The unifying force of Be the One

Nothing unites American Legion Family members in purpose like Be the One.

That was on full display during the ninth annual Veterans Expo on Jan. 5-6 at American Legion Post 69 in Avon Park, Fla. Veteran after veteran talked about their personal connections to Be the One, which aims to reduce the number of veterans lost to suicide.

They’ve lost comrades. They’ve grieved for family members. They’ve vowed to do all they can to Be the One.

That starts with Larry Roberts, Post 69 commander, a service officer and event mastermind. To Roberts, every veteran from every war era, every branch, will always be his battle buddy.

“I’m never going to leave a veteran behind,” he said, noting his service spanned from 1988 to 2001. “I don’t care if the veteran is from World War II or up until now. A veteran is a veteran.”

About 15 years ago after encountering an issue with VA, Roberts vowed to turn that experience into a quest to help other veterans. He became a service officer when he moved to Avon Park. Now he has more than 200 relationships with agencies, nonprofits and others that can assist veterans. His passion, his relationships and his personal journey all led to his mission.

“I was suicidal,” Roberts explained. “By doing this, I now have coping skills to help myself and fellow veterans.”

And it’s not just veterans.

The expo also shined a light on a little-discussed topic: kids lost to suicide. Next to a table displaying 22 boots representing veterans lost to suicide each day, was another table with 16 teddy bears. One for each child lost to suicide daily.

“It means a lot to have this here,” said Jessica Moore, department second vice commander. “This post realized it’s not just veterans. Sixteen kids are taking their lives every day. The kids are losing their parents to war, disease. It’s affecting them so they are doing it.”

Since its inaugural year when it had 14 vendors, the expo has grown — not just in numbers, but in its impact.

Just a few hours after the event began, Roberts ticked off success story after success story. Veterans were receiving help with increased benefits. A homeless veteran was connected with a resource he needed.

“When I did my oath in 1988 that means I got it for life,” said Roberts, who is also the department chairman for Project Vet Relief. “Once you’re a soldier, you’re always a soldier. You have it in your blood for life. We’re battle buddies.”

One of his battle buddies is Moore, member of Post 323 in Lehigh Acres. Moore, a Navy veteran who served during Operation Desert Storm, draws a connection between Buddy Checks and Be the One.

“It’s being there for somebody, calling, texting, stopping by and visiting, asking them to get a cup of coffee,” she said. “Just to let them know that you are there to listen to them. It’s personal. And it’s personal to them to let them know you are there for them.”

At the onset of COVID, Moore was stuck at home alone after her daughter left for college. “It was very hard. I was doing 10 to 20 Buddy Checks a night. But it wasn’t just for them, it was for me.”

Moore knows the pain of losing someone to suicide. Soon after she became a post officer, she experienced a difficult loss. Her mentor was lost to suicide.

“It was my first dealing with it. It wasn’t talked about it then like it is now. But something like this brings up those memories. It’s not something that’s new, it’s been going on for years. For those memories to come back and reawaken again it was really hard. It affects the kids, the families, the brothers and sisters. These are my brothers and sisters. This is my family.”

Moore underscored the importance of the expo throughout the entire community. “It’s not just The American Legion and other veterans service organizations that need to see it. It’s the communities that need to see what happens when we lose a brother’s or sister’s life.”

The two-day event began when dozens of American Legion Riders, other cyclists and two dozen other vehicles escorted the Global War on Terrorism Wall on a 22-mile journey to Post 69. At the post, the convoy was greeted by Boy Scouts holding flags, veterans and others.

Dozens of vendors, nonprofits and others that provide services to veterans were on hand. Service officers were also available to assist veterans, noted Department Commander Michael Raymond, an Air Force veteran.

“One of the best things about this event is it’s a one-stop shop for everything veterans need,” Raymond said. “It’s all here. It is one of the best run, well-organized events like this. The veterans population looks forward to this event every year. It’s a great event for veterans to get together with their families.”

Raymond, who was post commander for six years, recalled losing members to suicide as well as a close family member.

“(Be the One) does mean a lot to me,” he said. “No. 1, my daughter’s best friend, an Iraq vet, took his own life. Her husband found him. When she found out we were doing this program, she was all in. That’s why it is kind of special to me.”  

Raymond shared a success story, illustrating how post members worked together to keep an at-risk veteran from committing suicide. “That’s what this is all about. We’ve got to stop this disease, called veteran suicide.”