Wow! It turns out that driving 6+ hours daily and connecting with people makes daily blogging a challenge!
Today is August 9th, Day 8 of the 2024 Be The One Rally, and I'm taking a break in Cody, Wyoming, after driving from Arco, Idaho, through Yellowstone Park with a quick photo op at Old Faithful.
I've had great meetings with American Legion posts along the drive, and the work these posts are doing in their communities makes me doubly proud to be an American Legionnaire.
As you know, my route is US Highway 20, America's Medal of Honor Highway. It's the longest, continuous highway in the United States. Retire Army LTC Dick Tobiason spent over a decade working with the states and Congress to have US 20 officially designated the National Medal of Honor Highway. All the states and the US Senate have approved. We only are waiting for the US House of Representatives to approve their bill. Have a minute? Email or text your representative and request their help in pushing the bill to a vote.
The Corvette is having fun on the twisties. A big "thank you" to the companies that donated to equip the car for track use - which makes it really hug the road: Just Driven LLC (project management and Hard Dog harness bar); OG Racing (Sparco Evo seats and 6-point harness); Apex Wheels; Reaction (coilovers).
You can help us in our suicide prevention mission by following us on Instagram and Facebook and sharing our posts. Have an extra $10.00? Make a donation to our service dog (Woody) training program - https://www.rally4vets.com/donate
You can follow us live on the Internet at the following link - https://maps.findmespot.com/s/QRHY#live/assets
See the full route on our website at - https://www.rally4vets.com/rally4vetsbetheonedrive
A huge "Thank You" to Mark Consuelos, our Rally4Vets Champion for August, for reminding us that each of us can "Be The One" to save a veteran's life. See his PSA here - https://www.rally4vets.com/markconsuelos
Here are three easy steps to engage with a veteran in distress [ACE]:
• Ask: ask the person directly whether he or she is thinking of committing suicide.
• Care: listen calmly and closely and give the person a chance to talk out what's weighing on them.
• Escort: don't leave the person alone. Stay with them and escort them to health care or other trained professionals, including chaplains, or, to their unit leadership, who can take the next steps in getting them help.
Next stop? American Legion Post 34 in Gordon, Nebraska.
PS: Thanks to Rikki Almanza at the American Legion Department of California for a great article covering our stop in Bend, Oregon - https://calegion.org/legionnaire-is-driving-across-the-u-s-in-a-corvette-to-raise-awareness-about-veteran-suicide/
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