craigdailypress.com

Sometimes a person finds his place in an organization and stays. James Douglas Thomas is such a person.

Thomas who goes by Doug, was a part of the American Legion when he was 13 and now years later he has been voted to one of the top positions in the state.

The ex-air force airman has been a chaplain in his Post No. 2700 for three years and district chaplain for 2 years.

Last April he was approached about and decided to campaign for the position of American Legion chaplain for the state of Colorado.

He was elected on June 28th after heavily campaigning for three months at a state conference in Colorado Springs.

"For being a small-town boy, it means so much and he does very well working with veterans," said his wife, Brenda Thomas.

His platform included:

• visiting all 164 posts in Colorado during his term
• giving chaplain workshops at the biannual state conventions
• a monthly prayer program, which is mailed out to interested parties. It started out with 28 programs and has grown to more than 200

"It is one way to reach out and touch people," Thomas said.

During the campaign the Thomases went to different posts throughout the state, created a broachure, and worked the telephone.

"We just tried to get his name out there," Brenda Thomas said.

The chaplain post is a yearly term and a new vote for chaplain is taken every summer. If no one runs against Thomas, he will automatically be the chaplain for another year.

Thomas is a charter member of the American Legion, which means that he was one of ten original members of an American Legion post.

"When I am having a bad day, picking up the phone and talking to an American Legion member (makes it better)," Thomas said. "They are just great guys."

The American Legion, which is a non-denominational, non-religious specific organization was formed in 1919 and has it's national headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana.

"We are the original band of brothers," Thomas said. "We have a lot in common, once you go throught that (a war experience) you are never the same."

One of the things the Thomases find most fulfilling is how many lives they have touched with their uplifting messages. They also have been touched by the people they are trying to help, Thomas said.

"If you got enough faith and prayer, it is amazing what can happen," Thomas said.

Liz King is an intern with the Craig Daily Press. She can be reached at 824-7031 or eking@craigdailypress.com.