Post 914 in Louisville hosted its second annual walk with more than 100 people to raise awareness about veteran suicide and destigmatizing the need to ask for help.
Friends and military moms Amy Hill and Bobbie Bentley enjoyed Illinois American Legion Post 914’s Be the One suicide prevention walk last year so much that they signed up for it again. On May 10, Hill and Bentley walked over eight miles from the small towns of Flora to Louisville with more than 100 community members in support of their sons, along with those lost to suicide.
Post 914’s Be the One walk is “definitely something to support,” Bentley said. “I did this walk for my son who is a disabled vet. I’m looking forward to this event getting bigger and bigger. It’s already grown since last year, and we’re looking forward to what the future will hold and to just bring awareness to (veteran suicide). They have done so much, our veterans.”
“We owe them,” said Hill, whose son served four years in the Air Force and lost military friends to suicide.
“Yeah, we owe them,” Bentley reiterated.
Roy Smith of Post 914 in Louisville, Ill., organized the walk last year to raise awareness about the Legion’s Be the One mission to reduce veteran suicide and to encourage veterans to ask for help.
“It brings people together,” Smith said of the second annual walk. “It brings awareness, and it also lets people know that we’re out here doing things other than just inside the post. We’re doing things for our community, and we’re getting the community involved in our (Be the One) mission.”
The Be the One walk started at 8 a.m. at the Clay County World War II Veterans Memorial in Flora and ended at the Clay County Veterans Memorial in Louisville. Those in attendance included Legion Family and community members, youth, Department of Illinois leadership and American Legion National Commander James LaCoursiere Jr.
“I’m very honored and privileged to be out here, joining the Legion Family and the community,” LaCoursiere said with amazement at the large turnout. “It just shows the commitment this whole area has to The American Legion’s Be the One mission.”
The community support “has been wonderful,” Smith said as law enforcement escorted the walkers. “This community has stepped up. They want to come out and support this cause.”
LaCoursiere is carrying the Be the One mission forward as national commander from Past National Commander Daniel Seehafer, who stated often that the Legion changes lives and saves lives. “I wholeheartedly believe and support that statement,” LaCoursiere said. “I was in a dark place, and it was this Legion Family that pulled me out of that. (Be the One) is making that true connection with the individual, letting them know that we truly do care about them, we don’t leave their side until we know for certain that they are OK.”
Post 914 member Anthony Browning has lost military friends to suicide following their return home from deployment. So the Be the One walk means a lot to him, servicemembers and his post, he said.
“I want to bring awareness to try to end the suicide that is happening with our veterans. All it takes is someone to make a call, make a Buddy Check, people being aware that there's help out there.”
As the more than 100 people walked, conversations were shared, new friendships were made, and people driving by honked and waved.
“It’s all about camaraderie,” LaCoursiere said. “It’s all about being there for one another.”
Registration for the walk was free but donations were accepted to support the national Be the One program. Last year the walk raised nearly $9,000. This year, more than $12,000 was raised.
The Illinois Legion Family is bringing the Legion’s Be the One mission into the public eye with the annual walk. They are “raising awareness” and giving the community an opportunity “to think about the problem we have with suicide in our military and our veterans,” Smith said. “That’s why we walked.”
- Be the One