Posts urged to open up their doors to their community on April 26 to share info about Legion programs, including Be the One.
In October 2022, The American Legion National Executive Committee passed Resolution No. 7, American Legion Family Day. The resolution established an American Legion Family Day to be observed annually on the last Saturday of April — this year falling on April 26.
For American Legion Family Day, posts are encouraged to open their doors to members of their community for the day to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of Legionnaires, Sons of The American Legion members, Legion Riders and American Legion Auxiliary. The day is also an opportunity to bring awareness to the organization’s Be the One mission to reduce the rate of veteran suicide and destigmatize the need to ask for help.
Last year in Hawthorne, Fla., American Legion Post 230 did just that. In addition to providing a service officer to share information on resources available to veterans, a visit from a police K-9 officer, kids’ games, a bounce house and face painting, the post used its American Legion Family Day event to promote Be the One.
“We want to let the veterans know that not just the post is here for them, but the community as well,” Post Commander Jane Townsend told WCBJ. “We want to be the one that prevents a veteran from committing suicide.”
Again this year, American Legion posts are encouraged to share details on their American Legion Family Day events, either in advance or afterward, at legiontown.org. A Legion Family Day press release template is available here. Download the document, update it with your post’s details and submit it to your local media.
Already, multiple American Legion Posts have Legion Family Day events planned. Here are just a few on the schedule:
· In Fernandina Beach, Fla., American Legion Auxiliary Unit 54’s day will feature live music, food, a bounce house, crafts, a K9 demonstration and yard games for both children and adults.
· In Continental, Ohio, American Legion Post 541’s event will include information about Be the One, an interactive map for veterans to place a flag where they were stationed during their service, a hog roast, children’s activity and live music.
· In Newark, Ohio, Hanover Post 764’s American Legion Family Day will feature a bounce house, cornhole, e-bingo, a 50/50 raffle and free burgers, hotdogs, chips and soda.
- Be the One