The Veterans Sound Off Podcast
On each episode of the show we will travel across the State of Mississippi and visit each American Legion Post and discover how the members there are still serving America in their communities.
The Veterans Sound Off Podcast
We Lead the Way: Trish Ward's Vision for the American Legion Auxiliary
Jerry Allhands sits down with Trish Ward, the 2024-2025 American Legion Auxiliary National President, for a compelling conversation that reveals the heart of the American Legion family's mission to support veterans across America.
At the Oxford VA Home in Mississippi, President Ward shares her remarkable journey from California transplant to national leadership. After relocating to Kansas in 1999, a simple invitation from her realtor—an Auxiliary member—changed the trajectory of her life. Eligible through her father's WWII Army service, Ward's 25-year journey through local and national leadership positions demonstrates how the Legion family thrives through personal connections and mentorship.
Ward expertly clarifies eligibility requirements for the American Legion family's different branches, including recent changes allowing spouses of female veterans to join the Auxiliary. She addresses a common concern with refreshing honesty: even those "too busy" to attend meetings can make a profound difference through membership dues that fund critical programs supporting veterans, military families, and children.
The conversation takes a poignant turn as Ward discusses the "Be the One" initiative targeting veteran suicide prevention. She shares the story of a Mississippi family who, after losing their veteran son, created "Ronnie's Retreat" to help others struggling with mental health challenges. This work connects directly to the Legion's founding purpose—providing the camaraderie veterans often miss after service.
From junior Auxiliary members creating door decorations for VA home residents to the legislative advocacy that shapes veteran policy, Ward illuminates how the Legion family combines personal connection with national impact. Whether you're Legion-eligible or simply care about veterans' wellbeing, this episode offers a moving look at an organization still "leading the way" after more than a century of service.
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This is the Veterans Sound Off Podcast. I'm your host, jerry Allhands, a veteran of the US Air Force and Army and a Mississippi Past Department Commander of the American Legion. Each week since January 1st, we have visited an American Legion post and with the Legion family there, to include the Legion Auxiliary, the Sons of the American Legion and the Legion Riders. Along the way, we have visited with various groups and individuals who are supporting our veterans. In today's episode, we're going to look back at some of those who are supporting our veterans, but before we do, I must say thank you to everyone who has financially supported this podcast. Without your contributions, your gifts and your financial support, we could not make this series possible. It takes a lot of time and effort to make this series and the cost is substantial. We receive no grants and have no corporate sponsors. We are solely dependent on your support. Every dollar counts and is very much appreciated. If you would like to help keep this program going, please call 662-902-6658 and leave a message. One of us will call you back as soon as possible. Again, thank you very much for your support and your prayers. Well, we just wrapped up Season 1 with the last day of winter 2025, and this will be the second episode of Season 2 into the spring of 2025. And now let's look back at some of those groups and individuals who have been supporting our veterans.
Jerry Allhands:Sit down in Oxford, mississippi, at the Oxford VA Home with Trish Ward, the National Auxiliary President, and learn firsthand from her about the awesome things the Legion Auxiliary does to support our veterans and the American Legion. The highlight of the day takes place in the Chapel of the Mississippi State Veterans Home, located at 120 Center Ridge Road in Oxford. That's where we met with a delegation from the American Legion Auxiliary, sarah Lassiter, tina Hurst and Mary Jo Abraham, who were escorting today's guest. This episode is brought to you without interruption thanks to a gift made by a person who wishes to remain anonymous and who so very much enjoyed our guest visit to Mississippi that they wanted her interview to air uninterrupted. And welcome to the Veterans Sound Off podcast with Jerry Allhands. I am in Oxford, mississippi, today with a very, very special guest, a lady who has traveled well, shall we say, coast to coast probably several nations already by now, I'm sure and it is my great pleasure to introduce you to the 2024-2025 American Legion Auxiliary National President, mrs Trish Ward.
Trish Ward:Welcome ma'am, thank you so much for that introduction, and, before we get started, I always like to begin these kinds of things with a prayer. The American Legion Auxiliary supports our service members, their families and our veterans, so as we begin a new year, this seems like an appropriate time to come together in the spirit of your own faith, as we pray for peace for our country, peace for our planet and especially peace and safety for our service members who are serving abroad and domestically. May they all come home safely, may they all be safe and may we protect them forever and always, along with their families. Amen.
Jerry Allhands:Amen. It means so much to me to have you here today and to have you in Mississippi, and I know you've been here for several days. I hope you've enjoyed yourself and we've treated you well and hopefully you'll come back to us.
