Time to share the message of our mission

E. Roy Stone Jr. of South Carolina never ran for national commander of The American Legion. For most of a half-century, he instead led from a secluded but important duty station, as chairman of the National Executive Committee’s Subcommittee on Resolutions. From that seat, which he held from 1956 until 2001 – his final year among us – the World War II Navy veteran reviewed an armada of proposals, legislative policies, organizational changes, contracts, program developments, fundraisers and financial matters. Of each one, he asked a simple question: “Is it good for The American Legion?”

Obvious as it seems, that seven-word litmus test made people think. Out of it came such developments as the National Emergency Fund, recognition of post-traumatic stress disorder as a service-connected condition, support for a constitutional amendment to protect the flag, funding for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, introduction of our national website, establishment of the Family Support Network and much more.

The American Legion’s mission can be hard to summarize. Under each pillar – veterans, defense, youth and Americanism – come thousands of activities. And, because no two communities are alike, fulfillment of the mission might mean a local post runs the county ambulance service, offers an after-school tutoring program, volunteers at a well-baby clinic, organizes the local rodeo or provides winter boots for schoolchildren.

From hurricanes to hungry children, the American Legion Family steps up in times of crisis. I think back to a year ago, when Hurricane Harvey roared across Texas. Post 658 in Crosby sheltered 375 evacuees and in a three-week period served 9,574 hot meals and distributed supplies to 2,527 who were stranded. “I’m so grateful to these people,” said Leonardo Garcia, choking back emotion, after he took refuge at Post 658 with his family, which barely escaped their vehicle before floodwaters swept it away.

As wartime veterans, we know that associating ourselves together for such purposes is good for the communities we assist, and it’s good for The American Legion. No advertising campaign or social media blitz can compare to the sheer power of an American Legion Family uniting to offer a homeless veteran a meal, a jobless veteran an opportunity, a disabled veteran a wheelchair ramp, a disaster victim some clean clothes or a needy child something new to unwrap at Christmas.

As our organization celebrates its centennial over the coming year, thousands of posts will have an opportunity to put the Legion’s mission in the spotlight. I hope that as the true story of our legacy and vision is shared around the world, and opportunities arise to make positive differences in communities, we remember that out of new ideas can come life-changing programs that, in the Legion’s case, are held together by timeless values and the common bond of military service.

As long as children need mentors, veterans need advocates, disasters need relief, troops need support and communities need patriotism, the opportunities are limitless over the next century as long as we work together in the American Legion Family, find needs and fulfill them, showing everyone just what we’ve been doing for the past 100 years.