January 13, 2025 • 32 mins
Join me, Jerry Allhands, on a heartfelt journey across Mississippi, alongside our esteemed guest, Trish Ward, the 2024-2025 National President of the American Legion Auxiliary. Trish opens up about her inspiring travels across 18 states, sharing moving experiences such as honoring fallen heroes at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Her stories about her Kansas upbringing and her devotion to the legacy of the four chaplains, particularly George Fox, add a personal touch to her leadership narrative. Together, we delve into the importance of supporting service members and their families, emphasizing the enduring commitment of the American Legion family.
In our conversation, we explore meaningful ways individuals can aid veterans and the American Legion Auxiliary, even amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life. I recount my visit to a veterans' home in Oxford, Mississippi, where connecting with residents through crafts and conversation proved remarkably fulfilling. Trish and I highlight the pivotal role of dedicated staff at VA facilities, initiatives like the "Be the One" mission aimed at preventing veteran suicide, and the inspiring story of a family creating a retreat in honor of their loved one—a testament to the power of community support and the legacy of service.
Our discussion takes a turn towards revitalizing small-town America and bolstering leadership within the American Legion family. We confront the pressing challenge of aging membership and declining infrastructure, underscoring the need for fresh leadership and community engagement. Strategies to boost membership, including leveraging personal networks and enlisting realtors as advocates, are laid out. We wrap up with a heartfelt call for unity and support, inviting eligible individuals to join this dedicated family and reinforcing the spirit of commitment that drives Allhands Media LLC.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jerry Allhands (00:00):
This is the Veterans Sound Off Podcast.
Welcome to the show and thanksfor joining me.
I'm your host, jerry Allhands,a veteran of the United States
Air Force Security Police andthe US Army's 82nd Airborne.
I am the 2021-2022 PastDepartment Commander of the
Department of Mississippi of theAmerican Legion.
(00:21):
On each episode of this show,we will travel across the state
of Mississippi and visit eachAmerican Legion post and
discover how the members thereare still serving America and
their communities.
Along the way, we will visitwith members of the American
Legion family, such as theAmerican Legion Auxiliary, the
Sons of the American Legion andthe Legion Riders, discovering
(00:41):
what makes each of them anintegral part of the American
Legion family.
We will make stops across thestate to visit with other
veteran groups and organizationsthat continue to serve America
and support the veterancommunity.
Before we start today's episode, we want to thank three people
who have invested in thispodcast and have made it
possible.
A very special thank you toDean and Judy Graves of Mount
(01:03):
Vernon, missouri, for yoursupport and belief and, without
a doubt, this podcast would nothave happened without the
constant encouragement of LauraAllhands from Clarksdale,
mississippi.
Last week we traveled toAmerican Legion DeSoto County
Post 1990 in Nesbitt and visitedwith the American Legion riders
there.
Be sure to join us next Monday,January 20th, as we return to
(01:24):
Nesbitt and visit withDetachment 1990 and the Sons of
the American Legion.
We ask that you subscribe tothis podcast and share it with
your friends and family.
On today's episode, it takesplace after we traveled south to
Lafayette County in the northcentral part of the state.
We took a drive throughdowntown Oxford in hopes of
seeing one of my favorite actors, Reb Brown, who starred
(01:44):
alongside Gene Hackman in themovie Uncommon Valor, and we
were looking for thatbest-selling author, John
Gresham.
Sadly, neither were to be seen.
But the highlight of the daytakes place in the chapel of the
Mississippi State Veterans Homelocated at 120 Center Ridge
Road in Oxford.
That's where we met with adelegation from the American
Legion Auxiliary Sarah Lassiter,Tina Hurst and Mary Jo Abraham,
(02:08):
who were escorting today'sguest.
This episode is brought to youwithout interruption thanks to a
gift made by a person whowishes to remain anonymous and
who so very much enjoyed ourguests visit to Mississippi that
they wanted her interview toair uninterrupted.
And welcome to the VeteransSound Off podcast with Jerry
Allhands.
I am in Oxford, mississippi,today, with a very, very special
(02:31):
guest, a lady who has traveledwell, shall we say, coast to
coast, and probably severalnations already by now, I'm sure
, and it is my great pleasure tointroduce you to the 2024 2025
American Legion AuxiliaryNational President, Mrs.
Trish Ward.
Welcome, ma'am.
Trish Ward (02:49):
Thank you so much for that introduction and,
before we get started, I alwayslike to begin these kinds of
things with a prayer.
The American Legion Auxiliarysupports our service members,
their families and our veterans,their families and our veterans
.
So as we begin a new year, thisseems like an appropriate time
(03:11):
to come together in the spiritof your own faith, as we pray
for peace for our country, peacefor our planet and especially
peace and safety for our servicemembers who are serving abroad
and domestically.
May they all come home safely,may they all be safe, and may we
protect them forever and always, along with their families.
Amen, they all come home safely, may they all be safe and may
we protect them forever andalways, along with their
families.
Amen.
Jerry Allhands (03:28):
Amen, thank you.
That was beautiful.
I really appreciate that.
As a Christian man, as asoldier, as a veteran I'll even
admit it, as an Air Forceveteran too.
It means so much to me to haveyou here today and to have you
in Mississippi, and I knowyou've been here for several
days.
I hope you've enjoyed yourselfand we've treated you well, and
(03:49):
hopefully you'll come back to us.
Trish Ward (03:51):
Thank you so much for that.
Yes, it's been an amazing 120days.
I was installed as nationalpresident at our convention in
New Orleans, Louisiana, onAugust 28, 2024.
So I've been doing this nowjust about 120 days plus.
I've traveled to 18 differentdepartments and, of course, here
(04:11):
in the American Legion familywe call our states departments.
So I've been to 18 states.
I've been three times to ournation's capital, which was
absolutely amazing, as I laid awreath of remembrance at the
Tomb of the Unknown on VeteransDay and I was also there for
Wreaths Across America, whichwas an amazing as I laid a
wreath of remembrance at theTomb of the Unknown on Veterans
Day and I was also there forWreaths Across America, which
was an amazing opportunity to bein Arlington to lay wreaths on
(04:32):
some very, very special memorialstones which I'd love to tell
you a little bit about.
I'm a huge believer and advocatefor the story of the four
chaplains and I know the familyof George Fox, who was one of
the four chaplains, and I knowthe family of George Fox, who
was one of the four chaplainswho lost his life on the USAT
Dorchester on February 3rd 1944.
And we're coming up on FourChaplains Day soon and it was so
(04:54):
special for me to lay a wreathat his memorial stone.
I was with his family when welaid that stone in September of
2024.
It was actually my firstopportunity when I became
national president.
It was extremely memorable.
So I've been on the road havinga wonderful time meeting our
members, especially acrossgrassroots America.
Jerry Allhands (05:14):
I was checking out your bio recently and I see
that you're from Kansas.
Trish Ward (05:18):
Well, that's correct .
I represent the Department ofKansas.
I'm originally from Californiabut I relocated to my husband's
native Kansas in 1999, where,gratefully, we found the Legion
family and I am a proud member,paid up for life member, of John
P Hand Unit 250 in Lewisburg,kansas, where my husband is a
proud sons of the AmericanLegion.
So we are a Legion family andwe believe in supporting the
(05:41):
American Legion family, as we dowith our children and
grandchildren and a fewgreat-grandchildren as well.
Jerry Allha (05:48):
Great-grandchildren , great-grandchildren.