Trish Ward:Thank you so much for that. Yes, it's been an amazing 120 days. I was installed as national president at our convention in New Orleans, louisiana, on August 28th 2024. So I've been doing this now just about 120 days plus. I've traveled to 18 different departments and, of course, here in the American Legion family we call our states departments. So I've been to 18 states.
Trish Ward:I've been three times to our nation's capital, which was absolutely amazing, as I laid a wreath of remembrance at the Tomb of the Unknown on Veterans Day and I was also there for Wreaths Across America, which was an amazing opportunity to be at Arlington to lay wreaths on some very, very special memorial stones which I'd love to tell you a little bit about. I'm a huge believer and advocate for the story of the four chaplains and I know the family of George Fox, who was one of the four chaplains who lost his life on the USAT Dorchester on February 3rd 1944. And we're coming up on Four Chaplains Day soon and it was so special for me to lay a wreath at his memorial stone. I was with his family when we laid that stone in September of 2024. It was actually my first opportunity when I became national president. It was extremely memorable. So I've been on the road having a wonderful time meeting our members, especially across grassroots America.
Jerry Allhands:I was checking out your bio recently and I see that you're from Kansas.
Trish Ward:Well, that's correct. I represent the Department of Kansas. I'm originally from California but I relocated to my husband's native Kansas in 1999, where, gratefully, we found the Legion family and I am a proud member, paid up for life member, of John P Hand Unit 250 in Lewisburg, kansas, where my husband is a proud sons of the American Legion. So we are a Legion family and we believe in supporting the American Legion family, as we do with our children and grandchildren and a few great-grandchildren as well.
Jerry Allhands:Great-grandchildren, great-grandchildren. I'm sorry, I have a very hard time believing that, because I'm looking across at you and you are so young.
Trish Ward:I know I'm only 29. Not really, no. My husband and I are very proud of our newest great-grandson, everett Cohen, who is just about a year old, and he is a proud member of the Sons of the American Legion. So we believe in becoming a full Legion family and we hope that the American Legion family across our nation continues to thrive and grow.
Jerry Allhands:I'm a total advocate with you there. I appreciate that so much. My own grandchildren are in the Sons and the Auxiliary. I guess she would be a junior. She's a junior in high school this year. Hard to believe.
Trish Ward:Okay, well, I got to put a plug in there for Girl State. Then, if she's a junior in high school, got to tell our listeners about the American Legion Boys State experience and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State. Because, as a representative of the American Legion family, I support Jim LeCourcier, our national commander, and Joseph Nafferrette, the sons of the American Legion national commander, and we are huge advocates of the Boys State and Girls State program, which is for our young people who have just graduated from their junior year of high school. In every state across the country and here in the great state of Mississippi we come together early in the summer and we teach our young people about being good citizens and they create their own cities and they run for office and they write bills and they learn a little bit more about the American Legion experience and certainly our country, and it's a fabulous program. So if you have young men or young women having just graduated from their junior year of high school, check out Boys State and Girls State.
Jerry Allhands:Oh, they'll love it. And speaking of that, our Boys State program is this May 25th through the 31st. You can find more information on that at their website, wwwmsboysstatecom, or by calling the Mississippi American Legion Adjutant, Deborah Fielder, at 601-497-5079. And Girls State is just about a week later, June 8th through the 13th. For more information on that, go to wwwalamississippigirlstatecom. Both programs are happening right here in Oxford on the campus of Ole Miss. How did you come to be in the American Legion Auxiliary, what makes you eligible to be an auxiliary member and why join?
Trish Ward:the.
Jerry Allhands:American Legion Auxiliary. What makes you eligible to be an Auxiliary?
Trish Ward:member and why join the American Legion Auxiliary? Well, I am from California, as I mentioned, and my husband wanted to relocate to his native Kansas. So we did and I left everything. I left my family, I left my friends, I left a job and I believed in building a new life with my husband in a place that he wanted us to go forward. So we relocated to his native Kansas and the Midwest has been really good to us.
Trish Ward:But it was my realtor who sort of saw that maybe I needed to meet some people and maybe I would benefit from the Legion experience. So it was my realtor that said why don't you join the Legion? And I'm so grateful to her because I'm not sure that in California the Legion family would have found me. I didn't really. My father wasn't a member, although I'm eligible for this organization under his World War II service in the United States Army and also my grandfather's World War II service as a United States Navy CB. So I'm eligible for this organization through my family members and I'm so grateful that I'm a member in Lewisburg, kansas, and that my realtor set me up for excellence and said why don't you join our unit? It was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Jerry Allhands:So it's true, anyone can join the American Legion through an invitation like that.
