Resolution 19 urges Legionnaires to reach out to their fellow veterans the week of Veterans Day.
To reach out to members and former members who may need help, the National Executive Committee passed Resolution 18 during Spring Meetings in May 2019. The resolution calls for Buddy Checks to be conducted Legion-wide on the weeks of The American Legion’s birthday, March 15, and Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
The American Legion Family has answered. Since 2020, nearly1.8 million Buddy Checks have been conducted on current and former Legionnaires. Most recently, the 2024-2025 Consolidated Post Reports noted that 4,258 posts participated in Buddy Checks, impacting 361,871 veterans.
Veterans today sometimes struggle finding new purpose after transition, and coping with posttraumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and other social, economic, mental or physical stressors. This critical time in a veteran’s life is when they are most vulnerable to suicide or other self-harm. Suicide awareness and prevention is the most consequential responsibility of our generation of Legionnaires, and the Buddy Check is just one of the many ways The American Legion hopes to address the crisis.
American Legion Family members are encouraged to stage Buddy Check efforts Nov. 10-16 to check on the wellbeing of former and current members. We’ve got a Buddy Check Toolkit to assist your efforts, including tips on organizing Buddy Checks, sample scripts for phone calls and quick answers to share the Legion’s missions and programs.
Individuals and posts who already have plans to make Buddy Checks next week are encouraged to share their plans with us. Email sbrooks@legion.org with the details and then share your stories and photos at www.legiontown.org after your effort.
- Buddy Check