Casey Nash, 1st District Commander of the American Legion encouraged veterans to "come home" to the American Legion during her Veterans' Day keynote address. Nash shared her story of service, including multiple wartime deployments, while starting her family.
Near death experience
She describe one of her last deployments, which was the most harrowing, in which some of her fellow soldiers died including the driver of the vehicle she was in. She was also severely injured and evacuated to a medical facility.
A dark place
During her recovery, she realized that due to her commitment to the military how little time she had spent with her children in the important role as their mother. She then fell into a deep depression and attempted suicide. Fortunately her husband, who was also active duty military, was able to get help to her which saved her life.
With years of counseling and a service dog she has found her way out of that dark period of her life. One of the main things she realized she was missing, other than her role as mom, was a sense of purpose. She also needed a place where she could meet fellow soldiers who had travel a similar journey and could provide camaraderie and support. She found that in the American Legion and encourages other veterans to give it a try.
Video of the Bulloch County Veterans' Day program
American Legion provides a lifeline for veterans
For many veterans like Nash, the American Legion can provide a lifeline for them. Nash shared that the physical wounds were easy to heal. The mental wounds, not so much. Having friendships with other veterans who understood her journey in a way that only a veteran can, became an important part of her mental recovery. In addition, they have a host of services they provide to veterans from V.A. Assistance to helping veterans find jobs there are lots of valuable services to veterans' available with American Legion membership.
CLICK HERE to learn more about becoming a member of the American Legion.
American Legion Dexter Allen Post 90
The annual Veterans' Day program is coordinated by the American Legion Dexter Post 90 and Auxiliary with the help of local sponsors including:
- Averitt Center for the Arts
- Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home
- Bulloch Memorial Gardens
- American Legion Post 90
- Awards South
Dr. Michael Braz performed for thirty minutes prior to the program beginning. The Posting of the Flag was done by the Bulloch County Sheriff's color guard. The Daughters of the American Revolution provided coffee and snacks before the program.
Lunch was provided by the legion at their post on 100 Rucker Lane in Statesboro after the program.