I'm sorry, I have a very hardtime believing that, because I'm
looking across at you and youare so young.
Trish Ward (05:55):
I know I'm only 29.
Not really, no.
My husband and I are very proudof our newest great-grandson,
Everett Cohen, who is just abouta year old, and he is a proud
member of the Sons of theAmerican Legion.
So we believe in becoming afull Legion family and we hope
that the American Legion familyacross our nation continues to
thrive and grow.
Jerry Allhands (06:17):
I'm a total advocate with you there.
I appreciate that so much.
My own grandchildren are in theSons and the Auxiliary.
I guess she would be a junior.
She's a junior in high schoolthis year.
Hard to believe.
Trish Ward (06:28):
Okay, well, I got to put a plug in there for Girl
State.
Then, if she's a junior in highschool, got to tell our
listeners about the AmericanLegion Boys State experience and
American Legion Auxiliary GirlState.
Because, as a representative ofthe American Legion family, I
support Jim LeCourcier, ournational commander, and Joseph
Nafferrette, the sons of theAmerican Legion national
commander, and we are hugeadvocates of the Boys State and
(06:50):
Girls State program, which isfor our young people who have
just graduated from their junioryear of high school.
In every state across thecountry and here in the great
state of Mississippi we cometogether early in the summer and
we teach our young people aboutbeing good citizens and they
create their own cities and theyrun for office and they write
(07:11):
bills and they learn a littlebit more about the American
Legion experience and certainlyour country, and it's a fabulous
program.
So if you have young men oryoung women having just
graduated from their junior yearof high school, check out Boys
State and Girls State.
Jerry Allhands (07:24):
Oh, they'll love it.
And speaking of that, our BoysState program is this May 25th
through the 31st.
You can find more informationon that at their website, www.
msboysstatecom, or by callingthe Mississippi American Legion
adjutant, Deborah Fielder, at601-497-5079.
(07:47):
And Girls State is just about aweek later, June 8th through
the 13th.
For more information on that,go to www.
alamississippigirlsstatecom.
Both programs are happeningright here in Oxford on the
campus of Ole Miss.
How did you come to be in theAmerican Legion Auxiliary?
(08:07):
What makes you eligible to bean auxiliary member and why,
join the American LegionAuxiliary.
Trish Ward (08:12):
Well, I am from California, as I mentioned, and
my husband wanted to relocate tohis native Kansas.
So we did and I left everything.
I left my family, I left myfriends, I left my family, I
left my friends, I left a joband I believed in building a new
life with my husband in a placethat he wanted us to go forward
(08:35):
.
So we relocated to his nativeKansas and the Midwest has been
really good to us.
But it was my realtor who sortof saw that maybe I needed to
meet some people and maybe Iwould benefit from the Legion
experience.
So it was my realtor that saidwhy don't you join the Legion?
And I'm so grateful to herbecause I'm not sure that in
(08:56):
California the Legion familywould have found me.
I didn't really.
My father wasn't a member,although I'm eligible for this
organization under his World WarII service in the United States
Army and also my grandfather'sWorld War II service as a United
States Navy Seabee.
So I'm eligible for thisorganization through my family
members and I'm so grateful thatI'm a member in Lewisburg,
(09:19):
kansas, and that my realtor setme up for excellence and said
why don't you join our unit?
It was the best thing that everhappened to me.
Jerry Allhands (09:26):
So it's true, anyone can join the American
Legion through an invitationlike that.
Trish Ward (09:32):
Well, anyone who's eligible can join the American
Legion family, so let's talkabout that a little bit Please.
Our eligibility for the AmericanLegion family is actually
determined by the AmericanLegion and the American Legion
was chartered by Congress.
And the American Legion familyis actually determined by the
American Legion and the AmericanLegion was chartered by
Congress.
And the American LegionAuxiliary and the Sons of the
American Legion and also theAmerican Legion Riders are part
(09:53):
of the Legion family.
So in the American LegionAuxiliary we are eligible
through the service of animmediate family member within
two degrees of a very fancy wordcalled consanguinity, and what
that really means is just twodegrees from the veteran himself
or herself.
I should also mention thatfemale veterans are eligible
(10:14):
under their own service and thatmen of female veterans or male
veterans, if a same-sex marriageis legal and I believe it is in
this country are eligible forthe American Legion Auxiliary,
and that is pretty new.
Just a few years back theAmerican Legion adjusted our
eligibility and they changed oneword from wife to spouse.
(10:35):
So a spouse of a female veteranor male veteran is eligible to
join the American LegionAuxiliary.
Now A little bit different forthe Sons of the American Legion.
They are a program of theAmerican Legion and it is for
young men who are eligiblethrough the service of a male
descendant in their familyfather, grandfather,
(10:57):
great-grandfather.
The American Legion Ridersaccept eligibility from a
Legionnaire, an American LegionAuxiliary member or Sons of the
American Legion.
Riders accept eligibility froma Legionnaire, an American
Legion auxiliary member or sonsof the American Legion member.
In order to be a rider you mustbe a member of the Legion, the
sons or the auxiliary.
So that's a little bit aboutour eligibility.
But so many people in ourhistory have served and a lot of
(11:20):
times our young people justdon't realize that maybe grandma
or grandpa served.
So it's important that wecommunicate about that
eligibility and talk to ouryoung people.
Just don't realize that maybegrandma or grandpa served.
So it's important that wecommunicate about that
eligibility and talk to ouryoung people about if they're
eligible.
Jerry Allhands (11:31):
That sounds great.
I'm curious about your realtor.
How did your realtor?
Was your realtor a auxiliarymember or legion member?
Trish Ward (11:40):
My realtor was a member of the American Legion
Auxiliary.
Lewisburg, Kansas, is a littletown.
It's a suburb of Kansas City.
We were just on the Kansas sideof the Missouri border and we
are a really thriving small town, very much like how the
American Legion was built, whichwas on small-town America
really.
So my realtor was a member ofthe Unit 250 there in Lewisburg,
(12:03):
Kansas, and she was doing whatlots of good business people do
they see potential members andthey try to grow their units.
So she was doing exactly whatwe wanted her to do, which is
reaching out to new peoplecoming into town, and I'm so
grateful that she did that.
Jerry Allhands (12:17):
I'm very grateful she did that.
I get to meet you because ofher.
Trish Ward (12:19):
Well, look what's happened to me since.
Jerry Allhands (12:22):
How long have you been in the auxiliary?
Trish Ward (12:23):
I joined in 1999 when we relocated to Kansas, so
that puts me at right about 25years, and my journey in
leadership was like many membersof our organization.
We get involved in our unit andthey need people to step up.
We need leaders and they askedme to be a leader in my unit and
(12:43):
I gladly accepted.
We need leaders and they askedme to be a leader in my unit and
I gladly accepted.
I made a few missteps but I hada lot of people who supported
me and mentored me and helped meand showed me the way, which is
a little bit about my themethis year as national president,
which is leading the way and,as I tell people with the
(13:05):
American Legion haven't.
We always led the way and wecertainly have since our
founding, where we were integralin supporting the concept of
the VA, in support of AbrahamLincoln's message that we will
support all our veterans and, ofcourse, we support our Legion
family as they advocate forlegislative growth for our
veterans.
We want to make sure that theirvoice is heard in Washington DC
and it's what we do best islegislate and be advocates for
our veterans.
We want to make sure that theirvoice is heard in Washington DC
, and it's what we do best islegislate and be advocates for
(13:27):
our veterans.
