Q&A
Q&A with the Rev. Daniel Seehafer
Seehafer wrapped up a one-year term as American Legion national commander in August 2024.
This year, the Rev. Daniel Seehafer, administrative pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Horicon, Wis., had the opportunity to do something that no other pastor has ever done: to serve as national commander of the American Legion, a veterans service organization. His congregation offered him a sabbatical from August 2023 to August 2024 so that Seehafer could travel around the world to build relationships, serve communities, and advocate for service members and veterans for the American Legion.
How did you get involved with the American Legion?
A: I was a Navy chaplain for 10 years, although I was inactive for much of that time. In 1997, a member of my congregation asked me to consider joining the American Legion. I didn’t know much about it, so I looked it up to make sure it was OK. It is a military organization with all kinds of members, including LCMS members. At first, I went to meet new people and hang out with my members on a different level. But before I knew it, they were submitting my name for leadership positions. … I became the post commander. We made our post veteran-friendly, community-friendly, [a place] where people want to come. I eventually became the department commander. I was overseeing 60,000 to 70,000 veterans in the state of Wisconsin. After department commander, I became the national commander. It takes about 15 years to be elected to that position. I was involved in membership, veterans’ education and employment, and legislative issues. Some of these experiences and trainings helped me with leadership at the church as well.
What did you do this year as national commander?
A: I traveled to all 50 states as well as around the world twice. This year, we embarked upon a mission called “Be the One” to prevent military suicide. Since 9/11, 135,000 veterans have taken their lives. That’s not just too many, that’s a crisis. I’m the spokesman to create awareness and do training on this issue.
What have been some highlights from the year?
A: One was going to Guatemala. We have veterans all over the world, and they started a post in Guatemala. We drove out to some outer villages, where they have makeshift buildings with dirt floors and no electricity. We gave out over 150 bags of food. These bags were about $15 each for us, but they were lifesaving for them. We also gave the kids wafer candy bars and juice. [The recipients] were so grateful.
The other one was going to Vietnam. I was invited to go on a recovery mission for [a service member] who was shot down in 1968. He was presumed dead. The American understanding is to leave no one behind, so they are still trying to unearth those remains, identify them and bury them on American soil. They want to lay [the service member] to rest and take [him] off MIA status. So, I went to the site, and we dug in the dirt. It’s very emotional for Vietnam veterans.
Is there a Bible verse that has been meaningful to you this year?
A: I’m a big proclaimer of your confirmation verse. Mine was Psalm 37:5. [“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”] I’ve been at St. Stephen since 1997. There are a lot of blessings in staying at a place for that long. You get to see people that you baptized and confirmed fall in love, get married and then have their own kids baptized. I want to thank the congregation for supporting me this year in something that was special to me. This year has gone by fast, and now I’m looking forward to going back and continuing my service at St. Stephen.
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Megan K. Mertz
Managing editor of Lutherans Engage the World and chief copy editor for LCMS Communications.
