Members of area veterans groups have longed worked to help their fellow veterans, their families and the community.
James C. “Jim” Callender, as the new senior vice commander of American Legion Post #248, is working to sustain and increase that mission.
Callendar retired from the U.S. Army and Army Reserves with over 24 years of service, and now he continues to serve through work with local veterans organizations.
Callender talked about one of the Legion’s current projects and the need to get more veterans involved in local veterans organizations.
Joined by three other veterans, Chris McKee, Howard “Catfish” Adkins and Ronnie Rabun, in the Veterans Conference Center last week, Callender and the team were working on the Buddy Check system.
This is a national program established by the Legion in 2019. Local Legion posts perform Buddy Checks several times a year by reaching out to their local members to check on their well being and any needs they might have, then determine if any of those needs can be met by the Legion family.
Callender said, “For many veterans, the simple act of asking for help is very difficult. The consequences of this can easily turn tragic.” This understanding helped establish the Buddy Check system.
Callender said he has been told there are 2,200 veterans living in Fannin County, but believes this number is low. But even with that total, membership in local veterans groups is low.
For example, the American Legion Post only has 112 current members, 89 of whom have not participated on a regular basis. “We reached out...encouraging them to become active.”
“Our veterans service organizations are all about service and we need veterans to come join us and help us with our community and veterans service programs,” Callender said.
As examples, Callender points out the Legion raises funds to award scholarships. Members advocate to improve the lives of those who have served and their families.
Free services are available to help veterans and families navigate VA paperwork, ranging from discharge review to death benefits.
One American Legion program provides wounded service members with rehabilitation equipment.
Cantrell sees local veterans stepping up by doing something as simple as cutting the yard of a veteran who needs help.
“Even though you have hung up your uniform, you can continue to serve – and we need you,” Callender said.
He invites all veterans to the various organizations’ upcoming meetings. All begin at 7 p.m. at the Veterans Conference Center in front of Fannin County Middle School on Old Highway 76. They include:
•American Legion, first Monday of each month;
•Disabled American Veterans, September 8;
•Veterans of Foreign Wars, September 27; and,
•AMVETS, September 29.
Community help is needed. All the veterans organizations are non-profit. “We need donations to do what we do,” Callendar siad.
For more information, contact Callender at 404-216-9491 or email callender5859@att.net. He serves as senior vice commander of American Legion Post 248, a trustee in Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6570, and a service officer in Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Post 28 in Blue Ridge.