Jerry Allhands (13:29):
If somebody wanted to join the auxiliary,
but they say, I'm just too busy,I don't have enough time.
I really want to be a member,but I just.
.
.
what would you say to thosepeople?
Trish Ward (13:39):
Well, it happens often because the Legion family
isn't always for everyone andcertainly if there's no
eligibility, we always try tofind the opportunity for
everybody to serve, even if it'sin a volunteer capacity.
We have folks in my little townwho aren't eligible but who love
(13:59):
to come and support us, bothextra hands on deck and through
financial support.
But for those members who areeligible and maybe they work and
they have young families orthey just don't have time to fit
it in what I tell them is, ifyou believe in supporting a
family member who served ourcountry and you want to support
that individual and honor theirservice, join our organization
(14:23):
and those of us who do have timewill put those dues to very
good use supporting our veteransin the VA residences and
supporting our children throughour children and youth programs,
and supporting our militaryfamilies and our veterans
through our children and youthprograms, and supporting our
military families and ourveterans through our Veterans
Affairs and RehabilitationProgram.
So even though they can't maybeattend a meeting, we will put
(14:44):
those dues to good use.
So join an American Legionfamily in your small town or big
town and get involved.
And if you can't get involved,support the people who are
involved and they'll put yourmoney to good use.
Jerry Allhands (14:59):
Excellent, excellent.
We were talking about theveterans homes.
We're in one today in Oxford,mississippi.
Trish Ward (15:04):
In beautiful Oxford, Mississippi.
I understand that there areabout 117 veteran residents here
and I can't wait to meet someof them.
I'm here today because theAmerican Legion Auxiliary
juniors and I should alsomention, since we talked about
membership so much the AmericanLegion Auxiliary has two classes
of membership juniors andseniors.
And juniors are for youngpeople below the age of 18, and
(15:28):
then, of course, seniors, 18 andabove.
So we had a little activity afew days ago where our junior
members came and they did craftswhich I brought today to hang
on the doors of our veteranshere in Oxford, and it always
brings a smile to their facewhen they see these beautiful
little craft projects that ourjunior members do to recognize
and honor them.
Jerry Allhands (15:48):
If you have one thing to say to a resident here
what would you share with them?
Trish Ward (15:59):
a resident here.
What would you share with them?
Well, it's common and oftenthat we thank our veterans for
their service to our country,but I think it's also important
to look them in the eyes and totake their hand and hold their
hand and let them know that notonly do we say it, we really
mean it, and we mean it by theactions that we do.
So it's important to say thewords, but it's also important
to connect with them.
(16:20):
A lot of the people that livein the veterans' homes maybe
they don't have family membersand they don't have people to
connect with them, andconnecting is so important.
So our American LegionAuxiliary family does that in a
lot of ways, and especiallyaround the holidays recently
with our holiday gift shopswhere our veterans can come and
select gifts for their familymembers and sometimes our
(16:42):
auxiliary members help them shop.
So it's that connection.
So what I would say to them iscertainly thank you for your
service, but also we will neverforget what you did to keep our
country free and we're going tohonor you every day.
Jerry Allhands (16:55):
What you did to keep our country free and we're
going to honor you every day.
That's beautiful, that isabsolutely beautiful.
If you had to, I guess, talkingwith the staff at some of these
facilities, what's the thingthat you want to share with the
staff here?
Trish Ward (17:11):
I've had the opportunity to visit a lot of VA
facilities, both residents'homes where our veterans reside,
and also the VA hospitals wherethey're cared for, and I'm very
aware and looking at lots ofdifferent things the cleanliness
of the facility, the joy in thefacility.
Are people smiling, areresidents well cared for, do
(17:35):
they appear to be in good healthas they're there, and are they
being attended to as they shouldbe?
So, as I talk to the peoplethat care for our veterans,
first and foremost I thank themtoo, because it takes a very
special person to come andsupport the VA or a residence
facility to care for veterans.
It's not always an easy thingto do, and we want to make sure
(17:58):
that these people also arereceiving good leadership with
the teams that they work withand that they have the things
that they need to care for ourveterans, and so sometimes it's
just simply asking them do youhave what you need and are you
treated well as you care for ourveterans?
Because if they're happy, thenthey're going to treat our
veterans well.
Jerry Allhands (18:19):
Definitely, definitely.
As a person who utilizes the VAhospitals, va Medical Center
since the 70s, I have observedfirsthand how, in my own opinion
, most of the facilities I meetand go to service is great.
The people are great.
Depending upon my attitude, youknow, if I walk in and I'm rude
(18:40):
and crude, I may get it back.
If I walk in with a smile, Iusually get it back.
Trish Ward (18:45):
That's very true and I think the people that care
for our veterans are very welltrained to be able to recognize
what the needs are and sometimesthose veterans that maybe are a
little gruff, maybe they're inpain, or maybe they're hurting,
or maybe they're carrying demonsfrom war that we just haven't
been able to figure out what'sgoing on with them.
(19:06):
In the American Legion we have amission that is a primary
mission of the organization,called Be the One, and it is
positioned to help our membersand citizens.
Be the one to save one.
We've spoken often about thetragedy of veteran suicide and
how unfortunately common it canbe.
(19:27):
Here in Mississippi I had theopportunity to meet a family of
a veteran who took his own lifeand they are doing amazing
things to honor him withRonnie's retreat here in
northern Mississippi, and theyare looking to build a compound
where veterans can come, be safe, be helped, be cared for and be
(19:48):
supported if they're on amental health journey.
So as we talk about the Be theOne mission, we're arming our
members to be sure to ask theright questions and to be able
to recognize when a veteran isstruggling and to intervene so
that the family, like Ronniedoesn.
We help all citizens and ourmembers be ready and willing to
(20:08):
talk and ask the hard questions.
Jerry Allhands (20:22):
And there are definitely some hard questions
out there, but the Be the Oneprogram to me is just excellent.
It's a great way to be therefor that veteran or a person
who's not a veteran and needsjust to talk to somebody, just
to unburden, and it's amazing.
Trish Ward (20:39):
It's so true, and I've learned a tremendous amount
, as I've learned more throughthe Be the One initiative, which
we leverage, the Columbiaprotocol, which we do some
training to be able to make surethat our members are positioned
to ask the right questions atthe right time.
We have several things thatwe're looking to do to try and
(21:02):
integrate some importantinformation.
When we see a veteranstruggling, to make sure that he
or she gets the help they needquickly and efficiently, it just
doesn't work to be able to say,well, we'll get to you in 30
days.
You have to interveneimmediately.
So what better to do it than aveteran service organization
like the American Legion family?
(21:23):
We're with our veterans, we seethem regularly and we're very
prepared to be able to recognizewhen someone might be
struggling.
We just want to make sure thatour members are ready to ask the
right questions.
Nobody here is necessarily amental health professional it's
not what we do for a living butwe can recognize when someone's
struggling and we can interveneto get them the help they need.
Jerry Allhands (21:45):
Most definitely, and for me one of the best
things is just being a personwho's willing to listen.
Just take that call or show upat the door and knock on the
door.
It can mean a lot.
Trish Ward (21:55):
The American Legion was founded really on that
concept that our veterans missedthe camaraderie that they had
while they were together inconflict, and so they came
together to found the AmericanLegion for the purpose to give
veterans a place that they cancongregate and that they can
support each other, and that'sreally what we were founded on.
So it still holds true today,even 104 plus years later.
