The commander of a rural American Legion post in western New York speaks out about suicide.

Commander of the John W. Dill American Legion Post 434 in Brocton, N.Y., appeared on a local television network to bring suicide awareness to the community. Post 434 Commander Mattie McIntyre was welcomed by the past Department of New York Auxiliary President, Nancy Babis, to speak about The American Legion’s “Be the One” program, the 988 national hotline for crisis intervention, the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) S.A.V.E. outreach and the 988 Scholarship that Babis initiated in 2021.

What began as a small scholarship program to assist county residents who were pursuing a degree in the medical or mental health field, grew from only five applicants in 2022 to 23 applicants in 2024.

The scholarship was originally named after Joseph P. Dwyer, a combat medic who came home with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress. It was renamed the "988 Scholarship” when suicide rates skyrocketed in all populations.

She went on to say, “It was perfect timing when Vincent 'Jim' Troiola was elected as the national commander for The American Legion. Commander Troiola set out to back H.R. 377 that initiated the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and gave us a wider and more flexible scholarship program that could apply to everyone, not just veterans.”

“The 988 Be the Hero Scholarship is currently only for Chautauqua County, New York, residents. And our small group of volunteers raises funds only once a year in June. So far, the scholarship program has awarded over $9,000. On June 29, 2024, there will be another fundraising event to cover the cost of scholarships for 2025. Any and all donations are appreciated."

"It’s only a drop in the bucket, but by raising awareness and helping to provide training throughout our small community, we can save lives. In hosting VHA S.A.V.E. events, together we can teach employers, teachers, family members and friends the importance of identifying suicidal ideologies,” said McIntyre.

As an advocate for The American Legion “Be the One” program, Commander McIntyre believes that everyone in the community needs to stand up and be the one. During the interview, Commander McIntyre stated, “According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), suicide is the ninth leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 64. It has become a national crisis that needs to be addressed seriously. We need to take a national approach to the prevention of suicide, even within the smallest of communities."

It is all up to us to “Be the One.” Be the one to ask the hard questions. Be the one to reach out to friends and neighbors. Be the one to listen and be the one to change the world, even if it's only for one person. We can be the one.

“Western New York Veterans” can be seen on LCTV 1301 on Spectrum, and on-demand on our website. Visit www.lctv.net for schedule.