Department of Arkansas provides suicide prevention training during its state convention.
Last November, Department of Arkansas American Legion leadership began planning to have the program manager for the Legion’s Be the One veteran suicide prevention program provide training at its department convention.
And now that the training has come and gone, one of the Arkansas Legionnaires responsible for organizing the training would like to see it continue indefinitely.
June 19 – the day before the department’s convention in North Little Rock – was set aside for multiple training sessions. One of those sessions was provided by Be the One Program Manager Tony Cross and included the Columbia Protocol – the Legion’s virtual and in-person program that already has trained 20,000 Legion Family members on how to both recognize and reach out to veterans in crisis.
Past Department Membership Chairman William “Doc” Sheets, who helped organize the training session during his tenure as the department’s training coordinator, said all 59 seats set up for the session were filled, while other attendees stood against the walls. In addition to Legionnaires, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials and Wyndham Riverfront Hotel staff also listened to Cross’ presentation.
“(Cross) could do it every day, as far as I’m concerned,” Sheets said. “He got our Legionnaires, our veterans, to open up. Some of them had attempted suicide before, had contemplated it before. And they talked out loud, and they felt that they could. It wasn’t like we were going to shame them if they said something. It was a fantastic afternoon.”
Current Department Training Coordinator and Arkansas District 10 Commander John Petrichko said that kind of dialog is why the in-person training is so important. “I thought Tony did a great job,” he said. “He got all the points across. We got people talking, and that’s the important part.
“A lot of (older veterans) are reluctant to do the online stuff. When you get another adult standing in front of you and talking about what’s going on and how we, as individuals, can make a difference – I think the face-to-face time is important.”
Cross shared his own story of contemplating suicide after his military service ended, and close to a dozen of those in attendance reciprocated. “It requires a lot of humility to communicate that,” Cross said. “I think what’s happening is there becomes a comfortability where people like they share. They know you understand it.”
Cross didn’t limit his presentation to Legionnaires. He also spoke to the Sons of The American Legion detachment and American Legion Auxiliary department conventions. “Here, we really do believe in family,” Sheets said. “It’s a Legion Family, not just the Legion.”
Cross’ presentation garnered media attention as well, getting coverage from NBC affiliate KARK, CBS affiliate THV11 and the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
“If we can get one veteran in crisis saved, then all the effort, all the work and all the expense was well worth it,” Sheets said. “It was really a powerful afternoon, to see so many people not leave … was amazing.”
Sheets said having Cross attend the department convention is only the beginning of Arkansas’ Be the One effort. “There are some things we’re looking to do that may elevate this to a whole new level,” he said. “This is a long-term plan of the Legion. It’s not a one-and-done. Really, since the GI Bill I think it’s the most important thing we’ve been able to bring forth. I really do. We can’t not do it.”
- Be the One