American Legion posts hosted events to spread the veteran suicide prevention mission.
The American Legion’s Be the One veteran suicide prevention mission reached communities nationwide as 7,223 Be the One events were held by 2,917 posts according to the 2024-2025 Consolidated Post Report data. And 18,444 Legionnaires and community members were trained to detect veteran suicide through the Be the One/Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale training. Sign up for the training here.
These Be the One events include 5K run/walks, in-person suicide prevention training for Legion Family and community members, displays at sporting events, and resource fairs with local suicide prevention experts and available support. It was also part of the messaging for post-sponsored Veterans Day events, membership revitalizations, and more.
If your post, district or department is looking to host a Be the One event, resources are available at betheone.org/resources to help you get started.
Resources include:
How-to videos: If you are coordinating an event at your post, district or department related to Be the One, two videos share how to organize an event and engage the media.
Sample media advisory and press release: Download the documents, update them with your Be the One event information and distribute to local media, community partners and others.
Sample speech: Use this prepared speech for any event to educate on the Legion’s Be the One mission and how others can support it.
Materials: Under “Other Resources” there’s customizable content such as print-ready pop-up banners, flags, posters, table covers and more items available for your event. Download the items you want and then order from a local print shop.
- Be the One