A year of walks and progress
During his report to the national convention, American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett summed up the organization’s stance on combatting post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.
“Pills are not the answer, pals are.”
The American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans organization, strongly endorses alternative therapies — music, equine, art, outdoors activities like hunting and fishing, etc. — for veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI.
“The American Legion does not oppose medication, but we certainly are against overmedication simply because health-care providers are too busy to actually solve the problem,” Barnett said to the 9,000 delegates attending the national convention in Cincinnati. “And that’s perhaps the most valuable service we can offer a veteran – to be their friend. To listen. To relate. To support. And to defend.
“We are the advocates for alternative therapies, better treatment for traumatic brain injuries and top state-of-the-art prosthetics.”
During his year in office Barnett literally led a new initiative called Walk for Veterans, which raised awareness about the Legion from coast to coast. Barnett himself participated in 43 walks in 34 states. He also praised departments that held walks without the commander present.
“The walks are not about me,” Barnett said. “They are about you – The American Legion Family. They are about the great young people of this country. And they are about our military – the bravery that they show in defending us and the struggles that some have when they return.
“Each honk of the horn is a potential member. When motorists and spectators see the American flag, a veterans cap and The American Legion emblem – they like to show their support. It is up to us all to transfer that support into American Legion Family membership and opportunities for service to our nation.”
Barnett also chided Washington, specifically those who want to close and privatize VA. “It wasn’t the private sector that sent our veterans to war, it was Uncle Sam,” he said.
Still, VA needs to be held accountable for ensuring that veterans receive timely and efficient care. “We need to insist that VA hold its poor performers accountable and fire those who fail to serve veterans with respect,” Barnett said. “But you cannot simply fire your way out of a problem and call it ‘reform’ without addressing the root causes.
“While we welcome positive reforms, our sole criteria in supporting any legislation is whether or not it is good for veterans.”
Barnett also addressed a number of other topics important to veterans, servicemembers and their families:
• National defense: “We need to stand with our troops – who every day put their lives on the line to protect us all. It was very alarming for me to visit our troops in Europe and to learn that they have endured a 75 percent cut in active-duty manpower since I was stationed there in the pre-Global War on Terrorism in the 1990s.”
• Children and youth: “Young people like 9-year-old Alan Landers of St. Petersburg, Florida. Before I started my walks, Alan started a Superheroes Fun Run in Pinellas Park. He wanted to raise money so that World War II veterans could attend honor flights and see their national memorial in Washington. When I saw Alan this spring, he had already raised more than $30,000. His next and fundraiser will be October 8 in Dunedin, Florida.
“That is what young people in this country are capable of. And I am proud that Alan is a member of The Sons of The American Legion. He is our future.”
• Americanism. “With all of the discussion we hear between the major political candidates, we don’t hear many people discussing the need to protect Old Glory from desecration. If it’s such a rare occurrence, then why are they opposed to an amendment that would affect such a small group of people?
“Our resolution has not changed. Our resolve has not changed. Congress needs to pass the Flag Protection Amendment now. We have waited long enough.”
Barnett reflected back on some of his memorable walks, including on Veterans Day, walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala.
“We are organizing troop homecomings, conducting blood donation drives, hosting job fairs and speaking to school children every day,” he said of the Legion Family. “We are the guardians of our nation’s flag, the honor guards at veteran funerals and the sympathetic ears for wounded warriors wanting to discuss the horrors of war with people who understand.
"We are the baseball coaches, the Boys and Girls State counselors and the Scout masters.
“This is why we walk for veterans – not only to honor their service but to remind people of the programs and camaraderie that we offer.”