Commander: ‘You Matter’ is the theme for 2026-27
Legion Family,
First and foremost, thank you.
Thank you to every member of The American Legion Department of Minnesota for placing your trust in me to serve as your Department Commander for 2026-27. It is truly one of the greatest honors, and I am humbled by the opportunity to serve each and every one of you.
If you’ve heard me speak over the past several years, you’ve probably heard one message repeated over and over again:
“You Matter.”
Those two words have become more than a slogan — they have become the foundation of everything I hope to accomplish this year.
When I say “You Matter,” I mean every veteran. Whether you’re an active member of The American Legion, a veteran who has never walked through our doors, or someone quietly carrying the weight of your service, you matter. Your experiences matter. Your sacrifices matter. Your struggles matter. Your successes matter. Most importantly, you matter to us.
I also believe our military family’s matter.
Behind every service member is a family that has sacrificed alongside them. They endured deployments, missed birthdays, holidays and countless moments while holding everything together back home. Their strength often goes unseen, but it should never go unrecognized.
Our communities matter as well.
They stand beside us, support our programs, welcome our veterans home, and partner with us in serving others. Together, veterans, families, and communities create the foundation that makes The American Legion strong.
As I begin this year, I hope we remember that membership is about much more than attending meetings or discussing reports. Those things are important, but they are not why we exist.
Sometimes serving means attending a meeting.
Sometimes serving means checking on a fellow veteran.
Sometimes serving means staying home to care for your family.
Sometimes serving simply means answering the phone when another veteran needs someone to listen.
Every act of service matters.
Every one of us signed our name on the dotted line at one point in our lives. Whether you served on active duty, in the National Guard, or in the Reserve, you made a commitment to something greater than yourself. That commitment didn’t end when you took off the uniform. It continues through how we care for one another today.
As your department commander, my promise is simple: I am here to serve you.
I won’t always have every answer, but I promise to listen. Your ideas matter. Your concerns matter. Your vision for our organization matters. If there is something we can do better, I want to hear from you because together we will continue making The American Legion stronger.
Everything we do is rooted in the Four Pillars of The American Legion: Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children & Youth. When you look closely, each pillar comes back to one thing: caring for veterans, supporting families, strengthening communities, and preserving the freedoms we all cherish.
That is the work we will continue together.
My Commander’s Project
This year, I have chosen to support two causes that reflect our commitment to caring for veterans before, during, and after times of crisis: Fund 85 and Bravo Zulu House.
Fund 85 provides emergency financial assistance to Minnesota veterans and their families when life becomes overwhelming. Whether it’s preventing homelessness, helping keep the lights on, putting food on the table, or providing other emergency support, Fund 85 reminds veterans that they are never alone.
Bravo Zulu House serves veterans recovering from the invisible wounds of war, including post-traumatic stress and substance use challenges. It provides a safe, sober environment where veterans can rebuild their lives, reconnect with their families, and successfully transition back into their communities after treatment.
These two programs represent two sides of the same mission — meeting veterans where they are and helping them move forward.
I am not setting a fundraising goal this year because there is no dollar amount that can measure the value of changing a veteran’s life. Every donation, every fundraiser and every act of generosity make a difference.
Together, we can ensure that veterans across Minnesota have access to the support they deserve when they need it most.
Let’s move forward together
This is a new Legion year filled with new opportunities to serve.
Let’s continue reaching veterans who may feel forgotten.
Let’s strengthen our Posts and our communities.
Let’s support military families.
Let’s remind every veteran that they have a place where they belong.
Most of all, let’s make sure every person we encounter knows one simple truth:
You Matter.
Thank you once again for the confidence you’ve placed in me. I am honored to serve as your department commander, and I look forward to working alongside each of you as we continue serving veterans, their families, and our communities across the great state of Minnesota.
Pam Krill of Fairmont Post 36 is the commander of The American Legion Department of Minnesota. Her theme is “You Matter.”