Jay Bowen of Colorado spoke to National Membership Workshop attendees about what his theme stands for and the mission behind it.
Jay Bowen of Colorado Springs, Colo., is the 2026-2027 leading candidate for American Legion national commander. Bowen is a member of Neal Thomas Jr.-Centennial Post 209 in Colorado Springs and has held leadership positions in the organization at the post, department and national level, including chairman of the National Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission, Veterans Employment & Education Commission and Membership & Post Activities Committee.
During his address to attendees of the National Membership Workshop in Indianapolis on Saturday, Aug. 8, Bowen shared that over the past several years, the theme for national commanders has been Be the One, The American Legion’s veteran suicide prevention mission.
The past national commanders “have done such an amazing job of getting that (Be the One) word out, getting the conversation going, getting it started talking about the education, talking about ways to identify a veteran in crisis, and where to go for help once we do,” Bowen said. “They have done so well at that, that it is no longer a theme. It's a mission now. It’s the number one mission of The American Legion, and it needs to be the number one mission of The American Legion. We need to continue that conversation. We’ve got to continue letting veterans know that it's okay not to be okay.”
While Be the One will not be Bowen’s official theme if elected national commander, it is closely connected, he said of his theme.
BPOTS – be part of the solution.
“I know you’ve heard you’re either part of the problem or you're part of the solution. If you can be part of the solution, and you choose not to be, then you’re part of the problem. It’s just that simple,” Bowen said. “You're here because you want to be part of the solution. That's why you continue to serve. That's why you continue to pay your dues, and you keep coming back, you want to learn more and hear more. Because you want to be part of the solution.
“So let's be part of the solution and be the one to help reduce veteran suicide. Let's be part of the solution and be the one to take care of our veterans and their family. Let's be part of the solution and be the one to help educate and mentor our youth. Let's be part of the solution and be the one, be the first ones out there, waving that American flag and showing our patriotic spirit. And let's be part of the solution to help advocate for a very strong national security.”
The four pillars of The American Legion connected to Bowen’s theme – Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, Children & Youth, Americanism and National Security – should be the why for veterans to join the organization he said. And they should be a part of the elevator speech.
“Veterans have to understand that there's value in their membership. We all know the value in The American Legion. That’s why we’re here. That’s why you continue to serve,” he said. “We've got to get out and communicate that. We've got to share that value. We got to have that elevator speech so when a veteran asks, ‘Why should I belong to The American Legion?’ Then in about 60 to 90 seconds, you can tell them your why. You can share with them the value you find in membership.”
What is Bowen’s elevator speech that he said works because veterans believe in it?
“When a veteran asks me why should I join The American Legion, I tell them, ‘Well, we believe in God and country. We believe in taking care of our veterans and their families. We believe in educating and mentoring our youth. We believe in waving that American flag and showing our true patriotic spirit. We believe in advocating for a very strong natural security. Now are these things you believe in? You need to join the American Legion.’ I've never had a veteran not believe in any of that. Because that's why we serve.
“It’s about giving. It's about paying it forward. That's why you join The American Legion. It's about giving back. It's about continuing to serve.”
Bowen has visited about 46 American Legion departments over the past few years while campaigning for national commander. During his visits to the posts within those departments, he has seen the Legion’s programs at work, as well as support for veterans, their family and community. And he encourages all posts, no matter how big or small, to “do something that supports the community, that supports our pillars, that supports the programs.
“People will join The American Legion if they see that there's something in it for them,” Bowen said. “They don't want to sit in a meeting and hear a report. But if we're out in the community, if we're supporting funeral honors, if we're walking in a parade, if we're doing a cookout, if we're doing those things in the community, that's what they're interested in doing. And they will do it.”
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