Legion Family members meet with the Hiring Our Heroes ambassador to discuss veteran employment, suicide prevention.
American Legion Department of Indiana District 7 Membership Chair Gina Owens and her husband Bret Harrell, a Sons of The American Legion member, had the opportunity to visit with Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer, who received the honor for his actions in Afghanistan as a U.S. Marine sergeant. The three enjoyed conversation and coffee in Princeton, Ind., to discuss employment needs for veterans and transitioning servicemembers while Meyer was in town for a tour of the Toyota manufacturing plant.
As a brand ambassador for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes program and Toyota since 2012, Meyer is visiting several plants across the country to show veterans and transitioning servicemembers employment opportunities with Toyota and the camaraderie among veterans who work for the company. And prior to each visit, he meets with local leaders and veterans to raise awareness about Hiring Our Heroes efforts to employ veterans, servicemembers and military spouses.
“We want local leaders to understand the value of veterans and servicemembers that are coming back to their communities,” Meyer said. “And Toyota understands that hiring veterans is not only good for business, but it’s good for their communities, it’s good for their country. I’ve done this multiple times, and I’m still blown away by the level of community, of pride and passion by the individuals who work for Toyota. It’s not just a vehicle to Toyota. It’s somebody’s largest purchase. It’s the vehicle that they’re going to trust their child to ride in and be protected in.
“To the veterans who work for Toyota, it’s so similar to the mission we had in uniform. It’s just a different uniform.”
Before Meyer and other Hiring Our Heroes staff visited Toyota, they met Owens and Harrell, along with Mayor Greg Wright, at Port Side Coffee in downtown Princeton. They briefly discussed care received at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, how Indiana supports transitioning servicemembers with employment, getting the younger generation of veterans in the Legion, how long Owens has been in the Legion, and the Legion’s Be the One veteran suicide prevention mission.
Owens, a member of Post 230 in Martinsville, has been in The American Legion for 16 years. She and Harrell are currently in the process of moving to Princeton.
“I like helping veterans,” said Owens, who was a sergeant major in the Army. “I used to take care of my soldiers, and I had a soldier who tried to commit suicide. After six hours on the phone, he finally went and got help.”
“That’s awesome,” Meyer replied. “Nothing bigger than you can do than that.”
“I know. That’s the best thing in my career,” Owens said. “I still have soldiers that will call or Facebook message me, asking questions. I’m a nurturer. I took care of soldiers and now I take care of veterans.”
Owens shared with Meyer that The American Legion is partnering with the Columbia University Lighthouse Project to provide free suicide prevention training to support the Legion’s Be the One mission.
“It’s asking the hard questions. Sometimes they just need someone to talk to,” Owens said.
Meyer wasn’t aware of The American Legion’s Be the One mission, but he left the coffee shop knowing how to spread the message thanks to Owens, who enjoyed her “sit and talk over a cup of coffee” with a fellow veteran and Medal of Honor recipient.
- Careers