![]() As a Marine, I was taught to respect the rights of others, even when I might disagree. If anything, the Legion should have come out on the side of freedom of speech, since that is first among the values that we all swore an oath to protect. I’m all for the Legion being political, but on issues that help veterans, not on issues that only divide the community. ![]() Rather, it reinforces the stereotypical image of the Legion as an old, dying drinking club for angry old men who don’t care about engaging with their communities or listening. Her statement does not carry the Legion’s legacy forward. They have started an important conversation around race and the application of rights - one that is tough for some people to hear. Furthermore, these protests have been, and continue to be, peaceful. The act of kneeling, an intentionally pious act, should not be construed as disrespect. Many of us in the Legion believed from the start that the NFL protests were never about disrespecting the flag, or veterans. And the photo of the African-American Army veteran wearing his Legion cap and holding a folded American flag while kneeling to protest President Donald Trump’s motorcade during his visit to Indianapolis (where the Legion is headquartered) indicates that she has discounted the concerns of many of our members who are people of color. She does not speak for many of my friends who are combat veterans. Instead of leading the veterans’ community to help unify our nation, she has further inflamed ill will and joined forces with those who seek to divide through culture war. This is no way for her to start her year as national commander. However, Rohan’s statement in no way promotes unity. Yes, as a country we need unity, and many of us have highlighted the role that veterans can play creating dialogue in a divided nation. I can attest that Rohan does not speak for all Legionnaires - especially those of my generation. (This statement has since been retitled to read, “ The American Legion Calls For Unity. ![]() As a woman, I welcomed and cheered the election of the Legion’s first female national commander last month.īut today, I could not be more embarrassed and ashamed of Denise Rohan’s statement titled, “American Legion Blasts NFL For Disrespect,” that she assumed to make on behalf of all Legionnaires in response to the National Football League protests. In the years since I left the Marines, I had witnessed Legion Posts come under the leadership of young veterans committed to engagement with communities. Marine Corps combat veteran of the Post-9/11 wars, I was proud to join the American Legion. ![]()
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March 2023
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