Tony Cross, former program manager for The American Legion’s Be the One suicide prevention initiative, has shifted his focus to promoting the mission at the local level in New Palestine, Indiana. After retiring from his national role in July 2025, Cross became actively involved with American Legion Post 182 and began working to increase both its activity and its profile within southern Hancock County.
Cross said after a brief hiatus following retirement, he realized he wanted to continue supporting mental health efforts. “After about a 60-day hiatus after leaving the Legion, I went back to my post … and I asked, ‘How many of you right now struggle (with mental health)?’ And I said, ‘Well, I do too.’ When I sat at home after my first month of being retired, I was like, ‘What am I going to do?’ I couldn’t just sit at home.”
He has since prioritized Be the One initiatives within Post 182 by providing training sessions and forming a dedicated committee. “Believe it or not, most of the post comes to the committee meeting. And do you know why they come? Because we sit and talk,” Cross said. “We talk about the things we’re going to do here in the future. What we’re going to do this summer. We’re going to do cornhole. We’re going to have a steak night. We’re going to be at every event in New Palestine wearing our Be the One shirts.”
Cross also started a new outreach program where members visit fellow Post 182 members over two months with tokens of appreciation for their membership and plans fireside chats open for community conversation on any topic.
In addition to Legion activities, Cross has engaged with local organizations such as schools and businesses. He recently attended his first New Palestine Chamber of Commerce meeting, where he spoke on mental health awareness among employees and is scheduled for a November presentation about integrating Be the One into broader community efforts.
Through substitute teaching and coaching sports at New Palestine Community Schools—and leading donations such as $10,000 toward school athletic equipment—Cross has fostered relationships aimed at changing perceptions about veterans’ organizations. He was also invited by school officials to speak on suicide prevention issues.
“We have really started on a whole new mission of communicating with the community,” Cross said. “We’re starting to become a presence. We have changed everything we’re doing. And our No. 1 mission is mental health… All the other stuff we do is great, but when you stay focused on the Be the One mission, that’s what I always felt would drive The Legion’s future.”
