Commander to lead awareness walk in Granite State Saturday

Vowing to “walk for those who marched for us,” Dale Barnett plans to lead New Hampshire veterans and supporters Sept. 12 in the first of many awareness events that will mark his year as national commander of The American Legion.

In a letter sent to American Legion departments earlier this year, Barnett wrote, “I am asking you to support and organize an event in your department. But it really is more than an event. It’s a solemn obligation. It’s a fulfillment of our American Legion Preamble to ‘preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars,’ and to ‘inculcate a sense of inidividual obligation to the community, state and nation…’ Specifically, I am asking that you hold an awareness Walk for Veterans.”

Saturday’s walk in Manchester, N.H., will coincide with Barnett’s first department visit as national commander and is intended to not only remind the public of the sacrifices made by veterans but to raise money for The American Legion National Emergency Fund, which provides relief for Legionnaires and family members impacted by natural disasters.

While more than a dozen departments have pledged to hold awareness walks, Barnett pointed out that the walks do not have to occur during one of his visits.

“If you cannot conduct a physical walk during my visit to your department, use the walk as a metaphonor for another activity or event to support veterans,” he said. “Remember, we walk for veterans every day when we advocate for a responsive health-care system. We walk when we welcome home a returning hero or when we make an Operation Comfort Warriors presentation. We walk for comrades when we hold a benefits fair or help homeless veterans obtain food and shelter.”

Saturday’s walk will begin at about 10:20 am from American Legion Post 2, located at 251 Maple Street in Manchester, N.H., 03103. Barnett will also be a guest speaker at the Global War on Terrorism Monument at American Legion Post 35 in Hampton, N.H., on Sept. 11. The 9/11 observances begin at approximately 6 p.m.

To find out more about scheduled awareness walks in your state, please contact your department headquarters.