Past commander has many roles with American Legion in Modesto

One could almost say Ronald Stansbury is a full-time volunteer for American Legion Post 74 in Modesto. When he’s not rounding up students for the annual speech contest, cooking or tending bar, the past commander serves in the honor guard providing military honors at graveside services for veterans. Stansbury was in the Navy for 22 years, from the Vietnam War to Operation Desert Storm. He talked with The Modesto Bee about his volunteer work.

Tell us about the work you do with the American Legion.

I am the junior past commander, having finished my term as commander in June 2014. I am also chairperson of the American Legion’s high school speech contest on the U.S. Constitution. The contest entails going to local high schools and looking for contestants to write a speech on the Constitution that lasts eight to 10 minutes. The students are judged on how well they do.

If they win at the local level, they can go to the state level and even the national level, where they are competing for an $18,000 scholarship. For the most part, the schools don’t teach much on the Constitution anymore. The contest gives the high school kids an opportunity to learn what our country was founded on.

I am a member of the kitchen and cook crew and the post bartender. And I chair the blood donor program. I am currently the service officer, providing assistance to veterans with claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

It’s my way of giving back to those who have served. It’s not about me, it’s about them.

What did you do on Veterans Day this year?

I assisted with the staging of entries in the parade. As a member of the post honor guard, I was in the detail providing the rifle salute for the opening ceremony at Graceada Park. Upon completion, the detail went to Lakewood cemetery to provide military honors for a departed veteran. We did four rifle salutes on four days (last week).

It’s important to honor those who have served so we could live in a free country and do what we do without fear of retribution or persecution.

What are some of the service needs of veterans today?

They need assistance in transitioning back into civilian life. It isn’t easy for a lot of the veterans. Often, it helps being able to talk to others who have been through the same experiences.

Tell us about your military service in Vietnam.

I was what most would consider lucky. I served aboard a ship. The ship was sent to Da Nang to do repairs for those that had sustained damage, so they could continue with their combat missions. Inasmuch as our mission was to keep those ships combat-ready, we were targeted by the Viet Cong and had to get underway in the middle of the night due to imminent attack.

How was the Desert Storm operation different in terms of your service and the public’s attitude toward the military?

I was still on active duty during Desert Storm. There really was no difference, but the public’s attitude toward the military had taken a turn for the positive and was very supportive of the military.

What has the American Legion done to stay relevant and keep up with the times?

Like any other organization, the American Legion stays aware of the changes in an always changing environment. We are an organization of veterans helping veterans, in any way we can, so we need to stay up with the times. Our post has almost 900 paid members.

Do you see younger veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan joining the American Legion? Why should they join?

Yes I do. It is their experiences that will provide the appropriate insight in order to get the best possible aid for others returning from this war. They will need all the help they can get, and the American Legion will do our best to be there for them.

Are you involved in the effort to establish a veterans service center in Stanislaus County?

I am aware of what it is. The concept is creating a place where all the veterans organizations in the area have one meeting place in one building. It should be centrally located and house the county veterans service office. It’s a way for local veterans to make contact and file claims for benefits.

This story was originally published November 16, 2014 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Past commander has many roles with American Legion in Modesto."