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• Sunday, January 21, 2024

  Commander Announces 2 Grants With Suicide Prevention as ‘Our Focus’

  

  Commander Timothy Collmer briefs WRGB Channel 6 photojournalist on the American Legion’s suicide prevention efforts.

  “Our focus in The American Legion is on suicide prevention.”

  That’s how Department Commander Timothy Collmer began a briefing with news media during the Department of New York’s 105th Mid-Winter Conference in Albany.

  As part of the “Be the One” campaign, “we have people that are willing to listen to veterans who are struggling… and get them the help they need.”

  He said the Department of New York also works with partners to provide direct support and assistance to vets suffering from post traumatic stress. In line with that, Collmer announced two grants totaling $130,000. They are:

  • $100,000 to the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation to fund creative arts therapy for struggling vets.

  • $30,000 to High and Mighty Therapeutic Riding and Driving Center in Ghent, N.Y. to help fund equine therapy for vets with post traumatic stress.

  In the past two years, The American Legion Department of New York has awarded nearly $550,000 in grants to organizations directly helping veterans at risk of suicide or homelessness.

  Mid-Winter Conference Candids

  

  Jolee and Michael Hicks founded HicksStrong to provide free therapy for veterans dealing with post traumatic stress.

  HicksStrong

  Preventing suicide was also on the mind of a conference exhibitor – HicksStrong Inc. of Halfmoon, N.Y. Founders Jolee and Michael Hicks and daughter Sienna Hicks started “supporting heroes” after their son and brother, Navy vet Macoy Hicks, took his own life. They link veterans and active duty service members with confidential mental health therapists via telehealth and they cover the cost, Michael explained, noting that so far they have sponsored some 2600 therapy sessions for more than 330 persons.

  Like a hug connecting with someone, Jolee explained she was giving away decorated “hug mugs” to show that “you matter.”

  

  Douglas Bower of Hannibal Post 1552 engages with Sheltie therapy dogs and their trainer, Terry Brown.

  Therapy Dogs

  Terry Brown, a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, performed double duty at the conference.

  First, as military columnist for the Albany Times-Union, he spoke at the public relations session, telling Legionnaires who perform public affairs duties to think of themselves as journalists and to send press releases to news media as well as social media contacts whenever their posts have something newsworthy to report.

  Second, as trainer of Sheltie therapy dogs, Brown had his two dogs show off their reading and math skills. They amazed Legionnaires in the PR session and then in the hallways between sessions. Brown held a sign sporting the word “sit” and the dogs promptly sat. Another sign with the word “wave” had the dogs waving their paws. Then he asked one to add 2 plus 2, and the Sheltie touched Brown’s hand four times with her paw.

  At one point Douglas Bower of Hannibal Post 1552 got involved, holding a treat above the Sheltie’s head as Brown asked the dog what the square root of 64 was. The dog used her paw to count up to 8. Bower found it amazing – almost as amazing as Bower himself being deployed to 28 different countries as a Navy Seabee.

  

  Legionnaires participate in one of the many Mid-Winter Conference seminars.