(22:20):
Veterans, people who served ourcountry, they miss that
camaraderie and that's what theAmerican Legion family brings to
them and why we're such asuccessful veteran service
organization.
We've been around 100 years, weknow how to do it, we know what
questions need to be asked andwe know when and where to get
the job done.
So I can just say, here in thegreat state of Mississippi I've
(22:42):
met with many grassroots membersand Legionnaires and it's been
heartwarming to see the greatwork that the people of
Mississippi are doing.
Jerry Allhands (22:50):
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I know that our auxiliary willappreciate those kind words and
as a past department commander,I appreciate those words very
much.
Especially appreciate yourvisiting with us today and I
know that your program, yoursaying, is leading the way.
Tell me a little more aboutwhat you would like to see us do
in Mississippi or nationally.
Trish Ward (23:11):
Yes.
So this has been an amazingopportunity for me, for my
Department of Kansas, to assumeleadership at the highest role.
And as I have traveled and as Iplanned my experience, I came
to this organization as a seniorlead project manager and a
corporate trainer.
I was a program manager, so allI really know what to do is how
(23:35):
to train salespeople.
So I'm taking my show on theroad and I talked to members
about four what I call truthstatements.
And the first truth statement issmall-town America is
struggling.
This is a problem for theLegion family because small-town
America is where the Legion wasbuilt and, as I tell people
(23:55):
think of it as a piece of fabricthat is stretched from Maine to
Florida, to Alaska, to Hawaii.
And what happens when thosethreads of that fabric start to
break, when we lose our littleunits and our little posts and
our little squadrons in smalltown America, the fabric loses
its integrity and it loses itsstrength.
(24:16):
So it's very important thatsmall town America be
revitalized and that we remainstrong in these small towns.
Like the unit I belong to, theAmerican Legion family is
positioned to help small-townAmerica because it's where we
reside.
So that's truth statementnumber one.
Truth statement number two isthat leadership is dwindling and
(24:37):
in many organizations,especially membership-driven
organizations, we need goodleaders and we need more of them
.
And we need more qualifiedleaders.
And I'll throw in we need morediverse leaders.
We need people of differentfaiths and different cultures,
of different ages, because werepresent our military and our
military is very diverse.
So how can we support them ifwe aren't representative of them
(25:01):
?
So I feel strongly thatleadership capacity needs to be
upswelled and we need to findlots and lots of new leaders and
help them along.
Leaders need people who supportthem.
I had people support me andwhen you get young people and
leaders, you have to supportthem.
True statement number threemembership is aging and churning
(25:22):
, and churning is just a bigfancy word for leaving.
Many membership organizationsare struggling and it's pretty
simple you don't have to belongto the Legion to support a
veteran.
However, by supporting theAmerican Legion family and if
you're eligible, belonging thisgives an opportunity for us to
remain strong and advocate forour veterans.
With Congress, which we doregularly, we need to get
(25:45):
members, we need to keep membersand we need to get more members
.
So I believe in the third truthstatement finding members is
key and critical to our growth.
And the last truth statement isthis the infrastructure of some
of our posts is weakening.
I've traveled this country andI've seen some amazing, amazing
(26:07):
American Legion posts and I'veseen a lot of them here in
Mississippi and I'm going togive a little call out to
beautiful Gaucher Van Cleef downin the southern part of the
state, absolutely beautiful post.
And I saw a beautiful post uphere in Northern Mississippi
which is where the birthplace ofElvis Presley which was why I
(26:30):
went to Tupelo.
Fantastic post, but not allposts are that strong and shored
up with such a strongfoundation.
And if you wouldn't bring yourchildren and grandchildren to
the post, that's an issue.
The posts need to be fresh,they need to be strong, they
need to be family-friendly andthey need to be the centerpiece,
(26:51):
the linchpin of the community.
So when we see a little poststruggling in small-town America
, we need to jump in and we needto help them.
For the 24-25 administration,the Leading the Way
administration, I am absolutelypassionate about focusing on
those four true statements andtalking to our grassroots
members about how the AmericanLegion family can impact those
(27:12):
in a positive way and move thetrajectory forward.
Jerry Allhands (27:17):
I absolutely applaud you.
I love all four of those.
That is awesome.
I have one question for you asfar as membership goes, what
more can we do to get members toattract new members?
Trish Ward (27:34):
Membership is the easiest thing we do.
It's just a matter ofcommunicating about our
eligibility to people, and we doit in lots of different ways.
I would first like to ask ourLegionnaires to remember that
we're their auxiliary.
We are part of the Legionfamily, but we exist through the
(27:56):
grace of the American Legion,and so I would urge every
Legionnaire who has an eligiblefamily member mother, daughter,
wife, sister and if they have asister who served in our people
that I knew for 40 years whowere eligible for this
organization, one whose fatherhas been an American Legion
(28:32):
member since 1945, and I signedhis daughter up, he didn't.
So we need to remember in theAmerican Legion family the
American Legion Auxiliarysupports our Legion.
I am working hard to sign upLegionnaires from my Legion and
sons who are eligible, and it'sa push-pull.
We all have to help each other.
There are eligible peopleeverywhere.
(28:54):
It just takes communicatingabout it and when someone says,
like you asked me earlier, I'dlove to, but I just don't have
time, you have to be prepared tosay I understand that and I
respect that.
Maybe in a couple of years youmight have time, but for now, if
you would be willing to join usto honor your family member.
We will put your dues to verygood use and you can be proud of
(29:16):
that.
Jerry Allhands (29:17):
Excellent, beautiful and we need more
realtors.
Trish Ward (29:20):
Hey, don't forget about the realtors.
I can tell you I'm your posterchild for that one.
They know who's moving intotown and they know who's moving
out of town and they can be ahuge advocate for your unit,
your post or your squadron.
Jerry Allhands (29:32):
Madam President, it has been a privilege and an
honor to have you here today.
Thank you so much for joiningus.
Trish Ward (29:37):
Thank you so much for the invite.
I've had a lovely time acrossthe great state of Mississippi.
I can't wait to come back.
I can't wait to meet moregrassroots members and today
have the opportunity to meetsome amazing veterans here in
Oxford.
And so, since we had such alovely conversation, would it be
okay if I closed with a prayer?
Jerry Allhands (29:54):
Please, please.
Trish Ward (29:56):
Thank you so much, in the spirit of faith, that I
had the opportunity to speak tothe community here in the great
state of Mississippi about thefantastic American Legion family
that resides in your beautifulMagnolia State.
I pray that if you hear thistransmission and if you're
eligible, that you'll seek outan American Legion family in
(30:17):
your community and join us.
Leading the way is absolutelythe way to go and we'd love to
have you aboard.
Please pray for our country,please pray for our service
members, our veterans and theirfamilies, and if you see a
veteran or a citizen struggling,please intervene to help them.
I do this in God's name, amen.
(30:38):
Thank you so much.
Jerry Allhands (30:40):
Thank you so much for your time.
Trish Ward (30:41):
Thank you so much.
Jerry Allhands (30:44):
Let's get it going.
Let's go.
Be sure to join us next Monday,January 20th, as we return to
Nesbitt and visit withDetachment 1990 and the Sons of
the American Legion.
We hope to see all of you thisweekend at Camp Shelby for the
Department's 105th MidwinterConference.
For more information on theconference, please contact the
Department Adjutant, DeborahFielder, at 601-497-5079.
(31:10):
That's 601-497-5079.
A very special thank you toJonathan Michael Fleming for his
musical talents.
