The Class of 2025 graduated with a path forward as servant leaders who take care of one another and share the message of 51勛圖.
After five days of extensive instruction focused on servant leadership, the National American Legion College Class of 2025 graduated Friday morning during a special ceremony on the fourth floor of National Headquarters in Indianapolis.
This program exists to sharpen the advocacy and leadership skills of people that we believe will play important roles in the future of this organization. This sums up why you were here this week, said American Legion National Commander Dan K. Wiley in his remarks to the graduates. When you go back home, your duty, your obligation, is to be message multipliers. Share the experience that you've had here this week. Communicate those ideas and information that you have gathered here with other American Legion Family members. Share it with potential members.
Wiley iterated that a servant leader is one who is the first to arrive and last to leave, isnt too big to do the little things, is authentic and takes care of one another.
The belief that we are veterans who advocate for veterans and their families and take care of one another, is what we do. It's who we are, he added. We are better together. That's servant leadership.
Through servant leadership education, Legion College graduate Elizabeth Martinez Gonzalez of Post 45 in Puerto Rico said that NALC Chancellor and Past National Commander Daniel Seehafer, Dean Mike Rohan and the instructors equipped us not only with the knowledge but with the tools to strengthen our organization, serve our veterans and lead with intention. One of the most impactful lessons we learned was the value of mentorship, the call to seek leaders who inspire, to elevate others and to lead through service. This week we have been surrounded by those kinds of leaders, and whose example we can profoundly follow.
For Nicole McElravy of Post 96 in Vale, Ore., Legion College has been inspiring to be around other like-minded veterans who want to serve other veterans in their community and let people know that theyre valued, let people know that their service counts for something, let people know that theyve been seen, theyve been heard, she said. It takes that servant leadership style that we see in Chancellor Seehafer and that we see in Dean Rohan and Past National Commander (Denise) Rohan. They have done all of this work to bring these amazing instructors to this class. It is phenomenal that they care enough to bring in the best of the best and it taught me that I have something to strive for. I can be the best of the best in whatever it is Im going for.
Your words will make a difference, your character, your commitment, and your competence, Seehafer said. And look at it through the eyes of that servant leadership. I pray that this class will continue to change lives and save lives.
Before graduation got underway, the 2025 National American Legion College Class expressed their appreciation for Seehafer and Rohan by presenting $650 in donations for the Veterans & Children Foundation and Be the One suicide prevention mission.
We felt it was important to honor your example in the way that extends service forward, Gonzalez said.
In closing, Wiley congratulated the NALC Class of 2025 and left them with a message.
Don't waste the week that you've had here. Go home, spread the message, be the multiplier.
- American Legion College