American Legion's mission: Re-energize

POST FALLS - Rita Navarrete says it's time to rally the troops of the American Legion and its auxiliary.

"Reconnect and re-energize," said Navarrete, the auxiliary's national president from New Mexico. "It is a shame that a lot of individuals do not know who we are and how we serve. Whose fault is that?"

Navarrete, Gov. Butch Otter and other national and state officials were among those who addressed about 250 attending the Legion's 92nd state convention at Red Lion Templin's Hotel on Friday.

Later in the day, during a ceremony at Post 143 in Post Falls, five area mayors and other officials were invited to sign a "community covenant" pledging to support the troops.

Clarence Hill, the Legion's national commander from Ohio and a member of a Florida post, said the organization's membership has declined in 10 out of the past 12 years.

However, its membership has grown by about 54,000 since this time last year.

"This has been a banner year," he said.

The Legion is still considered the nation's largest veterans organization with about 2.5 million members, but that's a far cry from about 3 million 15 years ago.

Hill attributes the fall to an aging generation of vets, lesser involvement among younger vets and the Legion falling behind on keeping in touch with members.

"We need to get the numbers back to have the impact we've had and provide the services that we have," he said. "If we keep growing like this year, it wouldn't take too long."

The Legion has been a powerful lobbying group in Washington, provided youth opportunities such as baseball, speech, Boy Scouts and Boys and Girls State leadership events and is involved in veterans affairs.

One way Hill believes the Legion can rebound with members is joining the technology age of social networks and blogs to be connected on issues.

"I took on that task three years ago, pushing for the American Legion to get involved with social networks and a lot of organization levels have done that by publicizing activities on a regular basis," Hill said.

The Legion also recently launched a new website intended to be more user friendly to spark interest.

Navarrete praised Otter and Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin for attending and Idaho's congressional delegation for sending staff to provide updates on issues and support to veterans.

"The Department of Idaho American Legion has done an outstanding job of staying connected," she said. "We are moving through transitions, but grassroot members are where things are accomplished."

Otter said Idaho is also doing its part in the wars on terror. About 2,000 Idaho soldiers will be deployed in September to serve in Iraq.

"Idaho has made the largest contribution to the wars in the Gulf," Otter said. "Those efforts that have been made have been appreciated."

Attendees heard updates on state and national issues, including what the V.A. is doing to reduce its backlog in cases, but Hill reminded members to keep a pulse on progress.

"It's nice to hear things are happening, but they haven't been solved," Hill said. "We need to pay attention to make sure the things they say will happen."