Newly elected American Legion national commander pays visit to Windham post

By Ed Pierce

Since the National Commander of the American Legion Daniel J. Seehafer of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin was elected to the position on Aug. 31, he’s only slept in his own bed at home for a total of three days. The remainder of his time has been spent on the road attending meetings and visiting posts like on Saturday, Nov. 4, when Seehafer and an entourage of Legion officials stopped in Windham and had lunch with Field-Allen Post 148 members and the Post 148 auxiliary.

The new National Commander of the
American Legion, Daniel J. Seehafer,
visited Field-Allen Post 148 in Windham
on Nov. 4 and had lunch with post and
auxiliary members. He also met with
World War II veteran Carroll McDonald
and Korean War veteran Walter Braley,
both of Windham, during his visit. 
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 
 

Seehafer is an ordained minister and served in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve as a military chaplain. He’s a longtime Legion member who has spent time in leadership positions at every level, including as national chaplain and as the commander of the Legion’s Department for Wisconsin.

He succeeded Post 148’s Vicent J. “Jim” Troiola as the National Commander for the American Legion and spent time during his visit speaking with World War II veteran Carroll McDonald, 98, and Korean War veterans Walter Braley, 92, both of Windham.

Post 148 members offered Seehafer traditional Maine favorites for lunch including authentic Italian sandwiches from Amato’s, two different kinds of whoopie pies and Moxie soft drinks. He said he enjoyed the sandwiches and whoopie pies but passed on sampling the Moxie.

According to Seehafer, he’s known for many years what his role would be in life and how happy he is to be leading a national veteran’s organization.

“I stopped saying ‘thank you for your service’ to veterans a few years ago,” Seehafer said. “Now I say to veterans ‘thank you for our freedom’ and I truly mean it. I’m grateful to veterans every single day and it’s never too late to tell them how much you appreciate what they have done for this nation.”

The American Legion’s mission of serving veterans and their families is personal to Seehafer and he’s embraced the Legion’s “Be the One” initiative to thwart veteran suicide in America. The national “Be the One” campaign strives to destigmatize veterans asking for mental health support, create opportunities for those with mental health issues to speak freely and get the support that they need; to provide peer to peer support and resources in local communities; and to identify issues affecting veterans and find resources for supporting veterans who may be struggling.

“We know that outreach saves lives,” he said. “Nothing is more important than our effort to reduce the number of veterans who die by suicide. We can’t stop. Not now, not ever.”

Nationally about 17 veterans or active-duty military members die by suicide every day and Seehafer says that number can be fewer if every Legion member makes a concerted effort to stay in touch and listen to veterans they know through the “Be the One” program.

“The life of one veteran saved makes all the difference in the world,” he said. “That gets to the heart of the ‘Be the One’ mission. While the initiative was only launched two years ago, it is already starting to make a difference. Somebody might be having a rough day, but you can change somebody’s life.”

Seehafer says that by helping to build on the momentum of ‘Be the One’ by raising awareness of the issue of veteran suicide, guiding them to resources to help and eliminating the stigma associated with mental health counseling, the veteran suicide rate nationally can be reduced.

“We are not just an organization, we are a family,” Seehafer said. “We’re a family that changes lives and saves lives.”

He also said he was saddened when he first heard about the mass shooting in Lewiston in October that claimed 18 lives.

“You always think that it couldn’t happen here in Maine, but sadly it did,” he said. “We’re doing all we can to assist the families of the victims and praying for the recovery of those who were injured.” After the lunch, Seehafer presented certificates to McDonald and Braley and had his photo taken with them before departing to visit the American Legion Post in Scarborough. <

Windham veteran to lead American Legion as National Commander

V. James 'Jim' Troiola, a resident of Windham
and a U.S. Navy veteran, has been elected to
serve as National Commander of the
American Legion for the 2022-2023 term.
COURTESY PHOTO   

By Ed Pierce 

A Windham resident who understands that freedom requires a huge commitment and responsibility is now leading the American Legion veteran’s organization as its National Commander.

Vincent “Jim” Troiola was elected to the position during the 103rd American Legion National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin earlier this month. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1971 as a Boatswain Mate aboard the USS Nitro, an Ammunition Auxiliary Ship, when it was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the Sixth Fleet, and then as a reservist until being honorably discharged in 1974.

Troiola originally joined the American Legion in 1993.

“I joined the William E. DeBevoise Jr. American Legion Post 1682 in New City, New York in 1993,” Troiola said. “At the time I was involved in activities at my daughter’s elementary school and one of my friends whose daughter also went to the same school asked me to join the Sons of the American Legion, a program of the American Legion. The SAL is for sons or grandsons of veterans that have served. I actively participated in their programs and was approached by the Post Commander and was asked if I was a veteran. He recruited me to join the American Legion.”

As a new Legion member, Troiola started attending meetings and became interested in what they were doing for their community.

“We were involved with good citizenship awards in the local schools, teaching flag etiquette classes also in the schools, laying flags on the graves on Memorial Day, scholarships, hosting the annual Memorial Day Parade and sending high school students to Boys State and getting high school students to participate in the Oratorical Contest, a constitutional speech contest,” he said. “We also visited the nearby VA Hospital to have luncheons for the patients, give gifts at Christmas and provide comfort clothing to them.” 

LEADERSHIP

After a year of membership, Troiola became 2nd Vice Commander of the Post and then in 1997 was elected Post Commander, a position he held for two years.

