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Create the Event to Promote Programs of The American Legion

One thing I have noticed in my travels as national commander is that there is an increase in community support for American Legion programs wherever Legionnaires take the time and make the effort to create an event.

Take for instance the initiative by the members of American Legion Post 28 in Spartanburg, S.C. They are exploring ways to help wounded service members make the difficult transition home. It's not easy for these returning heroes who have lost limbs, sustained brain injuries or suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Their game plan is to match resources in the community to provide for their needs.  The assistance they may need can range from job search assistance, to fixing minor electrical or plumbing problems in their homes, to building wheelchair ramps at their houses, to providing financial assistance and counseling. 

Jack Crites, past commander of American Legion Post 28 in Spartanburg who is leading the “Heroes to Hometowns” effort, spoke to a reporter from the Spartanburg Herald Journal about the program and did a nice job.

“It seems the country has suddenly awakened and realized that we have a lot of wounded soldiers and they need help,” Crites said at the meeting last Monday. 
“We hope that we will have enough contacts in the community that we can get help for them in other ways, too,” Crites said.

The American Legion Auxiliary was also quoted in the article.

“Mary Jo Crites of the auxiliary unit of Spartanburg’s American Legion Post 28 stated that the auxiliary’s role in “Heroes to Hometowns” would be taking care of families of returning service members, providing baby-sitting or taking wives out to lunch, “just so the women can vent.”

The feedback and support has been tremendous as other agencies in the community, including hospital representatives and the PAC Center said they would team up to offer medical and mental health resources for soldiers coming home. 

Further up north in New Hampshire, the adjutant for Fredonwarell Post 17 in Groveton, William J Cowie, reports that his post is currently coordinating with American Red Cross and several federal, state, county and local agencies for an upcoming disaster preparedness exercise which will be held September 14 - 16.

Post officers signed a memorandum of understanding with the Red Cross last year, as part of their expanding community service initiative.  In the event of a disaster, Post 17 will become an emergency shelter. The upcoming training exercise in September will be a “dry run” to modify the post as the center for bed down, emergency and food prep areas.

Again, feedback from the local community has been tremendous.

You can never go wrong when you “create the event” to educate the local community on the programs of The American Legion.  You “create that event,” by creating face-time in the community.  By doing so, you not only educate the various entities within the community, you inspire them to support our programs through active participation.  That’s what community relations is all about…educating, motivating and activating. 

I encourage all post officers to go above and beyond the traditional methods of communicating with the community through news releases, public service announcements and letters.  These are wonderful communication tools.  However, you can add colors to the spectrum of communications through the personal contact opportunities of community relations. 

I salute the leadership and members of Post 28 in Spartanburg, South Carolina and Post 17 in Groveton, New Hampshire for “creating the event” for these two important initiatives of The American Legion.

May God bless,

Paul A. Morin