Seehafer to presidential candidates: Don't forget veterans
As is tradition, The American Legion National Convention offers a venue for the sitting national commander to look back at his year in office and share his thoughts and observations with those in attendance.
Daniel Seehafer did Tuesday in Hall D of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. But some of his address wasn’t targeted at Legionnaires. It was a direct message to both the Republican and Democratic candidates running for the office of U.S. president.
Noting that neither candidate chose to appear at the Legion’s annual convention, Seehafer used his time at the podium to “make a little ask. Let’s send a life-changing and life-saving message to our presidential candidates.”
Asking his questions one at a time, Seehafer first addressed former President Donald Trump. “Mr. Trump, if you truly want to make America great again, don’t ever forget to make our veterans great, too,” he said. “For without great veterans, there’s no greatness in America.”
Seehafer then turned his attention to Vice President Kamala Harris. “Vice President Harris, I hear you – just my delegates do – we hear you talk about joy and democracy on your campaign trail,” Seehafer said. “But you too, don’t you forget about who defended and who continues to defend that democracy, in some cases giving that ultimate for so that all Americans can enjoy freedom.”
Seehafer then made another ask of both candidates. “We want to be the first called and the first seated at your presidential table if elected when you come together and discuss these life-changing and live-saving issues that affect us veterans and families,” he said. “Call us. I strongly believe that our nearly 2.5 million Legion Family members have earned it.”
Sticking with the election season, Seehafer also offered a reminder to those both in attendance and watching online. “During campaign season, we must all remember that The American Legion is nonpartisan,” he said. “We endorse no candidate and no political party. But we do endorse America. We endorse our military. We endorse the interests of our veterans.
“Let’s bring that eye of the tiger to the polls and V-O-T-E, yes, vote, as we practice our God-given right to elect the leaders that we believe will best represent veterans, defense, Americanism and youth – our Four Pillars.”
Throughout his year as national commander, Seehafer has often used the phrase “changing lives and saving lives” to describe how the Legion makes an impact on veterans, military, families and community. He provided a concrete example of that mantra – as well as the power of the Legion’s Be the One veteran suicide prevention program – one he witnessed firsthand during a visit to Tennessee early in his tenure.
“I met a veteran who not only impacted me personally, but really solidified the importance of our mission: Be the One,” Seehafer said. “After my remarks in Tennessee, a gentleman – no, a brother – came up to me and said, ‘You know, commander, what you talked about was me. That was me.’”
Seehafer said the veteran had been wounded by an IED, which left him with both a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. His transition into the civilian world was difficult, including the pressures of life, family expenses and needs.
“Sadly to say, he didn’t think his family would stick around, and honestly, he was starting to question if he should stay around, too,” Seehafer said. “In fact, this wheelchair-bound veteran wheeled himself into another organization and requested assistance — not a hand-out for money, but direction. He was hurting, hurting inside. Instead, he received a voice that penetrated his soul, saying: ‘I fought my war. Can’t fight yours,’ as the man continued to play cards.
“With feelings of hopelessness, desperation and rejection, he decided to end his life. So, he put a revolver in his mouth and pulled the trigger — not once, but twice. Both times, that weapon did not discharge.”
Seehafer said he believed God stopped the gun from discharging in order to place American Legion Post 172 in Georgia in the veteran’s path and empower their leadership to help him in. Connected with the right people, Seehafer said the veteran realized his purpose and relevance in life, and now serves as the post’s commander.
“Now, I know some people feel uncomfortable talking about veteran suicide – any suicide for that matter,” Seehafer said. “Actually, I was briefed a month ago on how we, the Legion, should maybe focus on veteran strengths and not death. Well, I will never hide the reality that since the 9/11 attacks, we have lost more veterans to suicide than we lost on the battlefields during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the Global War on Terrorism combined. That’s a crisis. This needs to be addressed, not hidden.
“Just because we can not save them all does not mean we cannot save one, which is the whole point of Be the One. There are a lot of us in the American Legion Family. Collectively, if we each save one, we are saving many.”
Seehafer praised Legionnaires for their efforts in conducting Buddy Checks on their fellow veterans. “I am proud that last year’s Consolidated Post Reports revealed that 1,090,000 veterans were contacted through our Buddy Check program. Now that, again, is purpose and relevance,” he said. “In fact, nearly 4,500 posts conducted their own buddy check operations. Even the VA, following our lead, held its very first annual Buddy Check Week last October, and have the second annual on their calendar. And so friends, this is what I mean when I say The American Legion is changing lives and saving lives.”
Seehafer also pointed to success on the membership front.
“For the first time in a long time, family, we have achieved 100 percent in membership nationally. And this is what happens when we have purpose and relevance,” he said. “In fact, we went 30,000 over our goal that we set. It was not a waste of time. It was about veterans and their families. Recruiting over 115,000 new members, and almost 38,000 Legionnaires took advantage of that new rollout with the multiyear membership plan, and they’re still signing up today. They, too, see purpose and relevance.”
Looking back a year ago during his acceptance speech, Seehafer urged Legion Family to take an eye of the tiger mentality, referencing the “Rocky” movies. He said he’s seen several examples of members of the organization rise to the challenge.
“I see the eye of the tiger when Legionnaires call or email their elected officials and insist on legislation which will, for example, criminally punish shark-like companies that prey on veterans by charging exorbitant fees to do service work on claims that should be provided at no cost,” he said. “I see it when Legionnaires demand that Afghan translators and other allies, people who risked their lives assisting American servicemembers, be given safe asylum away from the treacherous reach of the Taliban and other terrorists.
“I see it when we remind Congress and those running for Congress that the U.S. Coast Guard is still vulnerable to pay stoppages in the event of a federal government shutdown. And let’s remind our fellow Americans who provided more than 1 million dollars in grants to our Coast Guard families during that 2019 shutdown: The American Legion. So, yes, it’s long past time for Congress to ensure that those defending our shores do not have to face similar uncertainties in the future.”
Seehafer also said politicians need to put the money where their promises are when it comes to the PACT Act, which has provided millions of veterans exposed to burn pits and other deadly toxins health care and compensation for which they were not previously eligible.
“These benefits are long overdue, and many died while their claims were either denied or not adjudicated,” Seehafer said. “But now we are hearing about significant funding shortages. Our message to our leaders in Washington is this: Thank you for passing it. Now pay for it.”
Seehafer closed his report to the national convention thanking those who had followed his call to action this year.
“I asked you last year to have that eye of the tiger, that hunger with urgency, that passion with purpose and relevance, especially when it came to our mission: Be the One. Because, after all, we are dealing with life, aren’t we? The life of a veteran and even their family members,” he said. “But what I appreciate even more after a year as your national commander is that The American Legion has been blessed with people like you, and it’s been happening since 1919. A blessing from the Almighty that continues to change lives and save lives, one at a time.”