You can find his CDs and videoson Spotify, amazon Music and
YouTube.
(31:32):
We hope you've enjoyed thisepisode and look forward to your
feedback and ask that yousubscribe to and share the
Veterans Sound Off podcast withyour friends and family.
If you have a comment,suggestion or questions, or you
would like to become a supporterof this podcast, please send an
email to jdallhands@outlook.
com.
That's jdallhands@outlook.
(31:52):
com, and we will get back to youas soon as possible.
This has been a production ofAllh ands Media LLC, with
offices in Rena Lara,Mississippi.
All Rights Reserved.
Hard work we're fired up.
Hard work everybody's on theplane.
Hard work we do what we play.
(32:13):
Hard work it's what they say.
Hard work I earn my pay.
Hard work, work, hard work,work, hard work, work.
This is the Veterans Sound Off Podcast.
Welcome to the show and thanksfor joining me.
I'm your host, jerry Allhands,a veteran of the United States
Air Force Security Police andthe US Army's 82nd Airborne.
I am the 2021-2022 PastDepartment Commander of the
Department of Mississippi of theAmerican Legion.
(00:21):
On each episode of this show,we will travel across the state
of Mississippi and visit eachAmerican Legion post and
discover how the members thereare still serving America and
their communities.
Along the way, we will visitwith members of the American
Legion family, such as theAmerican Legion Auxiliary, the
Sons of the American Legion andthe Legion Riders, discovering
(00:41):
what makes each of them anintegral part of the American
Legion family.
We will make stops across thestate to visit with other
veteran groups and organizationsthat continue to serve America
and support the veterancommunity.
Before we start today's episode, we want to thank three people
who have invested in thispodcast and have made it
possible.
A very special thank you toDean and Judy Graves of Mount
(01:03):
Vernon, missouri, for yoursupport and belief and, without
a doubt, this podcast would nothave happened without the
constant encouragement of LauraAllhands from Clarksdale,
mississippi.
Last week we traveled toAmerican Legion DeSoto County
Post 1990 in Nesbitt and visitedwith the American Legion riders
there.
Be sure to join us next Monday,January 20th, as we return to
(01:24):
Nesbitt and visit withDetachment 1990 and the Sons of
the American Legion.
We ask that you subscribe tothis podcast and share it with
your friends and family.
On today's episode, it takesplace after we traveled south to
Lafayette County in the northcentral part of the state.
We took a drive throughdowntown Oxford in hopes of
seeing one of my favorite actors, Reb Brown, who starred
(01:44):
alongside Gene Hackman in themovie Uncommon Valor, and we
were looking for thatbest-selling author, John
Gresham.
Sadly, neither were to be seen.
But the highlight of the daytakes place in the chapel of the
Mississippi State Veterans Homelocated at 120 Center Ridge
Road in Oxford.
That's where we met with adelegation from the American
Legion Auxiliary Sarah Lassiter,Tina Hurst and Mary Jo Abraham,
(02:08):
who were escorting today'sguest.
This episode is brought to youwithout interruption thanks to a
gift made by a person whowishes to remain anonymous and
who so very much enjoyed ourguests visit to Mississippi that
they wanted her interview toair uninterrupted.
And welcome to the VeteransSound Off podcast with Jerry
Allhands.
I am in Oxford, mississippi,today, with a very, very special
(02:31):
guest, a lady who has traveledwell, shall we say, coast to
coast, and probably severalnations already by now, I'm sure
, and it is my great pleasure tointroduce you to the 2024 2025
American Legion AuxiliaryNational President, Mrs.
Trish Ward.
Welcome, ma'am.
Trish Ward (02:49):
Thank you so much for that introduction and,
before we get started, I alwayslike to begin these kinds of
things with a prayer.
The American Legion Auxiliarysupports our service members,
their families and our veterans,their families and our veterans
.
So as we begin a new year, thisseems like an appropriate time
(03:11):
to come together in the spiritof your own faith, as we pray
for peace for our country, peacefor our planet and especially
peace and safety for our servicemembers who are serving abroad
and domestically.
May they all come home safely,may they all be safe, and may we
protect them forever and always, along with their families.
Amen, they all come home safely, may they all be safe and may
we protect them forever andalways, along with their
families.
Amen.
Jerry Allhands (03:28):
Amen, thank you.
That was beautiful.
I really appreciate that.
As a Christian man, as asoldier, as a veteran I'll even
admit it, as an Air Forceveteran too.
It means so much to me to haveyou here today and to have you
in Mississippi, and I knowyou've been here for several
days.
I hope you've enjoyed yourselfand we've treated you well, and
(03:49):
hopefully you'll come back to us.
Trish Ward (03:51):
Thank you so much for that.
Yes, it's been an amazing 120days.
I was installed as nationalpresident at our convention in
New Orleans, Louisiana, onAugust 28, 2024.
So I've been doing this nowjust about 120 days plus.
I've traveled to 18 differentdepartments and, of course, here
(04:11):
in the American Legion familywe call our states departments.
So I've been to 18 states.
I've been three times to ournation's capital, which was
absolutely amazing, as I laid awreath of remembrance at the
Tomb of the Unknown on VeteransDay and I was also there for
Wreaths Across America, whichwas an amazing as I laid a
wreath of remembrance at theTomb of the Unknown on Veterans
Day and I was also there forWreaths Across America, which
was an amazing opportunity to bein Arlington to lay wreaths on
(04:32):
some very, very special memorialstones which I'd love to tell
you a little bit about.
I'm a huge believer and advocatefor the story of the four
chaplains and I know the familyof George Fox, who was one of
the four chaplains, and I knowthe family of George Fox, who
was one of the four chaplainswho lost his life on the USAT
Dorchester on February 3rd 1944.
And we're coming up on FourChaplains Day soon and it was so
(04:54):
special for me to lay a wreathat his memorial stone.
I was with his family when welaid that stone in September of
2024.
It was actually my firstopportunity when I became
national president.
It was extremely memorable.
So I've been on the road havinga wonderful time meeting our
members, especially acrossgrassroots America.
Jerry Allhands (05:14):
I was checking out your bio recently and I see
that you're from Kansas.
Trish Ward (05:18):
Well, that's correct .
I represent the Department ofKansas.
I'm originally from Californiabut I relocated to my husband's
native Kansas in 1999, where,gratefully, we found the Legion
family and I am a proud member,paid up for life member, of John
P Hand Unit 250 in Lewisburg,kansas, where my husband is a
proud sons of the AmericanLegion.
So we are a Legion family andwe believe in supporting the
(05:41):
American Legion family, as we dowith our children and
grandchildren and a fewgreat-grandchildren as well.
Jerry Allha (05:48):
Great-grandchildren , great-grandchildren.
I'm sorry, I have a very hardtime believing that, because I'm
looking across at you and youare so young.
Trish Ward (05:55):
I know I'm only 29.
Not really, no.
My husband and I are very proudof our newest great-grandson,
Everett Cohen, who is just abouta year old, and he is a proud
member of the Sons of theAmerican Legion.
So we believe in becoming afull Legion family and we hope
that the American Legion familyacross our nation continues to
thrive and grow.
Jerry Allhands (06:17):
I'm a total advocate with you there.
I appreciate that so much.
My own grandchildren are in theSons and the Auxiliary.
I guess she would be a junior.
She's a junior in high schoolthis year.
Hard to believe.
Trish Ward (06:28):
Okay, well, I got to put a plug in there for Girl
State.
