Do Today’s Veterans Need the American Legion?

As a child I can remember many trips to the local AMVETS. There, my father would meet and talk with fellow veterans of the war he never really wanted to talk about, Nam. My uncle could also be found there as well throwing down a few cold ones after a hard day at work. My father, a musician by trade was an easy talker and would work the crowd talking about just about any topic of the day. I may have been around ten or so then, now some thirty plus years later and 2 trips to the Gulf myself, I now find myself reflecting on that time.At the time I could not fully understand why so many vets would want to spend so much time together, especially since many of them really didn’t want to remember the war anyway. Many were tough talking, abrupt, but strangely polite enough and many drank more than they should. Little did I know that for me, it would be decades before I could really take in what had taken place on those many visits with my father.I now have 25 years of continued service with the US Armed Services. Eleven of those years are active duty, with the remainder Reserve. A so called member of generation X, I have thought recently about my new membership to the American Legion (on suggestion of my wife, she too a veteran as well), as to whether or not veterans still need the American Legion. I mean, think about it. We now live in an age when the means to communicate has never been easier, or so it seems. Growing up I had the ability to speak to anyone around the world via amateur radio. But now with true cellular technology, my kids can reach me even on the battlefield. They can follow me via Twitter, or check the status of my day using any number of social media websites available. So why would someone want to sit and talk in an old building. I have rediscovered if you will that now, more than ever the need for face time has never been greater. Anyone who works in the business or social realm can really appreciate just how complicated technology has made it to communicate between two or more individuals and have the results meet both parties’ expectations. It has been said that sometimes language is the worst tool to use when trying to describe Mother Nature. Now try and describe your experiences during your time on duty to someone who has never experienced it. What may seem useless to one individual lacking experience would have another individual up in arms. The American Legion bridges that gap in experience by sheer collective consciousness. If I need someone to talk to for example, and don’t want to burden family or really close friends about a concern, or just want to vent an opinion about a given issue, there is always someone there to listen. There is nothing more aggravating than being on the phone dialing through an unknown number of automated menus, only to discover that the answer I need can only be resolved by speaking with an actual living person, something that clearly seemed obvious from the start. I have discovered that the American Legion is a great place to begin when it comes to resources available to veterans. When my family and I moved to a new part of the state, it was members of the American Legion that helped us meet new people, and learn about the resources in our area. I was also able to gain access to governmental services that I did not even know existed, which has helped greatly as I work to complete my college education. What the American Legion does is allow you to communicate with likeminded and experienced individuals with, and this is important, little or no strings attached about issues that affect veterans. The Legion has many outreach programs aimed at helping fellow military veterans. They also lobby in Washington to ensure that we continue to receive our hard earned benefits, but also ensure that these benefits continue to improve. The American Legion is staffed by volunteer members, all of whom are veterans like myself who can appreciate the life experience that serving in the U.S. Armed Forces represents. I foresee the American Legion continuing to assist American veterans now and into the future. Many thanks to you all. 

Kenyatta L. Harris, USAF                                      
American Legion Post 208
Millis, Massachusetts