08/15/2026
After a great deal of thought, prayer, and reflection over the past several days, I have made the difficult decision to step away from American Legion Post 426 and from the The American Legion National Headquarters as a whole. This was not a decision I made lightly. I am proud of the time, work, relationships, and experiences I gained while serving with Post 426, and I remain grateful for the opportunities I had to serve alongside fellow veterans.
Unfortunately, recent experiences within the Post have left me feeling that my service, voice, and contributions are no longer welcomed, respected, or valued. The lack of communication and overall respect I have experienced since the new Commander assumed the position has played a significant role in my decision. As difficult and hurtful as it is to acknowledge, I no longer feel that remaining in the organization is the right path for me.
My decision to leave the American Legion as a whole goes beyond what has occurred at the Post level. At this point in my life and advocacy work, I do not feel that my values and priorities fully align with the direction of the organization, particularly when it comes to defending, protecting, and restoring the benefits and rights of current and future generations of veterans. I believe veteran service organizations must be willing not only to honor those who served before us, but also to actively confront the challenges facing veterans today and fight to ensure future veterans receive the care, benefits, dignity, and protections they have earned.
Leaving the American Legion does not mean that I am leaving the veteran community or stepping away from the work that matters deeply to me. If anything, I intend to become even more focused on that work.
I will continue advocating for survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and bringing awareness to the experiences of women veterans, including the gaps in care, recognition, resources, and trauma-informed services that too many continue to face. I will continue working toward the goal of reducing the veteran su***de rate to zero and advocating for approaches that address the underlying circumstances that place veterans at risk rather than accepting veteran su***de as an inevitable reality.
I will also continue bringing awareness to the opioid epidemic and its devastating impact on veterans, families, and communities. Part of that work will include advocating for and actively supporting alternative pathways to healing, including responsible research, education, and access surrounding plant-based medicines and other approaches that may help veterans achieve improved quality of life and recovery while reducing unnecessary dependence on pharmaceuticals.
My commitment has never been to a title, a position, a Post, or an organization. My commitment is to veterans.
I remain deeply grateful for the people I have met, the experiences I have gained, and the veterans I have had the privilege of serving alongside. I wish Post 426 and its members well. However, I also believe there are times when remaining true to your purpose requires recognizing when your path and an organization's path no longer align.
For me, this is one of those times.
I am closing this chapter with gratitude for what it gave me, disappointment for what it became, and determination about what comes next. I will continue to advocate, educate, speak up, and work toward meaningful change for veterans—especially women veterans, MST survivors, veterans affected by su***de and substance use, and those searching for alternative ways to heal.
The organization I belong to may be changing, but my mission is not
