Through newsletters and social media, departments and posts are encouraged to ask members to share their experience with Buddy Checks and why they make the calls.
The American Legion wants to hear Buddy Check stories. These stories can be easily shared by posting them on legiontown.org under the category “Buddy Checks.” When submitting Buddy Check stories, please share with us your “why” to making check-ins with veterans and their families.
American Legion departments and posts are encouraged to share this request in their membership newsletters to help spread the word for more submissions.
American Legion Family members are making Buddy Check calls on regular schedules to let veterans and their families know they are not alone and that the American Legion Family stands ready to assist them in any way we can.
In one afternoon, Bridget Hayes called her Buddy Check list of 33 members of Bernard Hurst American Legion Post 77 in Brookville, Ind. She spoke with several of them and even learned that two post members had passed away. For post members Hayes didn’t reach, she left a voicemail or sent an email.
“I am pretty new to the Legion, so I didn’t really know what I was going to say to these longtime members for the Buddy Check,” said Hayes, who joined Post 77 in 2019 upon retiring from the Army. “After I said hello and my name, it was pretty easy. I just told them that I was checking on them to see if they needed anything from the Legion, and that seemed to be good enough. Most just updated me on what they were doing, and others talked a bit more, especially about medical issues. I had many nice little chats.”
Hayes said that a wife of a post member called her back and asked to borrow a wheelchair from Post 77 so her husband could attend their grandson’s graduation. “She was very thankful that we called to begin with, and I was happy we could help her. I think it’s a great idea to check on our members, it seemed to make them feel good and gave me a nice feeling too.”
Hayes served more than 28 years in the U.S. Army, and now serves as the adjutant of Post 77.
After retiring from the Army, “It’s been a struggle to find my way in this new civilian world and the Legion has helped because it makes me feel like I belong somewhere,” she said. “The Buddy Checks let me remember my leadership skills that I used to use every day in the Army. I also think it makes our post stronger because getting in touch with our members lets them know they are not alone.”
Buddy Check toolkit
Toolkits with valuable resources for Buddy Check teams have been refreshed and updated for the program’s third year. Those materials are available at www.legion.org/buddycheck.
The Buddy Check toolkit provides:
• Tips on how to organize a Buddy Check team;
• Buddy Check sample scrips to members and non-members;
• Quick answers to what The American Legion does; and
• Space to fill out what the department does.
Included in the toolkit is a sample media advisory and Buddy Check press release. Posts are encouraged to invite local media to see how Buddy Checks are working in their communities. A downloadable media advisory template is available for posts to customize and distribute to media outlets. Access the sample media advisory for posts and press release at www.legion.org/buddycheck/tools.
- Dispatch