- Todd McKinley
- Jun 12, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 2, 2025
First off,
Before getting to the instructions, I want everyone to know how all of this actually came about. I should say, this wasn't my idea, the credit goes to Ellie Carpenter (12) & Anna (10) and their mother Carrie.
More info here: American Legion News Article
A few years ago, all on their own, E & A embraced the American Legion's Be the One campaign and asked if they could participate in various parades, sometimes 2-3 a day on holidays distributing American Flags with a QR code that linked to the Be The One website.
Walking in parades morphed into painting Kingsport Fun Fest refuse barrels with the Be The One message. Yes, it maybe a trash can but one that was judged in an art contest and garnered praise from a local art teacher/judge. Also, this trash can was seen by thousands of people who attended any number of events over the course of a week.
This morphed into placing flags and wreaths on Veterans graves at Mountain Home National Cemetery.
At some point in the past 1-2 years they decided to paint rocks in all kinds of wild colors to catch the eye and make someone want to pick one up to explore further, especially once they discovered the QR code on the bottom. This thankfully caught Nationals attention after I wrote a LegionTown article titled Be The One Through Art. FYI, Legion Family, upload your articles. After all, once National wrote and published the article, dozens of people from across the country began reaching out to me for more information. I, of course, had nothing to give them (enter Carrie) who wrote up the instructions and sent them and some photos to assist others in their own local projects.
This of course led me to once again pick up the proverbial pen (keyboard whatever) and forcing myself to finish the book I started a couple of years ago, titled "Those Left Behind: Veterans Suicide and My Late Best Friend Brad Bush." In so many ways, my procrastination was a blessing. After all, if I had tried to publish it sooner, nothing about it would look write (pun intended) or sound right. Carrie edited, created the artwork and uploaded it to Amazon, which was a chore, especially given I accidentally deleted the draft copy, which was another tiny blessing. We were able to publish it just before the upcoming Department of Tennessee convention, where if all goes right, I'll be sworn in as Department Commander. After which, if I sell all the books I'll have with me, I'll be able to donate $2,100+ to support the Department's Be The One efforts. God is great.
Also, Carrie and Ellie each wrote a chapter, while Anna helped by giving suggestion for the book's final title. None of the finished book would have been the same as it is now if not for them and Suzi McKee who thankfully proofread and gave the best notes. Suzi is a published author and retired English Teacher at mine and Carrie's alma mater Sullivan North High School.
All proceeds go to support the American Legion's Be The One program to end Veteran suicide and is available for purchase on Amazon.
Before giving you the instructions, I need to relay one more story, and this one isn't it, so stay tuned for an endearing story.
Before PNC Vincent J. Troiola was about to reliquish command in Charlotte, he made a final stop in Sullivan and Johnson Counties via the Blountville Regional Airport. The National Legacy Run came through Bristol and Mountain City before entering North Carolina where they made 1 or 2 final stops, Tennessee Post 3 (my home Post), 24, 61, & 145 all had roles in assisting the Riders as they awesomely motored into the Bristol Motor Speedway in style.
Anyway, my role along with my brother Thomas who is also a Hammond Post 3 Kingsport Legionnaire along with National Executive Committeeman Robert "Bob" Hensley of Post 61 in Mountain City, were tasked with ferrying the National Commander and his Aide from the airport to their hotel in Bristol, VA. The next day they rode over two mountains to Mountain City for a wreath laying event, which was a highlight to dozens of elementary school kids.
Note: Post 61 is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, so thank you to every Post that's donated in one way or another to their recovery, they're a great bunch and I look forward to their grand reopening in a few months.
To quote Paul Harvey, "now, the rest of the story!"
While the photo above was taken after the following story, they nonetheless were sitting just like this having the following conversation.
Just before the National Legacy Run, we all were sitting around waiting for a parade, and Ellie and Anna were discussing making a Be The One craft to give to the National Commander, given they knew I was going to be driving him from the airport. However, they were too young to stay up that late to meet him upon arriving TRI with a welcome sign and presenting their craft to him. I had the welcome signs in my Tahoe, but since I assisted with the luggage while Thomas stayed with the vehicle, the whole sign thing didn't work, sorry girls.
However, getting back to the pre-parade convo, Anna said, "Todd can just give it (the craft) to him," to which Ellie responded in a loud gasp, "ANNA, this is the National Commander, do you realize how important he is, Todd can't just give him a craft, he would get fired." Fast forward-after all the laughter, they decided that Ellie would bake cookies and Anna would assist in taste testing. So, the ploy worked. Later that evening, they got to bake cookies, you know, to test them before baking cookies for the National Commander. I can say they were delicious. The night of the arrival, I had to stop and pickup the freshly baked cookies that this time had the Be The One logo on them. And now you know the rest of the story.
They also made their own challenge coin which was one of the "crafts" they were discussing.
They also made a Be The One pullover for Tonya Launsby's dog who will be the next Department Senior Vice Commander.
Now for what you came here for: Instructions
“VOLS: Veterans Offering Lifelong Service”
Todd A. McKinley
Department Commander
American Legion Department of Tennessee
