For the first time in fifty years, the American Legion has elected a Kansan to be Commander over all American Legion members. Dan Wiley, of Leavenworth, was elected to the role at the end of August during the 106th National Convention and is now touring across the country. He recently addressed area American Legion members at Boerstler-May American Legion Post 170 during their monthly Early Bird Dinner.
Post 170 Commander Roy Culbertson said Wiley was present to discuss his goals for his time in office and several Legion initiatives.
“We’re proud to have the National Commander show up and choose us as one of the stops on his tour,” Culbertson said.
Several members from Erie and Fort Scott’s American Legion chapters also attended the dinner, as did Mayor Jacob LaRue.
Wiley noted that his primary mission is an initiative called “Be the One,” which aims to prevent veteran suicide by reducing the stigma around receiving mental health treatment and training individuals to be a resource for veterans.
Suicide is the top issue facing the veteran community, according to Wiley.
“We’ve had about 20,000 now who have taken the training,” Wiley said.
According to Wiley, the Be the One Training Protocol is offered in partnership with Columbia University to identify at-risk individuals and learn how to communicate with those who may be a danger to themselves. This training is free and open to both veterans and civilians. Those interested can register at https://www.legion.org/ advocacy/be-the-one/be-theone- training. “Basically, what we are trying to do is make everybody a resource, you know. We realize people who take the training aren’t going to be mental health experts,” Wiley said. “But, if you become a resource and become trained, at least you’ll have the tools if you’re ever met with somebody that’s in a mental health crisis. You’ll have an idea of what to do, how to handle the situation, and how to refer them to someplace that might be able to get them some help, and that’s kind of the whole idea behind the training.”
Wiley said another big priority is advocating for veterans and active military members in Congress. Some of the initiatives include: improving the quality of compensation and pension exams; improving veteran access to community health care; ending the veteran homelessness crisis; improving the lethality of the nation’s armed forces; modernizing the Transition Assistance Program; and preventing veteran suicide.
During his address to the American Legion members, Wiley encouraged them to contact their congressional representatives to support the Richard Star Act. This act would allow certain combat-disabled veterans to receive both their full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation without a deduction. Under current law, those who retire before 20 years of service cannot receive both their Department of Defense retirement pay and their Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation.
Wiley said that one reason National Commanders tour all 50 states, as well as 10 foreign countries, is to share ideas.
“As we travel the country, we learn things that posts are doing and see the support they’re providing the community and the different things that they’re doing,” Wiley said.
According to Wiley, the most important part of the American Legion is what goes on at the local, grassroots level.
“The local post is where veterans are supported, it’s where the community is supported at the grassroots level,” Wiley said. “So, it’s important to come out and see what they’re doing. It’s also part of that camaraderie.”
Wiley praised Post 170 for its strong, active membership and community involvement.
“I’ve been to Chanute many times, they have an excellent post here with the members, they care about the community. They are very active in the community,” Wiley said. “We have a lot of great posts, and they are a shining example of what a post should be as far as taking care of veterans and programs that they have.”
Wiley said Chanute exemplifies the Legion’s “Better Together” initiative, which promotes the American Legion Family as a support system.
The American Legion was founded in 1919, after the First World War, and the Chanute chapter was chartered that same year to serve veterans. According to Culbertson, Post 170 offers events like dances, meals, and comedy shows to members and the public.
“We’re here to serve all veterans and help them in any way that we can,” Culbertson said.
To learn about local events, visit the Chanute Legion Events page on Facebook. Those interested in membership can contact any officer or ask any bartender at Post 170 for a membership form. To learn more about the American Legion and national programs, visit www.legion.org.
