Check on your buddies

Check on your buddies

Dear American Legion Family members and friends, 

The American Legion is elevating its commitment to Buddy Checks, as part of Be the One, the national initiative to reduce the rate of veteran suicide.

Buddy Checks are essentially wellness checks performed on veterans. They can be done over the phone, via text or face-to-face. Regardless of the method of communication, the goal is the same: make sure veterans in your community are doing OK and help them if they need anything.

And next week, there is a perfect opportunity to conduct Buddy Checks as part of The American Legion’s birthday, March 15-17. As you might recall when Buddy Checks were hatched a few year ago, the original idea was to perform them around the Legion Birthday and Veterans Day.

Now Buddy Checks are encouraged year round. After all, veterans need assistance 365 days a year. More than 3,600 American Legion posts a year are now conducting Buddy Check operations, and they are making big differences for veterans and families who need our help.

Whether your post engages veterans in your community as part of a Legion birthday event or at other times of the year, there are useful resources available. Check out the Buddy Check kit online. And let us know about your successful Buddy Check by sharing a story on our Legiontown webpage.

On behalf of all veterans who will receive your support via a Buddy Check, thank you.

National Commander  

Vincent J. “Jim” Troiola