Signing up young veterans isn’t as difficult as many Legionnaires tend to believe. And National Commander Marty Conatser proved it while visiting the staff and students during the American Legion Family College at Camp Rell in Niantic.

After briefly explaining to a group of Connecticut National Guardsmen awaiting training how the Legion’s Family Support Network, Temporary Financial Assistance program and Legacy Scholarship Fund benefits the families of deployed service men and women, The American Legion gained ten new members. And it only took about ten or fifteen minutes!

"We’re our own worst enemies when it comes to recruiting new members regardless of wartime era," National Commander Conatser told audiences he addressed during his stay in Connecticut. "We do so many wonderful things, but we don’t tell anybody about them! That’s the value of membership! That’s what makes veterans want to belong to The American Legion!"

Our organization’s top leader arrived in Connecticut on Friday afternoon on April 25 about 90 minutes late due to a plane delay out of Detroit. That, plus a few traffic tie ups around rush hour, didn’t deter the enthusiastic welcome by about 100 who waited patiently to meet him at Naugatuck Post 17 an hour later than scheduled. There he told older Legionnaires they still had an important mission…to mentor the younger generations of veterans who are now assuming the very roles they had enjoyed for so many years.

Saturday morning at Camp Rell included breakfast with staff and students followed by an uplifting motivational talk, a meeting with members of the Department Membership Team and visits to several of the classes in progress. The early afternoon had the National Commander lunching and talking with nearly a hundred Legion Family members assembled at Old Saybrook Post 113. This was followed by a quick stop and tour of East Haddam Post 156 given by PDC Ed Barry.

Finally we gave him and his aide Bill Flanagan a well deserved (but brief) rest at the Rocky Hill Marriott before heading out to Hartford Post 142 where some 125 Legion Family members eagerly greeted National Commander Conatser at a more formal dinner setting. Most were amazed when he casually walked among the tables while talking to them about issues important to veterans that The American Legion is currently actively involved in.

Early Sunday morning, before heading to Bradley International Airport for his departure, he was speaking with some 50 or more members of the Legion Riders at Stafford Spring Post 26. "You are important to The American Legion because you give us a new face…you give us another dimension of visibility in the community," he told them.

"But," he cautioned the Riders, "You must police your own group to earn the respect and trust of the rest of the American Legion Family." He also lauded them for their fund raising efforts, especially for the Legacy Scholarship Fund. While the Legion Riders raised more than $450,000 last year during the Legacy Run, National Commander Conatser chidingly said, "I hope you’ll do just a little bit better for me this year!"

Members of the Department travel team included Sergeant-at-arms Dan Torres, Historian Roger Anderson, Adjutant Everett Shepard, Alternate NEC D. Joseph Jackson, NEC Richard Anderson, Senior Vice Commander Harvey Daggett and I; and, for the first time ever, we added SAL Detachment Commander David Cannarella.

My deepest and sincerest appreciation goes out to each post that hosted a segment of National Commander Conatser’s brief Connecticut visit, the staff running our Legion Family College for being so accommodating, our Treasurer’s office for handling dinner reservations, the Department Color Guard for an outstanding performance, the Legion Riders for the motorcycle escort to Bradley and everyone else who played a role in making the weekend such a great success story. Thank you to all who turned out at each venue to meet our national commander. You all made me very proud to be your commander.

While National Commander Conatser was originally scheduled to spend a few days with his family at home in DeLand, Il, (population 450 – post 126 members) after his stay in Connecticut; he instead flew to our Nation’s Capitol for a one-on-one meeting requested by President George W. Bush to outline The American Legion’s agenda of veteran related issues. To date he has been home only six days.

Andrew Barylski Jr.

Department Commander

The American Legion

Department of Connecticut

31 Breault Street, Putnam, CT 06260-1211

abarylski@snet.net

Home: 860-928-3669

Cell: 860-450-6077