By Glenn Rolfe

MILLSBORO — When Kathy Daudistel speaks of family, it encompasses her immediate kin in northern Kentucky, as well as her American Legion colleagues at home and abroad.

“If you have a happy family, you’re going to have a happy veteran,” she said.

Some of those individuals, as well as local and state dignitaries, were attendees at a luncheon Wednesday at Legion Post 28 in Millsboro — the last official event of a four-day visit to Delaware for Ms. Daudistel, the national American Legion Auxiliary president.

Ms. Daudistel, who became president at the organization’s 100th National Convention Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2021, in Phoenix, brought to the First State her primary theme: caregivers.

“Every year, the national president gets to kind of sway the focus a little bit. I was looking for something that we already did,” she said. “I realized from a few personal experiences that caregiving is really prevalent today.”

She and her family learned firsthand the role her mom, now 84, has played.

“My mom and dad were in and out of the hospital for a couple months in a row, not ever at the same time. But when my dad was in the hospital, my mom was very independent. She is 84. She can drive,” said Ms. Daudistel. “But when mom (went) into the hospital, my dad, … he couldn’t see anymore. He couldn’t drive. We quickly learned that my mom was his caregiver. We had no idea. This is a very close family. We go to dinner every Friday night. We spent the whole weekend together. We had no idea what she was doing for him until she went into the hospital.”

Her request on behalf of caretakers is a simple word of thanks.

“The idea is to just thank the people who are caregivers. They are like our hidden heroes. There are 4.5 million unpaid caregivers of veterans in the country today,” said Ms. Daudistel. “First of all, that is saving (Veterans Affairs) a whole heck of a lot of money. Second of all, those people probably don’t identify as caregivers.

“So the idea or what we can do is to thank a caregiver. Just thank them. Sometimes, a smile — I know we have masks, but you can smile with your eyes, I guess — sometimes, that is all it takes to get that person through one more day.”

Her family’s experience correlates with the American Legion family — Legion posts, Auxiliary units, Sons of the Legion and Riders groups — as well as other military organizations.

The significance of caregiving is magnified in today’s world.

“It is extremely important, and more and more important today than it has been. Because of COVID, it has come more to the front line, and we have needed to rely more on our family for things, rather than run out somewhere, like the hospital or ER,” said Ms. Daudistel.

“If we rely on families like we always have, and we’re pushing them to the max right now even for caring for children, it is very important that our family works together. And when you are an American Legion family, like this, you have so many opportunities to help others. And that’s what we do anyhow: service, not self.”

Ms. Daudistel continued, “Right now, with the American Legion family, you can go anywhere in this country, and you find an American Legion, and they are going to help you if you are in need. There is always somebody backing you. I have been all over the country. When you find an American Legion family that has the Legion, the Riders, the Auxiliary and the Sons (of the Legion) working together, you have a powerful program.”

Ms. Daudistel, eligible for ALA membership through her father, William Kaelin Jr., a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War era, has held numerous positions in her 25-plus years as a member. That includes as part of the Legion Riders.

“I am a Rider,” she said. “I was the assistant Rider director for the Department of Kentucky for two years. I was getting ready to move into director, but I got this job. So I couldn’t do it all. I gave it up and told them I am coming back, and I am not starting as assistant again!”

While in Delaware, she participated in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day “Fall in for a Baby Shower” event hosted by Auxiliary Unit 28, in addition to stops at Dover Air Force Base and the Home of the Brave in Milford, plus a meet-and-greet at Milford’s Post 3.

Ms. Daudistel said she thoroughly enjoyed the MLK Day project, in which volunteers packed 200 backpacks with baby items.

“I loved the service project on Monday here. It was amazing. A bunch of people came out, and not all Legion but community members. It was people working together for the better of others,” she said.

Ms. Daudistel, who retired from the information technology department of a Fortune 500 company after more than 30 years, has two daughters, four grandchildren and two sons-in-law. She resides in Bellevue, Kentucky, across the river from Cincinnati.

Delaware reception

The national president, whose arrival Sunday was impacted by flight cancellations, found Delaware “very warm and friendly.”

“They welcomed me (with) open arms. I actually got here at 1 o’clock in the morning. To have somebody waiting for me and not be complaining or anything, they were just very happy to see me,” she said. “It was just a crazy day, but I kept them updated all day. They were so kind.”

After spending several days at home, her ALA presidential journey will resume with a trip to Nevada, followed by Washington state, South Carolina and Illinois.

“I have the best job in the world because I get to go all over the place and see the great things that you are doing, and I get to thank you,” said Ms. Daudistel. “Thank you for your service. Thank you for your continued service. Thank you for everything you do for veterans and our community and our kids. I am really blessed to be here.”