John J. Morris Post 62

The league still stands behind the traditional values upon which it was founded in 1925. American Legion Baseball has taught hundreds of thousands of young Americans the importance of sportsmanship, good health, and active citizenship. The program is also a promoter of equality, making teammates out of young athletes regardless of their income levels or social standings. American Legion Baseball has been, and continues to be, a stepping stone to manhood for millions of young men who have gone on to serve their country or community, raise families or play the sport at the highest level.

Don't forget that last year's message, Be the One, reminds us that the Number 1 issue facing the veteran community is suicide. It is estimated that between 17 and 22 veterans or servicemembers take their lives each day. That’s more than 6,000 annually. The rate of suicide for veterans is more than 50% higher than that of non-veteran adults.    

At its core, The American Legion is activating a national platform to reduce the rate of veteran suicide. The Be the One campaign will destigmatize asking for mental health support, creating opportunity for those with mental health issues to speak freely and get the support they need. How can you help? While this program is designed to help all veterans, we know that everyone responds differently to stresses, have different life experiences, and have varying results in types of treatment. However, the following are guidelines intended to provide help before a crisis situation develops. The American Legion encourages you to Be the One to talk with others about how you are feeling, ask for help when you know you need it, know there are millions of people ready to help you and remember your family and friends’ care.

The 2025 memberships are being processed as fast as I can. For some of you, there will be a surprise inside your envelope .You can renew ONLINE by going to  www.legion.org/renew  and click “Renew Now” to safely and conveniently pay your dues. The grace period to renew is January 1 thru the 31st without any type of penalty. On 1 February thru 30 June, renewals will have to be approved by the post general membership on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. That means that renewals during the time frame won't be able to participate in the weekly Queen of Hearts Raffle or the weekly Texas Hold 'Em until your renewal is approved and a hard copy of your memembership card is issued to you - your receipt won't be valid for these two events.