Then, if she's a junior in highschool, got to tell our
listeners about the AmericanLegion Boys State experience and
American Legion Auxiliary GirlState.
Because, as a representative ofthe American Legion family, I
support Jim LeCourcier, ournational commander, and Joseph
Nafferrette, the sons of theAmerican Legion national
commander, and we are hugeadvocates of the Boys State and
(06:50):
Girls State program, which isfor our young people who have
just graduated from their junioryear of high school.
In every state across thecountry and here in the great
state of Mississippi we cometogether early in the summer and
we teach our young people aboutbeing good citizens and they
create their own cities and theyrun for office and they write
(07:11):
bills and they learn a littlebit more about the American
Legion experience and certainlyour country, and it's a fabulous
program.
So if you have young men oryoung women having just
graduated from their junior yearof high school, check out Boys
State and Girls State.
Jerry Allhands (07:24):
Oh, they'll love it.
And speaking of that, our BoysState program is this May 25th
through the 31st.
You can find more informationon that at their website, www.
msboysstatecom, or by callingthe Mississippi American Legion
adjutant, Deborah Fielder, at601-497-5079.
(07:47):
And Girls State is just about aweek later, June 8th through
the 13th.
For more information on that,go to www.
alamississippigirlsstatecom.
Both programs are happeningright here in Oxford on the
campus of Ole Miss.
How did you come to be in theAmerican Legion Auxiliary?
(08:07):
What makes you eligible to bean auxiliary member and why,
join the American LegionAuxiliary.
Trish Ward (08:12):
Well, I am from California, as I mentioned, and
my husband wanted to relocate tohis native Kansas.
So we did and I left everything.
I left my family, I left myfriends, I left my family, I
left my friends, I left a joband I believed in building a new
life with my husband in a placethat he wanted us to go forward
(08:35):
.
So we relocated to his nativeKansas and the Midwest has been
really good to us.
But it was my realtor who sortof saw that maybe I needed to
meet some people and maybe Iwould benefit from the Legion
experience.
So it was my realtor that saidwhy don't you join the Legion?
And I'm so grateful to herbecause I'm not sure that in
(08:56):
California the Legion familywould have found me.
I didn't really.
My father wasn't a member,although I'm eligible for this
organization under his World WarII service in the United States
Army and also my grandfather'sWorld War II service as a United
States Navy Seabee.
So I'm eligible for thisorganization through my family
members and I'm so grateful thatI'm a member in Lewisburg,
(09:19):
kansas, and that my realtor setme up for excellence and said
why don't you join our unit?
It was the best thing that everhappened to me.
Jerry Allhands (09:26):
So it's true, anyone can join the American
Legion through an invitationlike that.
Trish Ward (09:32):
Well, anyone who's eligible can join the American
Legion family, so let's talkabout that a little bit Please.
Our eligibility for the AmericanLegion family is actually
determined by the AmericanLegion and the American Legion
was chartered by Congress.
And the American Legion familyis actually determined by the
American Legion and the AmericanLegion was chartered by
Congress.
And the American LegionAuxiliary and the Sons of the
American Legion and also theAmerican Legion Riders are part
(09:53):
of the Legion family.
So in the American LegionAuxiliary we are eligible
through the service of animmediate family member within
two degrees of a very fancy wordcalled consanguinity, and what
that really means is just twodegrees from the veteran himself
or herself.
I should also mention thatfemale veterans are eligible
(10:14):
under their own service and thatmen of female veterans or male
veterans, if a same-sex marriageis legal and I believe it is in
this country are eligible forthe American Legion Auxiliary,
and that is pretty new.
Just a few years back theAmerican Legion adjusted our
eligibility and they changed oneword from wife to spouse.
(10:35):
So a spouse of a female veteranor male veteran is eligible to
join the American LegionAuxiliary.
Now A little bit different forthe Sons of the American Legion.
They are a program of theAmerican Legion and it is for
young men who are eligiblethrough the service of a male
descendant in their familyfather, grandfather,
(10:57):
great-grandfather.
The American Legion Ridersaccept eligibility from a
Legionnaire, an American LegionAuxiliary member or Sons of the
American Legion.
Riders accept eligibility froma Legionnaire, an American
Legion auxiliary member or sonsof the American Legion member.
In order to be a rider you mustbe a member of the Legion, the
sons or the auxiliary.
So that's a little bit aboutour eligibility.
But so many people in ourhistory have served and a lot of
(11:20):
times our young people justdon't realize that maybe grandma
or grandpa served.
So it's important that wecommunicate about that
eligibility and talk to ouryoung people.
Just don't realize that maybegrandma or grandpa served.
So it's important that wecommunicate about that
eligibility and talk to ouryoung people about if they're
eligible.
Jerry Allhands (11:31):
That sounds great.
I'm curious about your realtor.
How did your realtor?
Was your realtor a auxiliarymember or legion member?
Trish Ward (11:40):
My realtor was a member of the American Legion
Auxiliary.
Lewisburg, Kansas, is a littletown.
It's a suburb of Kansas City.
We were just on the Kansas sideof the Missouri border and we
are a really thriving small town, very much like how the
American Legion was built, whichwas on small-town America
really.
So my realtor was a member ofthe Unit 250 there in Lewisburg,
(12:03):
Kansas, and she was doing whatlots of good business people do
they see potential members andthey try to grow their units.
So she was doing exactly whatwe wanted her to do, which is
reaching out to new peoplecoming into town, and I'm so
grateful that she did that.
Jerry Allhands (12:17):
I'm very grateful she did that.
I get to meet you because ofher.
Trish Ward (12:19):
Well, look what's happened to me since.
Jerry Allhands (12:22):
How long have you been in the auxiliary?
Trish Ward (12:23):
I joined in 1999 when we relocated to Kansas, so
that puts me at right about 25years, and my journey in
leadership was like many membersof our organization.
We get involved in our unit andthey need people to step up.
We need leaders and they askedme to be a leader in my unit and
(12:43):
I gladly accepted.
We need leaders and they askedme to be a leader in my unit and
I gladly accepted.
I made a few missteps but I hada lot of people who supported
me and mentored me and helped meand showed me the way, which is
a little bit about my themethis year as national president,
which is leading the way and,as I tell people with the
(13:05):
American Legion haven't.
We always led the way and wecertainly have since our
founding, where we were integralin supporting the concept of
the VA, in support of AbrahamLincoln's message that we will
support all our veterans and, ofcourse, we support our Legion
family as they advocate forlegislative growth for our
veterans.
We want to make sure that theirvoice is heard in Washington DC
and it's what we do best islegislate and be advocates for
our veterans.
We want to make sure that theirvoice is heard in Washington DC
, and it's what we do best islegislate and be advocates for
(13:27):
our veterans.
Jerry Allhands (13:29):
If somebody wanted to join the auxiliary,
but they say, I'm just too busy,I don't have enough time.
I really want to be a member,but I just.
.
.
what would you say to thosepeople?
Trish Ward (13:39):
Well, it happens often because the Legion family
isn't always for everyone andcertainly if there's no
eligibility, we always try tofind the opportunity for
everybody to serve, even if it'sin a volunteer capacity.
We have folks in my little townwho aren't eligible but who love
(13:59):
to come and support us, bothextra hands on deck and through
financial support.