“I became very active in many committees and programs in higher levels of the American Legion including County Commander, District Commander, Department (State) Commander (2010-2011) and National Vice Commander (2016-2017),” he said. “I also chaired many committees and commissions at all levels. At the Department level, I served on the faculty of the New York American Legion college, Membership Chairman and the centennial task force for the future. At the National level, I served as Chairman of the Veterans Employment and Education Commission and the National Legislative Commission. I wanted to be involved. I enjoyed being involved with the youth programs. Watching them participate in programs like the oratorical contest renewed my faith and still does today that our country will be in good hands in the future. I also was inspired at the many programs the Legion has to help veterans and their families. Add to that the resolutions that our Legion Posts write all over the country supporting our veterans that get approved at the National Executive Committee and then presented to Congress for approval. I joined because I knew I could make a difference in the lives of our veterans and our youth.”

In 2017, as his term was drawing to a close as National Vice Commander, Troiola was approached by a candidate for National Commander who asked if he would ever consider running for National Commander.

“After some thought, I decided I was interested, and the New York American Legion passed a resolution endorsing me to run for National Commander. I campaigned all over the country in 2021 and 2022 visiting 39 states including Alaska,” he said.

He was elected National Commander for a one-year term Sept. 1 and that requires 330 days of travel during that time.

“I will visit all 55 departments to include 50 states, Department of Mexico, Department of France, Department of Puerto Rico, Department of the Philippines and the Department of District of Columbia. In December I will embark on a Far East Trip to Okinawa, Philippines, Guam and Hawaii to participate at the Pearl Harbor Day Ceremonies. In June 2023, I will travel to Normandy Beach for D-Day ceremonies, Paris, France, the birthplace of the American Legion, Bastogne, Belgium and Ramstein Air Base in Germany to meet the troops.” 

His daughter, Laura, and her husband, Michael, moved to Falmouth about 2012 before Troiola and his wife, Saveria, moved to Maine.

“They were in New Hampshire where Michael did his residency at Dartmouth. We decided in 2015 to move to Maine to be closer to our two grandchildren at the time, now three grandchildren. Laura works from home, and we felt we were able to help with the kids, one of which, has special needs,” Troiola said. “We shopped for a new home for about two months and came across a new construction home in the Sebago Heights subdivision. We purchased the house and moved in January 2016. We love the neighborhood and living in the Lakes Region. I retired from my job in New York in February 2017 after commuting on Monday and Friday to and from New York. I started working as a school bus driver in Falmouth in February 2018 and work part-time as a motor coach operator for Custom Coach and Limousine in Gorham. I am on a one-year leave of absence from both while I serve as National Commander for the American Legion.”

According to Troiola, Windham’s American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 is evidence of the strength and relevance of the veteran’s organization.

“Post 148 proves that the articles that are written about the American Legion declining in numbers are wrong. As a matter of fact, the entire organization lost less members last year than any in the last 10 years,” he said. “As an example, here in Windham, the Post 148 constantly increases in membership every year. Why? Successful Legion Posts are generally pillars in their local communities. When Posts are involved in the community the members come. I visit the Post once in a while on Wednesday mornings for the veteran’s coffee and get-together. A veteran doesn’t have to be a member to visit. There is no pressure to join. The purpose is the camaraderie that we enjoy as veterans. Add to that the suppers and luncheons, the Memorial Day Parade, and the many youth programs they are involved in, and you have a place for veterans to join who want to help in their communities.”

EVOLVING

He says that going forward, the makeup of the American Legion is evolving.

“The veterans who served from 1990 and forward in the Gulf War, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Afghanistan, are joining our ranks all over the nation. Many of them have raised their families and are now looking for something to do. They are serving in many capacities at all levels,” Troiola said. “What was relevant in the 1950s and 1960s may not be relevant now. As our military changes, so do our priorities. Today’s military and veterans have different experiences. As the military changes, so do we. As an example, a large part of our military today is comprised of woman veterans. They are deployed all over the world and many serve in combat. It is up to the American Legion and other Veteran Service Organizations to advocate for women to receive healthcare from the VA specific to them. We advocate on Capitol Hill every day before the house and senate veterans affairs committee to outfit VA Hospitals and Outpatient clinics with physicians and equipment and space to take care of women’s specific needs.”

That advocacy is making a difference, Troiola said.

“A few weeks ago, the Senate passed legislation, Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, that provides funding and care for presumptive diseases stemming from toxic exposure to toxins in all wars from the VA. The bill initially failed to get passed in the Senate. Legionnaires from all over the country sent over 34,000 messages to their senators demanding that the bill get passed before the break. They heard our voices and passed the bill, and the previous National Commander was at the White House when President Biden signed it into law. The exposures include Agent Orange in Vietnam, toxic drinking water in Camp Lejeune, and toxic burn pits in Afghanistan. Veterans that have toxic exposure disease can file claims to the VA for service connected disabilities due to toxic exposure. We are relevant. As the military evolves, so do we.”

Troiola says his top priority for his year as National Commander will be tackling the toughest challenge facing veterans today, veteran’s suicide.

“My goal is to raise $2,000,000 for the Veterans and Children’s Foundation,” he said. The American Legion has activated a national campaign to end veteran’s suicide called ‘Be The One.’ Veteran suicide may be the biggest challenge yet, but anyone can ‘Be The One’ to help save just one veteran.” <