On the first day of every month, Resolution 13 calls for the wearing of Be the One items and local events to bring awareness to the Legion’s suicide prevention initiative.
Sunday, Oct. 1, is the next American Legion Be the One Day.
On the first day of every month, Legion Family members are encouraged to wear a Be the One item to show their commitment to reducing the stigma around mental health issues among veterans and servicemembers. And to start a conversation about what Be the One is and how to save the life of a veteran. Legion posts should also promote Be the One on the first day of every month.
Throughout the nation, American Legion Family members continue to promote the Be the One mission. Some recent examples include:
· In Maryland, Overlea-Perry Hall American Legion Post 130 hosted a Be the One program. The post invited speakers from the Baltimore County Veterans Commission to discuss this ongoing crisis in the veteran community.
· Also in Maryland, Western Maryland American Legion Post 71 in Oakland promoted Be the One through an interview with the Garrett County Republican. “The American Legion has elevated Be the One to be its top priority, empowering veterans, servicemembers, their families and the community to be part of this initiative,” said Colleen Steffan, Be the One regional coordinator for Post 71.
· In Florida, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 323 Lehigh Acres’ annual Labor Day Weekend event included promoting Be the One. American Legion Family members carried Be the One signs, posing for pictures that were shared on social media.
Resolution No. 13: Be the One Days, was passed by the National Executive Committee during the 2023 May American Legion Spring Meetings. It calls on Legion Family members to gear up and bring awareness to the Legion’s Be the One veteran suicide prevention initiative on the first day of every month.
Need Be the One gear? You can purchase a Be the One shirt or tack through American Legion Emblem Sales.
For American Legion posts, there are many resources available to promote Be the One at this web page. These resources include Be the One posters, customizable brochures, a banner, wallet cards and more. To help in your promotional efforts, this video is a great tutorial of how a Legionnaire in Arizona used Be the One promotional materials at his post’s successful event.
Show us your support for Be the One Days by sharing your events at legiontown.org under the Be the One category.
- Be the One