The history of The American Legion is such a powerful one. You had a group of veterans with no benefits form an organization to support one another. In the last line of the preamble, it says we are here for mutual helpfulness.
The words "mutual helpfulness" are important. Our role as Legionnaires is to support one another. We are to support our veterans and our community. Mutual helpfulness doesn’t mean I will do something for you if you do something for me in return. There are no conditions to this phrase.
Now that is a tall order because you can’t solve every problem. But we should look within ourselves and say, “Can I do more?” Are we supporting the veterans in our community? Is The American Legion supporting the American Legion Auxiliary and vice versa? Are the American Legion Riders supporting the post programs? Are we communicating across the entire American Legion Family and promoting mutual helpfulness?
I know that personally I could do better. There are many posts that could do better. Mutual helpfulness also includes other levels of the organization. How many of us are asked to support in other levels but fail to do so? How many of us are encouraging our members to grow in this organization?
All too often we fail to encourage others because we are selfish. We have a strong post leader, and we don’t want to lose that volunteer because they accept another role. By holding this member back, we are doing a disservice to our post and organization. We should be empowering our leaders rather than shackling them down.
I want to encourage you to remember the last line of the preamble and be mutually helpful to one another. Be mutually helpful to the veterans in your post and those not in it. Remember the work our forefathers have accomplished and that torch they have passed to you. We have been charged to grow our post’s and this organization so we can stand before Congress with the power to be mutually helpful to our veterans.
We are charged with making an impact in the lives we touch. In a world where patriotism is under attack, it is up to us to educate those around us. It’s up to us to support those around us.
I charge you to remember that last line as you make decisions on programs. I want you to remember that line as you call members and check on them. I want you to embody that saying whether you are in the public or in private. That is what The American Legion is about!