There are currently 137 American Legion posts in Utah and, on Thursday, the Provo location held an open house designed to inform group members and potential group members about the benefits and services the legion provides.

Randy Edwards, Utah County Veterans Services Coordinator and a former post commander, said they succeeded.

Only a handful of people attended the open house, but William Barnson, and Dean Mendenhall said they expect more people at future events. The Provo post currently has 137 members but is trying to recruit as many more members as possible.

Randy Edwards, Utah County Veterans Services Coordinator and a former post commander, said whenever they learn a veteran lives in the area by word of mouth or chance encounter, they will stop and ask them to join the group.

Nichole Whiteley, Daily Herald

“We believe in keeping ‘In God we trust’ on the coin we believe in prayer, we believe in the flag, the pledge of allegiance [and] American Legion traditions and principles,” Edwards said.

Edwards said The American Legion encourages active duty military to join their “Be The One” program which is designed to help veterans struggling with mental health issues, depression or suicidal thoughts.

Whether veterans served in direct combat, leadership or providing medical assistance, Edwards said they all have wounds from their service. He dealt with depression while he served in the Special Forces and understands the struggles veterans of all ages deal with.

“We want to be there for them because our veterans today serve with invisible wounds and scars. And being veterans ourselves, we understand that and that’s where we can reach out and we can be of service to veterans, especially the active army. As long as they’re not too proud to ask,” he said.

While most public services done by the group are centered toward veterans in need, Edwards said they will help anyone in the community. The American Legion provides all of its services to veterans and the community for free by teaming up with organizations, receiving donations from sponsors and selling scrap metal to raise extra funds.

Nichole Whiteley, Daily Herald

“One of the things that I stress is I let the veterans also know that we’re not entitled. In order for us to be called veterans we need to continue to give to our community and that’s what we want to do. We want to give to our community and be visible and available and accessible to our community, so that way when we are honored, then we’ve earned it. We’re not entitled to that recognition that they give us,” Edwards said.

The American Legion relies heavily on donations, and Edwards said any amount of donation from the community helps. Edwards said any donations to the group are tax exempt and that “every penny that is donated does not go to any administration whatsoever. Every penny is used for youth programs, for training Veterans Service Officers.” Membership in the American Legion is $35 annually. Those funds go toward administrative costs.

While the American Legion is designed and catered to veterans, the organization includes secondary groups for their families, the Sons of the American Legion and the Jr. Auxiliary, for daughters of those who have served or are serving.

Chris Edwards, son of Randy Edwards and a member of the Sons of the American Legion, is trying to bring back the fundraisers and services that the gorup used to provide. They have 17 members but want to expand in order to provide service for veterans struggling with mental health issues, drug addictions, homelessness and more.

He is teaming up with Ninzel Rasmussen, department commander, to raise awareness of the Veterans Treatment Court, which is available to all qualifying veterans who are suffering from drug abuse, mental health, addiction and more. He explained that veterans often become homeless due to addictions as a coping mechanism for pain or other trauma and mental illnesses such as PTSD.

“They don’t realize that there are places that they can go to and counseling and help get their life back,” Chris Edwards said.

According to statistics from The Housing Assistance Council counted in the 2017-2021 American Community Survey, Utah had 155 homeless veterans and 5.2% of Utah veterans live in poverty.

“It’s ridiculous how many veterans come home and don’t even have a home for themselves after fighting for us. Yeah, so this is awareness to help these veterans,” Chris Edwards said.

Veterans Treatment Court is a way for them to get their life back and have any legal charges dropped after taking the appropriate steps outlined by mentors and the legal system.

Veterans court, specifically for those who served in the military, and drug court, for anyone with charges due to substance abuse, provide a support system to help veterans through the one-to-two-year-long program.

Chris Edwards himself is going through the drug court program, saying he has been clean for 10 months and out of jail for seven.

“My probation officer — before that I had — I asked him for help when I was wanting to get the help, and I couldn’t get it. I got a probation officer now that he’ll come and he’ll go, ‘Hey is there anything I can do for you, is there anything I can help you out with?’ That’s the support system we have,” Chris Edwards said. “I want them to know that it works. I’m doing it. I’m not just saying I’m doing it.”