Legion 'Walk for Veterans' encircles World War I memorial

The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Mo., was the historic site of an American Legion Walk for Veterans last Saturday morning.

American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett led dozens of veterans, Legion family members and friends on the 5k walk, which encompassed the grounds surrounding the memorial. The breezy 45-degree weather did little to dampen enthusiasm among the walkers.

“I came here to support the commander and veterans in Missouri,” said Albert Jackson, an army veteran who belongs to American Legion Post 444 in St. Louis. “We need to let the outside community know we are still here. So they know that they can come and join us as a community so we can build a better nation. We help homeless veterans, sick veterans and veterans in need.”

Barnett reminded people of a major purpose of the walk. “The funds that are earned here today go to our NEF (National Emergency Fund),” he said during the opening ceremony, which included music from The American Legion Band of Kansas City. “We know each and every day there are veterans in need. For instance, today we have flooding on our East Coast. We stand ready as The American Legion to help those in need. And today we walk for veterans because they marched for us. We have the country that we have because of their sacrifice.”

Representing the mayor of Kansas City was at-large City Council Member Quinton Lucas. “I enjoyed the conversations with veterans from throughout Missouri and Kansas who are active in issues affecting not only veterans, but the broader population concerning homelessness, mental illness and access to health care for those in need,” he said.

Department of Kansas Adjutant Jimmie L. Foster, a past national commander, believes the walk helped build community awareness. “It’s a good way to bring The American Legion family together and show the community what we do.”

Past National Commander Joe Frank, a Vietnam veteran from Missouri, said the walk was “a good way to promote camaraderie. I just ran into someone who served in the same division that I did in Vietnam, the Americal Division.”

Despite other charity walks going on nearby at the same time, Department of Missouri Adjutant Lowry Finlay-Jackson thought "turnout wasn't bad. We just want to make sure that the public knows about the struggles veterans face with PTSD, homelessness, suicide and joblessness. We want their families to know that there is assistance that is here for them.”

It is assistance that The American Legion is uniquely qualified to render, according to Lucas. “I think homeless veterans, like most people, enjoy hearing about something from people who understand where they coming from," he said. "They enjoy hearing from people, like those in The American Legion, who know about the effects on one’s family of time away and know about lasting impacts of sacrifice for our nation. I hope The American Legion will be central in our efforts in Kansas City of assisting our homeless veterans in need to use resources and to reach out to medical professionals for access to our services.”

See a list of upcoming walks here. To learn more about whether an American Legion awareness Walk for Veterans is scheduled in your area, please contact your department headquarters.