Watertown, N.Y., Post 61 draws attention to critical program with community walk, ensuing media coverage.
Department of New York Legionnaire Bill Flynn knows what it’s like to lose someone close to suicide. Friends since Little League, he and his friend graduated from high school together, joined the U.S. Navy and then later joined American Legion Post 61 in Watertown.
“A few years ago, he took his life,” said Flynn, the commander of Post 61. “That meant a lot to me, because I was touched. And I wish I could have maybe done something about it a little earlier.”
Because of that, Flynn has become a staunch believer in The American Legion’s Be the One veteran suicide prevention program. “I saw it, and I thought this is a great program,” Flynn said. “I’ve gone through the training. This is something that I want to do in memory of him.”
Also done in his friend’s memory was a recent Be the One walk through Watertown to bring awareness about the program and provide resources to those who may need them.
“We have a societal problem with veteran suicide,” Flynn said. “We want to get the word out to the community and get their awareness of this. For me, that was it. And that’s why I put this on the calendar.”
The walk took place April 26 in downtown Watertown. Holding Be the One signs, the group walked from the post to Watertown’s Public Square for a brief rally. “We wanted to get the awareness from everybody in the community driving by … so that they would know about it,” Flynn said. “We have to get the word out. We have to get all the mental health barriers down … so people are able to get help. The help is there.”
Despite raining conditions, around 12 participants took part in the walk. The event even brought out media coverage from WWNY-TV, a CBS affiliate.
“The people that were there did a great job,” Post 61 Legionnaire Randy Elie said. “And the local news picked it up and got the word out to a lot more people than we did standing in the rain. I was happy with the turnout of the whole day, including the media coverage.”
Elie, who took part in the walk, said while he hasn’t personally been touched by suicide from a close friend or family member, he saw others struggle during and after his 27-year career in the U.S. Air Force.
“It always took me aback that you had every level of military society, from E-1s to O-10s, that have these same problems,” Elie said. “Some of them end up dying by suicide. To me, it was just sad. I was like, ‘What can I do to do my small part to maybe make this better.’ There’s always a better answer.”
Back at Post 61, tables were set up for representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Citizens Advocates, a Northern New York-based nonprofit that offers individuals, families and communities a full range of health and lifestyle care.
“That’s the big thing about Be the One: to have some information and have the help available to people who need it,” Elie said. “Without trained people to help them, they might make the wrong decision that they think is right at the time … rather than getting help.”
For Flynn, that’s the entire reason behind Be the One: to provide resources and to recognize and act when you see a veteran in crisis. “We want to get the word out to Be the One. To ask the question. To listen,” he said. “And to be moved … and take some action on it.”
- Be the One