In a wonderful surprise, Bristow American Legion Post 126 family organizations swept the awards during the ceremony at the annual state convention from July 15th through the 18th. The Legion family consists of the Legion, Sons of the Legion, and the Legion Auxiliary. During a meeting with Mayor Pinson, Bristow Legion Commander Justin Adair seemed shocked but humbly grateful to receive such an honor on behalf of the Bristow Legion family, saying “We have an absolutely standout group. We’re blown away. It’s very exciting for us and such a blessing.” Also present, First Vice Commander Alex Fernandez continued, saying “It speaks to the community of veterans helping veterans here and even the community of Bristow for coming out and participating at the events we host in support of the veterans. I’m excited.”
The Bristow Legion family organizations won the awards together. Although around 250 members belong to the organizations, only around a dozen members are active and participatory. Commander Adair wants the community to know that the Sons contributed most of the volunteer hours, working diligently for veterans, their families, and in pursuit of the Legion’s four pillars of service and advocacy: Veterans’ Affairs and Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children and Youth. For their service hours and monetary contributions, Bristow won all four pillar awards and the award for “Post of the Year,” which is a rare occurrence for any post. The pillars are substantial, enhancing the commitment the Bristow members made.
The first of the four pillars, “Veterans’ Affairs and Rehabilitation” beats within the heart of every Legionnaire. Local American Legion Post 126 Commander Justin Adair aptly described it as “veterans helping veterans… No one is forgotten.” For this reason, the Legion exerts intensive efforts to boost the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As disclosed on the Legion’s website, www.legion.org, Legionnaires commit hundreds of thousands of hours each year to protecting the VA from budget cuts, building new (and supporting existing) VA healthcare facilities and services, increasing funding for the National Cemetery Administration, improving veteran healthcare access in rural areas, increasing VA staffing for improved timeliness of treatment, and addressing environmental exposure issues faced by veterans. Members steadfastly work to ensure veterans receive the benefits and care they deserve, having dutifully sacrificed to protect our nation. Bristow Legion Service Officer Vane Bell aids veterans in acquiring those benefits. Veterans committed to our national security maintain our freedoms and afford us opportunities such as the very healthcare and socialization they fight to provide each other.
For veterans and active-duty military, including Legionnaires, national security proves to be of utmost importance, which is why it forms the basis for the Legion’s second pillar. According to the Legion website, the “National Security” pillar encompasses a varied approach to proactively and reactively protecting our nation, its people, its government, and all who serve. For instance, the Legion works to build a strong national defense, improved homeland security, and foreign relations, and aids immigration enforcement by advocating for enriched quality of life and providing for compassionate restoration and transition for active-duty and veteran military personnel, seeking peaceful solutions to global conflicts in cooperation with the Department of State, supporting the Department of Homeland Security in protecting the nation’s borders, and in responding to national natural disasters at both the local level and through its National Emergency Fund. The fund provides financial relief to veterans, their families, and posts nationwide. Legionnaires remain patriotic long after they leave service—a testament of their commitment to the country: Americanism at its finest.
“Americanism,” the third pillar, is best defined on the Legion’s website: “The Legion's pillar of Americanism embodies its devotion to law and order, the raising of wholesome youth, an educated and law-abiding citizenship, and respectful observance of patriotic holidays and remembrances.” Americanism pillar priorities include teaching and upholding proper care of the American Flag, supporting Boy Scouts of America, encouraging voter registration and civic participation, and advocating for the Pledge of Allegiance to be consistently allowed and upheld in educational institutions nationwide. Regarding Americanism in schools, the Legion’s Americanism Commission offers wholesome education and leisure programs and opportunities for children and adolescents. In some cases, the Legion offers scholarships to those programs and to programs in other organizations. Bristow Legionnaires often partner with the local Boy Scouts for flag-burning ceremonies and planting flags in the cemeteries for national holidays. Their regard for appropriate care of and opportunities for young people proves more evident in their fourth pillar.
The fourth pillar, “Children and Youth,” remains guided by the Legion’s National Commission on Children and Youth. According to their website, “The American Legion's National Commission on Children & Youth is guided by three main objectives: to strengthen the family unit, work with quality organizations that provide services for children and provide communities with well-rounded programs that meet the needs of young people.” To address those objectives, Legionnaires donate their time and money combatting issues including child pornography, family integrity, childhood immunization, substance abuse, violence in the media, and child sexual exploitation among others. One way they confront those social issues is through grants provided to other nonprofits through the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation. In working within this pillar, the Bristow Legion creates a safer environment for local children and families.
In a state with more than one hundred Legion posts, the Bristow Legion family’s dedication and service, in accordance with the four pillars, won all of the state awards this year. Please take a moment to congratulate them on their hard work within the Bristow community.
For more information, email justin.adair84@icloud.com or call Justin at 918-807-9224 and Alex at 918-807-8366.