Legion hosts national commander

Eighteen months ago, Sundance did not have an American Legion post.

At the beginning of the effort to revive Post #45, a small group of veterans dedicated themselves to the task of filling leadership roles and hosting meetings, with the goal of once again becoming a mainstay of the Sundance community.

It was slow going at times, the group admits. At some meetings, there were too few members to form a quorum.

Undeterred, those original members continued to put out the call.

Today, membership has flourished, monthly meetings are well attended and American Legion Post #45 can once again be relied on to honor those who have served on Memorial Day and Veterans Day and to take part in and host other community events such as the Easter hunt, parade floats, a hamburger stand during rally week and 50/50 raffles during fair, just as the post had done for so many years before it disbanded in 2021.

To recognize and celebrate the success of this revival, Post #45 welcomed two very special guests to a dinner gathering last week: National Commander James A. LaCoursiere, Jr and Wyoming Commander William "Bill" Barnes.

"I saw a sign on the way here that said [population] of 1092," LaCoursiere says. "They have a small post, but in a small community like this it's very big."

It's important, says the newly elected national commander, that the post is present and stable to remind the community that there is a group of people willing and able to help all veterans in this area and their family members.

What Post #45 is now trying to do is grow, reestablish itself, welcome new members and once again become a "major player" in the community, LaCoursiere says. Spending time with smaller posts like the one in Sundance is important to him.

"I want to get out to the rural posts – I want to go to the posts that nobody goes to, to let them know that we do care," he says.

It's a sentiment that was echoed by Barnes, himself recently elected, as he spoke to the gathered veterans and their families.

"You don't know me very well, and I don't know you very well – but that is going to change," he said.

Post Commander Welchie Patterson felt the evening was a great success.

"All of the posts in our area were represented," he says, listing guest attendees from Newcastle, Hulett and Moorcroft.

Members of the post were honored, he says, that both commanders took the time to make the trek to northeast Wyoming to see how the post was doing and offer congratulations.

"That means at least we're going in the right direction," he says. "The main thing we're doing is trying to get some of the members that were of the post to come back."

The membership rolls have now grown to around 30, although a few are relatively inactive – Sundance natives, for example, who have moved away from the area but still wish to be counted among the post's numbers.

"We've even got people living in other states now that are wanting to rejoin our post," he says.

Patterson was also encouraged to hear from the commanders that the posts doing well are often following that same philosophy he instituted when he was elected.

"There is a new commander's philosophy for the post that it's not my post, it's their post – I'm just the figurehead, I'm the one that runs the meeting," Patterson says.

National Duties

As National Commander, LaCoursiere estimates that he will spend maybe a couple of weeks a year at home in his own bed. The rest of the time, he will be visiting posts and military installations and campuses both at home and overseas.

LaCoursiere was elected in New Orleans on August 29. By September 2, he was on the road with Aide Harry "Butch" Hansen, and they haven't been home since.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world," he smiled. "I'm maintaining our mission to reduce the veteran suicide rate. We're also trying to reduce the suicide rate for veterans' children and the spouse, and we're trying to reach into the communities as well."

LaCoursiere was referring to the Legion's "Be the One" suicide prevention program. Listening, observing and asking the difficult question are the key steps, he said.

If you ask a person if they're ok, they may shrug off the question.

But if you ask that person if they feel or have felt suicidal, he says, "Then, they'll really think." Then, he says, they may open up and share their thoughts with you.

"You've got to ask the tough question," he says. "Wyoming has a very high veteran suicide rate."

LaCoursiere took the baton for this mission from the previous national commander, he says, and has firmly placed his focus on quality of life for veterans and their families.

"I don't want to just do the 'tours'," he says. Instead, he favors a hands-on approach, speaking directly to veterans and troops, hosting town halls and forming relationships that can bring people together to solve problems and make improvements.

"I have my own personal, secondary theme, which is 'LUV'," he adds.

It stands for "loyalty, unity, valor" and is a theme he introduced following his election at the 105th American Legion National Convention. It encompasses true compassion, working together for one mission and the valor in veterans' hearts.

If you are a veteran who is interested in getting involved with Post #45, you are invited to attend a meeting on the first Monday of the month at the Sundance State Bank meeting room at 7 p.m.

"Come sit in one meeting and, if you like what you see, come back," says Patterson. "If you don't, tell me what you'd like to see that's different and maybe we can incorporate it and make it a better place."