National Vice-Commander Vrabel's 2022 Final Report

For the past year, I have had the honor of serving the Central Region as your National Vice-Commander. During these twelve months, I have had the opportunity to travel the country spreading the message of the American Legion Family. I have met people who I now call my friends, and I have worked for our veterans and our children, all in the name of justice, freedom, democracy, and loyalty. I had the opportunity to see how things are done in different areas and different states. I learned things that I didn’t know, and I hope I was able to help those who asked.

For those of us who hold national office, we do not do it for ourselves, and we do not do it to wear a different colored cap. We do it because we want to help make our beloved Sons become a better organization. We want to see how ideas become reality, and how that reality has a positive impact. It’s not for fame or glory, it’s to make sure that we help provide programs for our veterans and children that will make their lives better, to support our communities in any way we can, and to remember those who sacrificed so much to give us the freedoms we as a grateful nation enjoy today.

We also do it as a way of saying thank you to our members who go out and work hard on our programs every day. There may be different colored caps and badges, but we are all the same, we are all proud possessors of a priceless heritage. We all work hard to support the Four Pillars of The American Legion; Americanism, Children & Youth, National Security, and Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation. And we all work to make sure we have the strongest membership program we can as we renew our current members, and are always recruiting new ones to join this great family.

As of Wednesday, the Central Region has done some remarkable things. On the membership front, 125,742 members are paid for the 2021-2022 program year. This represents 100.61% of our goal. Keep up that tremendous work. You have given 67¢ per member, raising $82,641.55 that was donated to The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation. This represents 66.50% of our goal. Central Region Sons leads the nation with 37.90% of Squadrons submitting the mandatory Consolidated Squadron Reports. National Commander Michael Fox created the Flying Flags For Heroes program where you placed and reported 293,388 flags on the graves of veterans, and fifty-two editions of the newsletter, Round-Up, were provided to highlight not only Central Region Sons, but Sons across the nation. You worked hard and you worked proud, and you should all be pleased with your accomplishments.

I have had the opportunity to visit seven detachments, and made many “unofficial” visits to Posts across the country. The hospitality and comradery were incredible, and I thank everyone for welcoming me. It really means a lot to know that no matter where I go, I will always have some new friends to get in touch with. This will be a year that I will never forget. Thank you for everything!

I also want to thank National Commander Michael Fox and National Vice-Commanders Jim Stewart, Dickie Huntley, Jason Roberts, and Juan Torres for their leadership, wisdom, knowledge, and vision. The Fox Squad did things a little differently this year, and I am very honored to have had the opportunity to serve with these fine gentlemen. Thank you all. I cannot wait to see what the future brings for this group.

Speaking of the future, there is still a lot of work to do. I want to see our membership grow. I want to see our fundraising efforts for the Veteran and Children Foundation grow. I want to see over three-million flags placed on the graves of veterans in support of our Flying Flags For Heroes national service project, and I want to see us surpass $12 million in donations to the Child Welfare Foundation. None of these things can be done without your help, and let me assure you, I will be here to do my part and to help you in any way I can.

I would not be here if it were not for my parents. My mom, Nadene, has always been very supportive, and is excited to see what I do next. I honor the veteran who made me eligible every day by my membership. My dad, Joe Vrabel was a United States Army veteran during the Korean War and earned my eligibility. I wish he were here to see what we have accomplished, but I know he is looking down as a proud father of a proud Son.

I must also thank my wife, Mary, for all her support, especially over the past couple of years. When I am gone on Sons business, she holds down the fort and makes sure everyone has what they need. Thanks cupcake! Kenneth and Phillip also get a big thank you for traveling with me on some of my trips, and for being ready to help when they can. And to Jeff, Jr., thanks for your perspective, advice, and for listening to me vent at times. I can’t wait to see what you can accomplish, not only as a Son, but in your life.

Thank you to the members of the American Legion Mahoning Valley Post 15 Family in Poland, Ohio, and to the entire American Legion Department of Ohio Family for your support and encouragement. You were all part of my year as National Vice-Commander.

I want to leave you with something that I read this past summer. It’s a simple quote, but it means so much. New York Yankee great Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot, just by watching.” So, take time to watch, to enjoy, and to learn because life goes by faster each year. If you’re not careful, you may miss something.

May God bless you and your families, may God bless the American Legion Family, and may God bless the United States of America.

Thank you!

Thank you!

I cannot express how honored and humbled I am to have been elected as National Vice-Commander of the Central Region.

I want to thank the Mahoning Valley Post 15 family for their support in this journey, as well as the entire Ohio American Legion Family. This is not my position, it is our position, and I hope to represent not only Central Region Sons, but everyone in The Family in a way that you will be proud of.

To the members of the Central Region, thank you for trusting me with this position. With our continued hard work, great communication, and the desire to be successful in every area, we will continue to be a national leader. Thank you to you all.

A big thank you must also go out to Past National Commander Clint Bolt and Past National Vice-Commander Richard “Doc” Pfeiffer. Their wisdom and support will go a long way this year.

I want to thank Past National Commander Joe Mayne for his outstanding nomination speech. PNC Joe has been a friend and mentor over the past few years, and I truly appreciated his words at the podium.

I need to thank my sons, Jeff Jr., Kenneth, and Phillip for seconding my nomination. People have said that they have not seen a seconding speech like Jeff’s, and to have his brothers join him made it all the better. Thanks boys, I love you! Keep up your awesome work not only for Sons of The American Legion, but for everything you do, and remember the three rules; Listen and Learn, Try Hard, and HAVE FUN!

We’ve all heard it before; there’s always a great woman behind a good man. I am lucky to know that to be true. Thank you, Mary for all your support over the past twenty-two years. None on this would have happened without you. I love you!

Although my mom Nadene couldn’t make the trip, she has always been supportive, and continues to be my biggest cheerleader. Thanks mom, love ya!

None of this would have been possible without my father, Joseph K. Vrabel’s service in the United States Army during the Korean War. Dad has been gone for twelve years, but he lives on n me and in my sons. It was my dad who got me involved with Sons of The American Legion, and it’s because of him that I can call myself a National Vice-Commander.

I wish he could have been here to see this happen, but I know he was here in spirit, and I cannot thank him enough for what he has taught me, not only about the American Legion Family, but about life. I hope I can teach my kids what he has taught me, and that they will continue their service in this great organization in his name and memory. I miss you and I love you dad!!!

October 7, 2021