Be the One Manager Tony Cross speaks to National American Legion College students about the Legion’s mission to save lives.
American Legion Post 182 in New Palestine, Ind., held a Be the One event where over 40 people attended to learn about the Legion’s veteran suicide prevention mission, receive VA benefits claims assistance and enjoy a breakfast. It was during this event that a Vietnam veteran walked into the post who wasn’t a member or had never filed a claim before. After receiving assistance from a Legion accredited service officer, he stayed sitting in the same spot for quite some time. That’s when Tony Cross walked over to him.
“I asked, ‘Bob, are you OK?’ He said, ‘This is the most I have ever felt at home.’ That was last fall. He is now my second vice at Post 182 today,” said Cross, the Be the One program manager at National Headquarters, on Nov. 19 to the 53 students attending National American Legion College. “And his wife Kathy is a member of the Auxiliary (Unit 182).
“How many of you know suicide prevention to where you can recognize it inside your post? That’s where we’re trying to go. When you meet people in the post, make sure you talk to them. You do not know what people are going through.”
Cross shared with the NALC suicide numbers, how The American Legion is saving lives through Be the One, goals and delivery of Be the One.
· 121,000 veterans have died by suicide since 9/11.
· 22 Legion Family members have shared with Cross that they have attempted suicide.
· 11,000 American Legion Family members have been trained in suicide prevention since February through the Legion’s partnership with the Columbia University Lighthouse Project. Check out the schedule and register for a free 90-minute suicide prevention training session. The next one is Thursday, Nov. 21, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
People who have taken the training said: “I had no idea how to ask about suicide, but now I do;” “I can do this now;” “This training will save lives.”
· 100,000 trained in suicide prevention is the end of year goal for 2025. Cross said this will start to be accomplished as he begins training a Legionnaire in each district of Iowa and Indiana in QPR (question, persuade, refer) training who will then be the gatekeepers to train others.
· Army-Navy football game on Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time – The American Legion is the first veterans service organization to sponsor "America's Game" in its history where Be the One will be the focal point to raise awareness about the Legion’s suicide prevention mission.
“Everybody here has your own story,” Cross said. “We’ve all been affected in one way or another (by suicide). Get in your community, spread the word about Be the One and offer them suicide prevention.”
American Legion Post 284 in Colonial Heights, Va., incorporated Be the One during its Buddy Check calls last month to more than 900 veterans that included current and expired members. The message asked was, “Are you OK? Is there anything we can do for you?”
“I am a veteran with PTSD,” said Tonya Meunier, a member of Post 284 and NALC student who helped make the Buddy Check calls. “I think it’s fantastic that we are focusing on a program that focuses on mental well-being and the fact that it’s acceptable to have a really bad day. It’s acceptable to have really bad things happening in life but it’s important to have, and that’s what we’re providing through Be the One, a resource to help veterans find resources to assist them. So that bad moment or event or day doesn’t turn into the last day. It’s important to understand that and recognize it and facilitate an avenue to fix it.”
American Legion Post 69 in Lafayette, La., is supporting Be the One by spreading the message not just to veterans in crisis but also first responders, said Stephanie Hanks, Post 69 commander and NALC student. “We have to look out for our brothers and sisters and just be a community asset.”
- Be the One