Do you know want to know the thing I love most about New Years? No, it not the New Year’s Eve parties (although they can be pretty fun). It is that we get to hit the reset button and start fresh again, we get a blank sheet of paper, a new beginning. Remember all those New Year’s resolutions you made to yourself last year; lose weight, exercise more, quit smoking, quit cussing, and smile more? How long did they last? Were you able to keep any of them? If you did then I applaud you.

But if you are like most of us, you look back at those broken promises as crumpled up pieces of paper ready to be tossed in the trash. New Year’s however brings fresh hope and fresh passion to accomplish the things that we could not do in the past. The past six months has been both a privilege and challenge to me as your Post Commander. Over the course of my tour of duty, I have been learning the ropes of navigating through Legion protocol but also seeing the potential of a strong American Legion future.

So bear with me as it put in writing some resolutions I have for Garner American Legion Post 232 for the future.

• To build a strong bond within our Post between the Post, The Legion Riders, The Sons, and the Auxiliary- We will accomplish this through mutual comradeship and service together. (This will mean spending time together instead of apart)
• To serve our local veterans either at the Regional VA Medical Facility, at a local assisted living center, or in our neighborhoods. (Make a friend and be a friend to other veterans)
• To partner with local youth organizations such as JROTC and Scout-like organizations. Thus creating lasting and relational connections which promote citizenship and national pride
• To demonstrate to the local community that the Garner American Legion is alive and well; we can only do this by being proactive in community affairs and participating in positive community service events
• To assist all veterans prepare for their final deployment to Post Everlasting; physically (caring for their needs), mentally (spending time with them one on one), and spiritually (discussing eternal matters)
• To remain true to the foundations of the American Legion while reaching out to the new generation of veterans and inviting them into the Legion Family

Yes, I have learned a lot over the past several months but the thing that I have learned the most is just simply this:

Together, united as one team with one mission, Garner Post 232 can make a difference. I am not naïve enough to think we will change the whole world. I do believe we can change our local community; and together we can leverage the strength of the largest Veteran’s service organization in the world in order to make it a better place to live. The American Legion remains relevant in today’s society and together as one voice we can proudly say “For God and Country We are Legion Strong!”

Brian Rietvelt, Garner American Legion Post 232, Post Commander