But for those members who areeligible and maybe they work and
they have young families orthey just don't have time to fit
it in what I tell them is, ifyou believe in supporting a
family member who served ourcountry and you want to support
that individual and honor theirservice, join our organization
(14:23):
and those of us who do have timewill put those dues to very
good use supporting our veteransin the VA residences and
supporting our children throughour children and youth programs,
and supporting our militaryfamilies and our veterans
through our children and youthprograms, and supporting our
military families and ourveterans through our Veterans
Affairs and RehabilitationProgram.
So even though they can't maybeattend a meeting, we will put
(14:44):
those dues to good use.
So join an American Legionfamily in your small town or big
town and get involved.
And if you can't get involved,support the people who are
involved and they'll put yourmoney to good use.
Jerry Allhands (14:59):
Excellent, excellent.
We were talking about theveterans homes.
We're in one today in Oxford,mississippi.
Trish Ward (15:04):
In beautiful Oxford, Mississippi.
I understand that there areabout 117 veteran residents here
and I can't wait to meet someof them.
I'm here today because theAmerican Legion Auxiliary
juniors and I should alsomention, since we talked about
membership so much the AmericanLegion Auxiliary has two classes
of membership juniors andseniors.
And juniors are for youngpeople below the age of 18, and
(15:28):
then, of course, seniors, 18 andabove.
So we had a little activity afew days ago where our junior
members came and they did craftswhich I brought today to hang
on the doors of our veteranshere in Oxford, and it always
brings a smile to their facewhen they see these beautiful
little craft projects that ourjunior members do to recognize
and honor them.
Jerry Allhands (15:48):
If you have one thing to say to a resident here
what would you share with them?
Trish Ward (15:59):
a resident here.
What would you share with them?
Well, it's common and oftenthat we thank our veterans for
their service to our country,but I think it's also important
to look them in the eyes and totake their hand and hold their
hand and let them know that notonly do we say it, we really
mean it, and we mean it by theactions that we do.
So it's important to say thewords, but it's also important
to connect with them.
(16:20):
A lot of the people that livein the veterans' homes maybe
they don't have family membersand they don't have people to
connect with them, andconnecting is so important.
So our American LegionAuxiliary family does that in a
lot of ways, and especiallyaround the holidays recently
with our holiday gift shopswhere our veterans can come and
select gifts for their familymembers and sometimes our
(16:42):
auxiliary members help them shop.
So it's that connection.
So what I would say to them iscertainly thank you for your
service, but also we will neverforget what you did to keep our
country free and we're going tohonor you every day.
Jerry Allhands (16:55):
What you did to keep our country free and we're
going to honor you every day.
That's beautiful, that isabsolutely beautiful.
If you had to, I guess, talkingwith the staff at some of these
facilities, what's the thingthat you want to share with the
staff here?
Trish Ward (17:11):
I've had the opportunity to visit a lot of VA
facilities, both residents'homes where our veterans reside,
and also the VA hospitals wherethey're cared for, and I'm very
aware and looking at lots ofdifferent things the cleanliness
of the facility, the joy in thefacility.
Are people smiling, areresidents well cared for, do
(17:35):
they appear to be in good healthas they're there, and are they
being attended to as they shouldbe?
So, as I talk to the peoplethat care for our veterans,
first and foremost I thank themtoo, because it takes a very
special person to come andsupport the VA or a residence
facility to care for veterans.
It's not always an easy thingto do, and we want to make sure
(17:58):
that these people also arereceiving good leadership with
the teams that they work withand that they have the things
that they need to care for ourveterans, and so sometimes it's
just simply asking them do youhave what you need and are you
treated well as you care for ourveterans?
Because if they're happy, thenthey're going to treat our
veterans well.
Jerry Allhands (18:19):
Definitely, definitely.
As a person who utilizes the VAhospitals, va Medical Center
since the 70s, I have observedfirsthand how, in my own opinion
, most of the facilities I meetand go to service is great.
The people are great.
Depending upon my attitude, youknow, if I walk in and I'm rude
(18:40):
and crude, I may get it back.
If I walk in with a smile, Iusually get it back.
Trish Ward (18:45):
That's very true and I think the people that care
for our veterans are very welltrained to be able to recognize
what the needs are and sometimesthose veterans that maybe are a
little gruff, maybe they're inpain, or maybe they're hurting,
or maybe they're carrying demonsfrom war that we just haven't
been able to figure out what'sgoing on with them.
(19:06):
In the American Legion we have amission that is a primary
mission of the organization,called Be the One, and it is
positioned to help our membersand citizens.
Be the one to save one.
We've spoken often about thetragedy of veteran suicide and
how unfortunately common it canbe.
(19:27):
Here in Mississippi I had theopportunity to meet a family of
a veteran who took his own lifeand they are doing amazing
things to honor him withRonnie's retreat here in
northern Mississippi, and theyare looking to build a compound
where veterans can come, be safe, be helped, be cared for and be
(19:48):
supported if they're on amental health journey.
So as we talk about the Be theOne mission, we're arming our
members to be sure to ask theright questions and to be able
to recognize when a veteran isstruggling and to intervene so
that the family, like Ronniedoesn.
We help all citizens and ourmembers be ready and willing to
(20:08):
talk and ask the hard questions.
Jerry Allhands (20:22):
And there are definitely some hard questions
out there, but the Be the Oneprogram to me is just excellent.
It's a great way to be therefor that veteran or a person
who's not a veteran and needsjust to talk to somebody, just
to unburden, and it's amazing.
Trish Ward (20:39):
It's so true, and I've learned a tremendous amount
, as I've learned more throughthe Be the One initiative, which
we leverage, the Columbiaprotocol, which we do some
training to be able to make surethat our members are positioned
to ask the right questions atthe right time.
We have several things thatwe're looking to do to try and
(21:02):
integrate some importantinformation.
When we see a veteranstruggling, to make sure that he
or she gets the help they needquickly and efficiently, it just
doesn't work to be able to say,well, we'll get to you in 30
days.
You have to interveneimmediately.
So what better to do it than aveteran service organization
like the American Legion family?
(21:23):
We're with our veterans, we seethem regularly and we're very
prepared to be able to recognizewhen someone might be
struggling.
We just want to make sure thatour members are ready to ask the
right questions.
Nobody here is necessarily amental health professional it's
not what we do for a living butwe can recognize when someone's
struggling and we can interveneto get them the help they need.
Jerry Allhands (21:45):
Most definitely, and for me one of the best
things is just being a personwho's willing to listen.
Just take that call or show upat the door and knock on the
door.
It can mean a lot.
Trish Ward (21:55):
The American Legion was founded really on that
concept that our veterans missedthe camaraderie that they had
while they were together inconflict, and so they came
together to found the AmericanLegion for the purpose to give
veterans a place that they cancongregate and that they can
support each other, and that'sreally what we were founded on.
So it still holds true today,even 104 plus years later.
(22:20):
Veterans, people who served ourcountry, they miss that
camaraderie and that's what theAmerican Legion family brings to
them and why we're such asuccessful veteran service
organization.
We've been around 100 years, weknow how to do it, we know what
questions need to be asked andwe know when and where to get
the job done.
So I can just say, here in thegreat state of Mississippi I've
(22:42):
met with many grassroots membersand Legionnaires and it's been
heartwarming to see the greatwork that the people of
Mississippi are doing.
Jerry Allhands (22:50):
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I know that our auxiliary willappreciate those kind words and
as a past department commander,I appreciate those words very
much.
Especially appreciate yourvisiting with us today and I
know that your program, yoursaying, is leading the way.
Tell me a little more aboutwhat you would like to see us do
in Mississippi or nationally.
Trish Ward (23:11):
Yes.
