I’m proud to announce the twentieth Veterans Coffee Roundtable will be held on April TBD at TBD in Kingsport, TN.
Who: Everyone, especially Veterans
What: Veterans Coffee Roundtable
When: TBD, April TBD, 2025
Where: TBD
Why: Because Coffee and Fellowship
Facebook:
Keynote Speaker: TBD
Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL
SFC, USA-Ret.
Updated: Feb 6
Title: My Current Public Involvement
It’s important to know exactly what our elected officials do outside of just running for and/or holding public office. It’s my belief to be as transparent and open as I possibly can, which is why I’ve provided so much information here on my website (www.toddmckinley.com), which includes everything from my Military Resume to my Post Military Resume, My Education, Organizational Memberships, my blog, and all information I've provided.
Personal
The Todd A. McKinley Scholarship
I've given this scholarship every year to one graduate since West Ridge High School opened. I began the scholarship for the last graduating class before my alma mater (Sullivan North High School) closed its doors as a high school, albeit it was under a different name. www.toddmckinley.com/post/the-todd-a-mckinley-scholarship-2025
Political
Sullivan County Board of Education
o Member: District 5 Representative (September 1st, 2024 - Present)
· Member: Sick Leave Committee
· Member: Collaborative Conference Committee
Sullivan County (Tennessee) Republican Party
o Member at Large: Executive Committee (March 2nd, 2023 - Present)
Political Commentary
o Co-Host: www.toddmckinley.com/the-common-sense-conservatives (May 12th, 2021 - Present)
o Guest & Guest Host: Television, Radio, Podcast, and Social Media (September 2017 - Present)
Veterans Service
American Legion: Post Level
o 1st Vice Commander of Hammond Post 3 in Kingsport (May 20th, 2023 - Present)
· Member: Post Executive Committee
American Legion: Department Level
o Senior Vice Commander Department of Tennessee (June 16th, 2024 - Present)
· Member: Department Executive Committee
· Member: Department Legislative Committee for the 1st Congressional District
· Chairman & Member: Department Trophies and Awards Committee
American Legion: National Level
o Member: National Legislative Council for the 118th & 119th Congress for TN-01 House District
o Member: National Security Commission: Conventional Armed Forces Committee (October 13th, 2023 - Present)
o Member: National American Legion College Alumni Association Board (August, 25th, 2024 - Present)
Battle of Blountville Civil War Military Park Association
o Board Member (2021 - Present)
o President (April 1st, 2023 - January, 28th, 2025)
Veterans Coffee Roundtable
o Host (September 2023 - Present)
Veterans Oral History Project
Veterans Suicide Book
University of Tennessee Medical Center Home Care Services- Hospice
o Veteran Visitor (February 28th, 2024 - Present)
Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL
SFC, USA-Ret.
Updated: Jan 27
On November 18th, 2022, I began writing a book, with the working title “Veterans Suicide and My Late Best Friend Bradley J. Bush.” I hoped to have finished and published it by now, but with my schedule, I put it to the side, so as not to rush it.
That said, I should reiterate that I'm dedicating the book to the memory of my late best friend, fellow Army Veteran and Paratrooper Bradley J. Bush (March 11th, 1975-December 24th, 2017), who committed suicide on Christmas Eve 2017. I'm dedicating it to every Veteran who’s committed suicide, and their families. https://www.forevermissed.com/brad-bush/about
My plan is to introduce you (the reader) to my late best friend through a series of short stories, and dozens of sayings Brad used regularly. But this will not be a biography, instead, it’ll serve as a reminder that life is precious and that a Veteran or anyone who commits suicide is more than just a number or statistic, they are fellow human beings.
It's important to remember that those who take their own lives not only end their earthly existence permanently, but they affect the lives of those who loved and cared for them for the rest of their lives. Or, as I’ve heard it said, “suicide is a permanent solution, to a temporary problem(s),” but in reality, it only creates more problems for those they leave behind. Now I get it, people who take their own lives do so for many reasons, such as suffering from life-altering illnesses, and/or injuries that they’ve suffered through for years and will have done so for the rest of their natural lives. While others commit suicide due to mental illness, post-traumatic stress, depression, drug and alcohol addiction, or similar reasons.
Regardless, you’re not going to find any judgment, nor will you find me justifying a person’s choice(s). However, after I discuss Brad, I plan to shift the focus by pointing out ways every one of us can identify signs of someone who may be suicidal. I’ll also discuss ways all of us can intervene by providing resources that can help those who may be feeling suicidal, as well as those who care.
I hope people will support me in this endeavor, given I plan to donate the proceeds from the sale of this book to support combatting Veteran suicide and the American Legion’s “Be the One” campaign. https://www.legion.org/betheone
Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL
SFC, USA-Ret.
Todd@toddmckinley.com