minnesota) was appointed national historian.