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Tennessee Legion Riders’ Mid-South Roundup brings members from across the state for camaraderie and sharing info on the organization’s veteran suicide prevention mission.

When he came up with the idea for Be the One Mid-South Roundup, Department of Tennessee American Legion Riders Director Jared Melton envisioned an event bringing together all of the members of the American Legion Family while also supporting – and fundraising – for the Department of Tennessee’s Be the One Commission established by Department Commander Todd McKinley.

And from May 15-17 at the Putnam County Convention Center in Cookeville, that’s what happened. Dozens of Tennessee Legion Family members from across the state came together for a weekend of camaraderie while also fundraising for McKinley’s commission.

“That was the whole point of this – to get the other members of the American Legion Family and the Riders together and participate with each other,” Melton said. “To bring us all closer together, besides also helping out our department commission. It was bringing the family together. And we had fun. That was the big thing.”

In addition to sharing information about Be the One, the weekend also included multiple rides, a Tennessee ALR membership meeting, a motorcycle safety awareness class, dinners and food trucks, and an auction. Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter also issued a proclamation designating a Be the One weekend.

The event drew attendance from McKinley, as well as American Legion Riders National Chairman David Heredia, who traveled from Maryland and was able to address participants. Melton said the pair also had a very good phone call following the roundup.

“I like that guy. He’s pretty cool,” Melton said. “Having him there, I think, was very instrumental to the cause. And very humbling. He means what he says. He does what he says he’s going to do. And he brings the importance of the mission.”

Heredia has always been a strong proponent of the Legion Family working together and stressed that during his remarks.

 “Any time you can put together something like this that brings together the American Legion Family, it’s only going to make the organization stronger,” Heredia said. “Me being there, being able to talk to the Riders, talking to the leadership from the department, giving them the views that I have and bringing the warm welcomes from our (Legion Family) national leadership, it goes a long way to inspire them to continue to go forward doing the job of spreading the word.

“The work that they’re doing in the Department of Tennessee with their commission is great work. And they’re taking it to the next step by raising awareness with functions like they had this past weekend with the roundup.”

At last year’s American Legion National Convention in Tampa, Heredia had the opportunity to meet with McKinley, who has spearheaded the state’s Be the One effort. McKinley presented Heredia with a Be the One rock hand painted by two of his friend’s daughters, Ellie and Anna Carpenter. McKinley hands the rocks out like he would a challenge coin.

“That stone sits on my desk as the daily reminder of the power of this mission,” Heredia said. “When I look at this stone, I think about all of us in 91Ӱ���ƽ��. Because we are the rock for the veterans who are struggling. We are the rock for the family members who feel overwhelmed. And we are the steady hand, the listening ear and the reminder to everyone that they’re never alone. That’s what the mission’s all about, and that’s what that rock symbolizes.”

Melton, director of American Legion Riders Chapter 77 in Lexington and Post 77’s sergeant-at-arms, already is looking ahead to 2027. “We already have the Putnam County Convention Center reserved next year on the same weekend,” he said. “I fully intend on doing everything I can to make it a bigger event and try to get more of our department in for sure. But maybe get our surrounding states more involved with it also.

“If this is one step toward other departments getting together and doing the same thing, I’m happy that what we did as a family here is an example.”