LIVERMORE FALLS — Thursday, Oct. 17, the 2024-2025 American Legion National Commander James “Jim” LaCoursiere Jr. gave a speech at American Legion George Bunten Post #10. LaCoursiere is the 105th National Commander for the American Legion. He is from Connecticut and is currently on a trip around the country visiting American Legion posts.

LaCoursiere said that during the years that he campaigned for the National Commander position, the question he was asked most was: “What’s your project?” He said that his answer was always, “Consistency.” There is a common trend of National Commanders changing things up, he said, and by the time you adjust to one, the next one comes along and changes it up again.

LaCoursiere reported that his leading mission is Be The One, an American Legion project focused on the mental health of veterans and their friends and family. A report done by National Veteran Suicide Prevention shows that between 17 and 22 veterans take their own lives every day in America. That is over 6,000 every year. Be The One hopes to destigmatize mental health and encourage seeking help within the veteran community.

Be the one to save a life, LaCoursiere said. “Let them know it’s okay not to be okay, as long as we’re with them,” he said. He spoke about the importance of educating the community on how to save a life, give them a sense of direction, and how to ask “the tough questions.”

LaCoursiere said another primary focus of his is the quality of life for veterans and their families, saying that he wants to meet with the enlisted and their families to get real information on what they need. He said he wants to speak with the “worker bees” before the CEOs.

He also encouraged people to vote in the upcoming election. “Use your vote this year,” said LaCoursiere. “No matter who for.” He said that  “it doesn’t matter who the president is,” there needs to be a budget passed by Congress.

In closing, LaCoursiere said that it’s all about LUV [Loyalty, Unity, Valor] from the heart.

LaCoursiere thanked George Bunten Post 10 for having him and for everyone who traveled to the event. He gifted the post a license plate for display as well as his headshot so that they “won’t forget his face.”

Post 10 Commander Jocelyn Mosher-Collins gifted LaCoursiere with a card, a jug of maple syrup, and a $600 donation to LaCoursiere’s top fundraiser, The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation.