Danville’s American Legion Post 210 is looking to start a brand new tradition this Saturday (April 25th). The final Saturday in April is now known as “American Legion Family Day,” nationwide. Post 210 Activity Director Lisa Knapp says they’ll be ready from Noon to 8 PM this Saturday with plenty of fun for families, and plenty of fun for the kids.
AUDIO: We have rock painting. We have face painting. We will have a bounce house. We will have bracelet making. DACC is going to be bringing a race car, so that the kids can get in the race car and get their picture taken. And we’re going to have food, and we’re going to have ice cream.
There will also be a baseball tournament happening, on the new American Legion “all turf” ‘A’ and ‘B’ League fields.
The main feature at this year’s Post 210 Family Day will be to introduce everyone to BE THE ONE, a major initiative designed to fight Veteran suicide; and as Knapp explains, remove the stigma and hesitation about speaking up, and asking for help. And online training is available from Columbia University.
AUDIO: This organization is a non-profit organization that helps train individuals to respond to a Veteran that’s in trouble. We need to give an ear and start listening. And that’s how we can make a difference in Veterans’ lives. We need to stop the stigma about Veteran suicide.
Volunteers at Saturday’s event will be wearing BE THE ONE T-shirts. And State Rep and USMC Veteran Brandun Schweizer is scheduled to be in the BE THE ONE tent, offering information.
Knapp says that numerous organizations will be talking about what they can do for Veterans, including a couple well known local ones that involve animals.
AUDIO: We’re going to have mental health counseling there. We’ll also have Gateway Family Services, where they’ve found that horses have been great therapy for Veterans that may have PTSD. We’ll have K9 Warriors. You know, maybe they’re needing a service dog.
To help get BE THE ONE’s mission going locally, you can take anywhere from 90 minute to three hour training online, and earn a certificate, by going to BETHEONE.org.
