Legion hosting inaugural Be the One Symposium

During its 104th national convention in Charlotte, N.C., The American Legion will be hosting an inaugural Be the One Symposium to extend its mission to reduce the rate of veteran suicide.

Launched in 2021, Be the One aims to end the stigma related to asking for mental health help while empowering veterans, servicemembers and civilians to take the appropriate action when the life of a veteran or servicemember may be at risk.

The symposium brings together some of the leading researchers, experts and innovators in this space for a daylong discussion to sharpen the focus on Be the One. It will be held Monday, Aug. 28, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, 400 East Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Registration begins at 10 a.m., followed by welcoming remarks at 10:30. Panel discussions will be held from roughly 11:15 a.m. until the closing at 4 p.m.

Marine Corps veteran Amy Forsythe, an award-winning journalist, will emcee the event, which is being coordinated by Marine Corps veteran and American Legion member Waco Hoover.

Among the panels:

• The Cost of War: Stigma and Natural Consequences: Moderator, David Rudd, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Psychology, The University of Memphis; Dave Berkenfield, Team Manager Extreme E, Chip Ganassi Racing; and Retired NAVY Seal Marcus Capone, CEO & Founder, TARA Mind

• Traumatic Brain Injury: Brandt McCartney, Founder and Executive Director, The 38 Challenge; Ann McKee, MD, Chief of Neuropathology, VA Boston Healthcare System; and retired Navy SEAL Jason Redman, Concussion Legacy Foundation board member.

• Face the Fight: Why the Time is Now: Moderator: Waco Hoover, Chair, Be the One, The American Legion; Katherine Dondanville, Psy.D., ABPP, Associate Professor, Division of Behavioral Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; retired Gen. Alfred K. Flowers, Sr., Board Chairman, Reach Resilience, An Endeavors Foundation; and retired Adm. John Bird, Senior Vice President of Military Affairs at USAA.

To register for the symposium, use this link.