Trish Ward:Well, anyone who's eligible can join the American Legion family. So let's talk about that a little bit, please. Our eligibility for the American Legion family is actually determined by the American Legion and the American Legion was chartered by Congress, and the American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion and also the American Legion Riders are part of the Legion family. So in the American Legion Auxiliary we are eligible through the service of an immediate family member within two degrees of a very fancy word called consanguinity, and what that really means is just two degrees from the veteran himself or herself. I should also mention that female veterans are eligible under their own service and that men of female veterans are eligible for the American Legion Auxiliary, and that is pretty new. Just a few years back the American Legion adjusted our eligibility and they changed one word from wife to spouse. So a spouse of a female veteran or male veteran is eligible to join the American Legion Auxiliary.
Trish Ward:Now, a little bit different for the sons of the American Legion. They are a program of the American Legion and it is for young men who are eligible through the service of a male descendant in their family father, grandfather, great-grandfather. The American Legion riders accept eligibility from a Legionnaire, an American Legion auxiliary member or sons of the American Legion member. In order to be a rider you must be a member of the Legion, the sons or the auxiliary. So that's a little bit about our eligibility. But so many people in our history have served and a lot of times our young people just don't realize that maybe Grandma or Grandpa served. So it's important that we communicate about that eligibility and talk to our young people about if they're eligible.
Jerry Allhands:That sounds great. I'm curious about your realtor. How did your realtor? Was your realtor a auxiliary member or Legion member?
Trish Ward:My realtor was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Lewisburg, kansas, is a little town. It's a suburb of Kansas City. We were just on the Kansas side of the Missouri border and we are a really thriving small town, very much like how the American Legion was built, which was on small town America really. So my realtor was a member of the Unit 250 there in Lewisburg, kansas, and she was doing what lots of good business people do they see potential members and they try to grow their units. So she was doing exactly what we wanted her to do, which is reaching out to new people coming into town, and I'm so grateful that she did that.
Jerry Allhands:I'm very grateful she did that. I get to meet you because of her.
Trish Ward:Well, look what's happened to me since.
Jerry Allhands:How long have you been in the auxiliary?
Trish Ward:I joined in 1999 when we relocated to Kansas, so that puts me at right about 25 years and my journey in leadership was like many members of our organization. We get involved in our unit and they need people to step up. We need leaders and they asked me to be a leader in my unit and I gladly accepted. I made a few missteps but I had a lot of people who supported me and mentored me and helped me and showed me the way, which is a little bit about my theme this year as national president, which is leading the way and, as I tell people with the American Legion haven't we always led the way and we certainly have since our founding, where we were integral in supporting the concept of the VA, in support of Abraham Lincoln's message that we will support all our veterans and, of course, we support our Legion family as they advocate for legislative growth for our veterans. We want to make sure that their voice is heard in Washington DC and it's what we do best is legislate and be advocates for our veterans.
Jerry Allhands:If somebody wanted to join the Auxiliary, but they, I'm just too busy, I don't have enough time. I really want to be a member, but I just what would you say to those people?
Trish Ward:Well, it happens often because the Legion family isn't always for everyone and certainly if there's no eligibility, we always try to find the opportunity for everybody to serve, even if it's in a volunteer capacity.
Trish Ward:We have folks in my little town who aren't eligible but who love to come and support us, both extra hands on deck and through financial support.
Trish Ward:But for those members who are eligible and maybe they work and they have young families or they just don't have time to fit it in what I tell them is, if you believe in supporting a family member who served our country and you want to support that individual and honor their service, join our organization and those of us who do have time will put those dues to very good use supporting our veterans in the VA residences and supporting our children through our children and youth programs, and supporting our military families and our veterans through our children and youth programs, and supporting our military families and our veterans through our Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Program. So even though they can't maybe attend a meeting, we will put those dues to good use. So join an American Legion family in your small town or big town and get involved. And if you can't get involved, support the people who are involved and they'll put your money to good use Excellent.
Jerry Allhands:Excellent, we were talking about the veterans homes. We're one today in Oxford Mississippi.
Trish Ward:In beautiful Oxford, Mississippi. I understand that there are about 117 veteran residents here and I can't wait to meet some of them. I'm here today because the American Legion Auxiliary juniors and I should also mention, since we talked about membership so much the American Legion Auxiliary has two classes of membership juniors and seniors. And juniors are for young people below the age of 18, and then, of course, seniors, 18 and above. So we had a little activity a few days ago where our junior members came and they did crafts which I brought today to hang on the doors of our veterans here in Oxford, and it always brings a smile to their face when they see these beautiful little craft projects that our junior members do to recognize and honor them.
Jerry Allhands:If you have one thing to say to a resident here what would you share with them?
