For the first time in its more than 100-year history, the Hempstead American Legion Post 390 has elected a woman to serve as commander, marking a milestone that its new leader hopes will help attract a new generation of veterans while building on the organization’s legacy of service.
Mary Burns, who has been a member of the post for 32 years and served as its treasurer and throughout that time, she officially took over the leadership role after her predecessor stepped down because of health issues.
“I think it was about time,” Burns said about placing a woman as commander. “Interestingly, my post has got a fair number of women now, and I’m going to encourage more.”
With just over 19,000 veterans living in the Town of Hempstead, the American Legion plays an important role in connecting local veterans with resources and support. As the nation’s largest veterans’ organization. They provide advocacy, counseling, affordable health care services, food assistance and other critical programs. Yet, in most post’s women are the minority, especially younger members.
“When I first joined 32 years ago, it was pretty much an old boys club,” Burns said. “There were two female members, but I didn’t see them in meetings – I think what we’re doing is we’re gradually changing the culture that is present in the Legion.”
As one of her first priorities –besides for recruiting women – as commander will be making the post more welcoming to younger veterans, particularly those returning from more recent military service.
“Some of them may think we’re a bit old fashioned in our ways,” she said. “Fortunately, we have two younger veterans who are also included on the board.”
She said every generation, there is something different for veterans. An article published in EBSCO stated Veterans of Foreign Wars supported the government but was divided, causing tension between younger and older soldiers.
Burns is a Vietnam-era veteran who served stateside, she said she understands that every generation of service members has different experiences. She recalled that many Vietnam veterans initially struggled to find acceptance at American Legion post’s after returning home, making it important that today’s younger veterans feel welcomed and included.
Dawn Samuel recently became the second woman in more than a century to serve as Nassau County American Legion commander. Samuel said seeing women in leadership positions has already inspired more veterans to get involved.
“I felt like it visually inspired others is a step forward,” Samuel said. “Because now we have quite a few commanders in posts that are females.”
Samuel, an Air Force veteran who served as an aircraft mechanic, believes representation matters because it demonstrates that leadership roles are open to everyone.
“There was also a societal thing that’s sort of like, that’s a man’s job – well, no,” Burns said with a small laugh. “We do certain things much better than men, I’ve even had people come up to me and say, ‘thank you for being in that position because now I feel that it’s available for me’.”
Beyond expanding membership, the post will continue supporting longtime American Legion programs, including Boys State and Girls State, which teach high school students about government and civic leadership through a week long summer program.
Local posts sponsor students to attend, giving them an opportunity to learn how government functions while strengthening their college applications.
The Hempstead post has faced financial challenges in recent years, including selling its parking lot during the Covid-19 pandemic. The property is being redeveloped into an apartment building, while the post has renovated its second floor for office space located in the Caraman Irish House, built more than 300 years ago.
As she begins her tenure, Burns said she hopes the post continues evolving while preserving its mission of supporting veterans and serving the community.
“It’s going to be a lot of work,” she said. “But being treasurer was a lot of work, too.”
