
Longtime racing fan Thomas Harris feels organization’s foray in motorsports is opening up new ways to support veterans.
Thomas Harris of American Legion Post 119 in Vernonia, Ore., is a “Legion Legacy.”
His family has been a part of The American Legion dating all the way back to its inaugural year in 1919 after the Great War, later known as World War I.
“I’ve been supporting The American Legion since I was 17,” said Harris, Oregon’s department commander from 2018-2019, which made him a centennial commander. “I’m 65 now, and my father, grandfather and great grandfather were all legionnaires from World War I, on.
“It’s not only a good foundation for me, but it has also been since I got out of the Marine Corps in late Vietnam. I came home and was one of those guys trying to find my way. It was difficult finding a job, and we were dealing with the community not having a really good feeling about the Vietnam War at that time.”
Harris served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1973-1977 as the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War was winding down. Many servicemembers returned home from the conflict in Southeast Asia and were suddenly in need of purpose and direction.
“(The American Legion) helped me stabilize myself because I could spend more time with my veteran friends than I made after I came home,” Harris recalled. “It was good for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps. Even the Coast Guard got involved. Even today, I’ve found it is more important what The American Legion is doing in our nation, not only for national security, but to help veterans coming home. We are developing more and more critical teams for those veterans that are coming home. They are not stable and don’t know what to do and have a direction. So, we give them a direction, we give them a place to go, we share with them our service officers.
“There are several outlets in Oregon and I’m going to share that over in Idaho, share some of my knowledge and learn some of the knowledge they have on what they do with their crisis centers to help the 22 veterans a day that are falling victims of suicide.”
Harris can relate to that plight. When he returned home from Vietnam, he wasn’t exactly welcomed back with open arms. The war was unpopular with many in the United States, and there was little to no “Hero’s Welcome” when servicemembers returned to their hometowns.
“It was very quiet, and I didn’t get it as severely some of my upper classmates that I knew in junior high and going into high school,” Harris said. “A lot of us went in early, we left high school because we felt it was our duty. We came back and it was that silent treatment, or once in a while you got told off. A lot of men and women know that and those are some of the things we had to deal with.”
There was one place, though, where Harris and other servicemembers were always welcomed and made to feel a member of a greater fellowship. It was The American Legion.
“The Legion is there to support those people,” Harris said. “When we come together now, it’s like rivals on a baseball or football team. When you come together afterwards, it’s more of a brotherhood or sisterhood and everybody supports each other. The American Legion and other organizations are here to support veterans and veterans in need.”
The Legion’s voice has been amplified through its official partnership with INDCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. That partnership has grown from major associate status on Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Carvana/American Legion Honda at Chip Ganassi Racing to become an official charitable partner of INDYCAR.
“This gets the message out there,” Harris said. “It’s a lot stronger. We have people coming in every day now asking questions how they can get support and pull themselves out of their problems, whether it be mental, physical, or trying to find a job.
“It was The American Legion that helped create the VA. We have members from many posts that go up to the VA every day and talk to them, pass out ice cream and just get to know them. It’s a good program, but like everything, we try to improve it every year.”
Harris has always been interested in cars and was an INDYCAR fan before the Legion started its relationship with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021.
“I watch the Indianapolis 500 every year,” Harris said. “My dad and grandfather did, also. I think it is something that is always there. Season to season to season, you watch cars, baseball and football. We were all into that. I’ve met the pit crews and the guys on Chip Ganassi’s team. It’s really an awesome thing.
“I really love it. I think it’s exciting. We are already seeing a lot of interest. A lot of people are asking us questions. A lot of people are interested in Indy cars long before The American Legion got involved that were veterans and American Legion members. It opened up some new windows and access to support of veterans in a positive way.
“I was always interested in cars and driving, but it takes money to get into that. It’s a pretty select thing. You don’t go to college and learn how to be an Indy driver.”
INDYCAR and The American Legion have created a program that helps create awareness for The Legion, it’s membership and its programs.
It’s exposure that an organization can’t really buy. “I couldn’t say it better,” Harris said. “It’s great for the causes we represent and promote for our veterans. I’m really proud of them for stepping up and allowing us to be a part of that.
“There is a lot to the American Legion emblem.”
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