Trish Ward:a resident here. What would you share with them? Well, it's common and often that we thank our veterans for their service to our country, but I think it's also important to look them in the eyes and to take their hand and hold their hand and let them know that not only do we say it, we really mean it, and we mean it by the actions that we do. So it's important to say the words, but it's also important to connect with them. A lot of the people that live in the veterans' homes maybe they don't have family members and they don't have people to connect with them, and connecting is so important. So our American Legion Auxiliary family does that in a lot of ways, and especially around the holidays recently with our holiday gift shops where our veterans can come and select gifts for their family members, and sometimes our auxiliary members help them shop. So it's that connection. So what I would say to them is certainly thank you for your service, but also we will never forget what you did to keep our country free and we're going to honor you every day.
Trish Ward:In the American Legion, we have a mission that is a primary mission of the organization called Be the One, and it is positioned to help our members and citizens be the one to save one. We've spoken often about the tragedy of veteran suicide and how unfortunately common it can be. Here in Mississippi I had the opportunity to meet a family of a veteran who took his own life and they are doing amazing things to honor him with Ronnie's retreat here in northern Mississippi, and they are looking to build a compound where veterans can come, be safe, be helped, be cared for and be supported if they're on a mental health journey. So as we talk about the Be the One mission, we're arming our members to be sure to ask the right questions and to be able to recognize when a veteran is struggling and to intervene so that the family, like Ronnie, doesn't have to go through what they went through, nor should any veteran be struggling with self-harm. So our American Legion family is absolutely committed to making sure that we communicate about that mission and that we help all citizens and our members be ready and willing to talk and ask the hard questions.
Trish Ward:The American Legion was founded really on that concept that our veterans missed the camaraderie that they had while they were together in conflict, and so they came together to found the American Legion for the purpose to give veterans a place that they can congregate and that they can support each other, and that's really what we were founded on. So it still holds true today, even 104 plus years later. Veterans, people who served our country they miss that camaraderie and that's what the American Legion family brings to them and why we're such a successful veteran service organization. We've been around 100 years. We know how to do it, we know what questions need to be asked and we know when and where to get the job done. So I can just say, here in the great state of Mississippi I've met with many grassroots members and Legionnaires and it's been heartwarming to see the great work that the people in Mississippi are doing.
Jerry Allhands:Madam President, it has been a privilege and an honor to have you here today. Thank you so much for joining us.
Trish Ward:Thank you so much for the invite. I've had a lovely time across the great state of Mississippi. I can't wait to come back. I can't wait to meet more grassroots members and today have the opportunity to meet some amazing veterans here in Oxford. And so, since we had such a lovely conversation, would it be okay if I closed with a prayer?
Jerry Allhands:Please, please.
Trish Ward:Thank you so much, in the spirit of faith, that I had the opportunity to speak to the community here in the great state of Mississippi about the fantastic American Legion family that resides in your beautiful Magnolia State. I pray that if you hear this transmission and if you're eligible, that you'll seek out an American Legion family in your community and join us. Leading the way is absolutely the way to go and we'd love to have you aboard. Please pray for our country, please pray for our service members, our veterans and their families, and if you see a veteran or a citizen struggling, please intervene to help them. I do this in God's name, amen.
Jerry Allhands:Thank you so much, thank you so much for your time. That was a brief look back at episode three and our visit with American Legion Auxiliary National President Trish Ward. Be sure to take a listen to the entire interview as President Ward talks about the care of patients, residents and staff at VA facilities. President Ward is leading the way in the American Legion Auxiliary and she shares some outstanding ideas on how we can continue to grow this great organization. All that and more can be heard in Season 1, episode 3. Be sure to join me next time as we revisit Episode 6 and catch the excitement of the Magnolia Girls State Program. That's next time on the Veterans Sound Off Podcast, a series that's made possible through your financial support. The Veterans Sound Off Podcast is made possible by you, the listener, and we need your help in keeping this podcast series going. Your continued financial support enables us to produce these episodes. Please call 662-902-6658 today and we'll give you all the details on how you and or your business can become a sponsor. We hope you've enjoyed this episode and look forward to your feedback, and ask that you subscribe to and share the Veterans Sound Off Podcast with your friends and family. If you have a comment, suggestion or question or you would like to become a supporter of this podcast, please call 662-902-6658, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Jerry Allhands:This has been a production of Allh ands Media LLC, with offices in Rena Lara, Mississippi. All rights are reserved. Hard work we're fired up. Hard work everybody's on the plane. Hard work we do it for play. Hard work. Hard work, we do it for play. Hard work, hard work it's what they say. Hard work, hard work I earn my pay. Hard work, work, hard work, work, hard work, work.
