LELAND LEGION POST 68 RECOGNIZED BY LOCAL CONGRESSMAN

A Certificate of Congressional Recognition honors individuals or organizations for significant

contributions or service to their community. Congressman Rouzer recently presented one to

Leland’s John E. Jacobs American Legion Post 68 for its leadership in North Carolina through the Be The One suicide awareness and prevention program.

In June 2022, following the lead of the American Legion’s National Headquarters, Post 68

launched a suicide awareness program for law enforcement and emergency responder personnel in the Leland area. The team built on the VA’s SAVE (Seek, Ask, Validate, and Encourage) initiative to identify veterans in crisis and connect them with appropriate care and assistance.

Under the leadership of Past Commander John Hacker, the Post 68 Be the One team led outreach efforts and expanded its program to include other Legion posts across eastern North Carolina and local political leaders. The training featured a simple 10-step process to help other Legion posts develop their own outreach programs.

The team’s pinnacle achievement was developing and issuing a wallet-sized plastic resource card that is easy to carry and access. The card identifies and links to critical community resources, including housing, medical care, food, substance abuse services, and more. It is especially useful for law enforcement and First Responders, as well as for Legion Post Commanders, Veterans, Resource Officers, and other community service organizations.

The summer of 2026 also brought the production and release of “Be The One,” recorded by Ten Crow Studios in Jacksonville, NC. The song was composed and performed by Post 68 member Scott Wargo, with backup vocals by Post 68 member Kobe Kelley and Bex Helton, a steadfast supporter of Post 68. The song helps raise community awareness about veteran suicide and its prevention. It’s available on the Post 68 website and YouTube.

Hacker, currently the 2nd Vice Commander of Post 68, chairs the Legion’s Department of North Carolina’s Be The One Program. Post 68 Commander Tom Powers serves as co-chair of the state-level program.

L-R: Tom Powers, Commander, Post 68 and John Hacker, 2nd Vice Commander Post 68

Future plans include working with the Green Star Families, an organization that supports families affected by veteran suicide, and pursuing other training opportunities in development to increase community involvement in the suicide awareness and outreach program.

As long as veteran suicides remain an issue and veterans’ families are in crisis, Post 68’s work remains unfinished. Under the theme of Connection, Collaboration, and Service, the Post continues to engage with local law enforcement, elected officials, businesses, and other service organizations to make the community a better place to live.