So this has been an amazingopportunity for me, for my
Department of Kansas, to assumeleadership at the highest role.
And as I have traveled and as Iplanned my experience, I came
to this organization as a seniorlead project manager and a
corporate trainer.
I was a program manager, so allI really know what to do is how
(23:35):
to train salespeople.
So I'm taking my show on theroad and I talked to members
about four what I call truthstatements.
And the first truth statement issmall-town America is
struggling.
This is a problem for theLegion family because small-town
America is where the Legion wasbuilt and, as I tell people
(23:55):
think of it as a piece of fabricthat is stretched from Maine to
Florida, to Alaska, to Hawaii.
And what happens when thosethreads of that fabric start to
break, when we lose our littleunits and our little posts and
our little squadrons in smalltown America, the fabric loses
its integrity and it loses itsstrength.
(24:16):
So it's very important thatsmall town America be
revitalized and that we remainstrong in these small towns.
Like the unit I belong to, theAmerican Legion family is
positioned to help small-townAmerica because it's where we
reside.
So that's truth statementnumber one.
Truth statement number two isthat leadership is dwindling and
(24:37):
in many organizations,especially membership-driven
organizations, we need goodleaders and we need more of them
.
And we need more qualifiedleaders.
And I'll throw in we need morediverse leaders.
We need people of differentfaiths and different cultures,
of different ages, because werepresent our military and our
military is very diverse.
So how can we support them ifwe aren't representative of them
(25:01):
?
So I feel strongly thatleadership capacity needs to be
upswelled and we need to findlots and lots of new leaders and
help them along.
Leaders need people who supportthem.
I had people support me andwhen you get young people and
leaders, you have to supportthem.
True statement number threemembership is aging and churning
(25:22):
, and churning is just a bigfancy word for leaving.
Many membership organizationsare struggling and it's pretty
simple you don't have to belongto the Legion to support a
veteran.
However, by supporting theAmerican Legion family and if
you're eligible, belonging thisgives an opportunity for us to
remain strong and advocate forour veterans.
With Congress, which we doregularly, we need to get
(25:45):
members, we need to keep membersand we need to get more members
.
So I believe in the third truthstatement finding members is
key and critical to our growth.
And the last truth statement isthis the infrastructure of some
of our posts is weakening.
I've traveled this country andI've seen some amazing, amazing
(26:07):
American Legion posts and I'veseen a lot of them here in
Mississippi and I'm going togive a little call out to
beautiful Gaucher Van Cleef downin the southern part of the
state, absolutely beautiful post.
And I saw a beautiful post uphere in Northern Mississippi
which is where the birthplace ofElvis Presley which was why I
(26:30):
went to Tupelo.
Fantastic post, but not allposts are that strong and shored
up with such a strongfoundation.
And if you wouldn't bring yourchildren and grandchildren to
the post, that's an issue.
The posts need to be fresh,they need to be strong, they
need to be family-friendly andthey need to be the centerpiece,
(26:51):
the linchpin of the community.
So when we see a little poststruggling in small-town America
, we need to jump in and we needto help them.
For the 24-25 administration,the Leading the Way
administration, I am absolutelypassionate about focusing on
those four true statements andtalking to our grassroots
members about how the AmericanLegion family can impact those
(27:12):
in a positive way and move thetrajectory forward.
Jerry Allhands (27:17):
I absolutely applaud you.
I love all four of those.
That is awesome.
I have one question for you asfar as membership goes, what
more can we do to get members toattract new members?
Trish Ward (27:34):
Membership is the easiest thing we do.
It's just a matter ofcommunicating about our
eligibility to people, and we doit in lots of different ways.
I would first like to ask ourLegionnaires to remember that
we're their auxiliary.
We are part of the Legionfamily, but we exist through the
(27:56):
grace of the American Legion,and so I would urge every
Legionnaire who has an eligiblefamily member mother, daughter,
wife, sister and if they have asister who served in our people
that I knew for 40 years whowere eligible for this
organization, one whose fatherhas been an American Legion
(28:32):
member since 1945, and I signedhis daughter up, he didn't.
So we need to remember in theAmerican Legion family the
American Legion Auxiliarysupports our Legion.
I am working hard to sign upLegionnaires from my Legion and
sons who are eligible, and it'sa push-pull.
We all have to help each other.
There are eligible peopleeverywhere.
(28:54):
It just takes communicatingabout it and when someone says,
like you asked me earlier, I'dlove to, but I just don't have
time, you have to be prepared tosay I understand that and I
respect that.
Maybe in a couple of years youmight have time, but for now, if
you would be willing to join usto honor your family member.
We will put your dues to verygood use and you can be proud of
(29:16):
that.
Jerry Allhands (29:17):
Excellent, beautiful and we need more
realtors.
Trish Ward (29:20):
Hey, don't forget about the realtors.
I can tell you I'm your posterchild for that one.
They know who's moving intotown and they know who's moving
out of town and they can be ahuge advocate for your unit,
your post or your squadron.
Jerry Allhands (29:32):
Madam President, it has been a privilege and an
honor to have you here today.
Thank you so much for joiningus.
Trish Ward (29:37):
Thank you so much for the invite.
I've had a lovely time acrossthe great state of Mississippi.
I can't wait to come back.
I can't wait to meet moregrassroots members and today
have the opportunity to meetsome amazing veterans here in
Oxford.
And so, since we had such alovely conversation, would it be
okay if I closed with a prayer?
Jerry Allhands (29:54):
Please, please.
Trish Ward (29:56):
Thank you so much, in the spirit of faith, that I
had the opportunity to speak tothe community here in the great
state of Mississippi about thefantastic American Legion family
that resides in your beautifulMagnolia State.
I pray that if you hear thistransmission and if you're
eligible, that you'll seek outan American Legion family in
(30:17):
your community and join us.
Leading the way is absolutelythe way to go and we'd love to
have you aboard.
Please pray for our country,please pray for our service
members, our veterans and theirfamilies, and if you see a
veteran or a citizen struggling,please intervene to help them.
I do this in God's name, amen.
(30:38):
Thank you so much.
Jerry Allhands (30:40):
Thank you so much for your time.
Trish Ward (30:41):
Thank you so much.
Jerry Allhands (30:44):
Let's get it going.
Let's go.
Be sure to join us next Monday,January 20th, as we return to
Nesbitt and visit withDetachment 1990 and the Sons of
the American Legion.
We hope to see all of you thisweekend at Camp Shelby for the
Department's 105th MidwinterConference.
For more information on theconference, please contact the
Department Adjutant, DeborahFielder, at 601-497-5079.
(31:10):
That's 601-497-5079.
A very special thank you toJonathan Michael Fleming for his
musical talents.
You can find his CDs and videoson Spotify, amazon Music and
YouTube.
(31:32):
We hope you've enjoyed thisepisode and look forward to your
feedback and ask that yousubscribe to and share the
Veterans Sound Off podcast withyour friends and family.
If you have a comment,suggestion or questions, or you
would like to become a supporterof this podcast, please send an
email to jdallhands@outlook.
com.
That's jdallhands@outlook.
(31:52):
com, and we will get back to youas soon as possible.
This has been a production ofAllh ands Media LLC, with
offices in Rena Lara,Mississippi.
All Rights Reserved.
Hard work we're fired up.
Hard work everybody's on theplane.
Hard work we do what we play.
(32:13):
Hard work it's what they say.
Hard work I earn my pay.
Hard work, work, hard work,work, hard work, work.
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