American Legion National Commander Daniel J. Seehafer visits Oneida County on Wednesday, April 10 to meet with veterans and put the focus on one of the most pressing issues facing those who served in the nation’s armed forces – suicide prevention.

Commander Seehafer will visit New Hartford American Legion Post 1376 for brunch, then tour SkyDome, the test site for unmanned aircraft systems at Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome. The day will wrap up with Seehafer speaking at a dinner in his honor at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro.

Seehafer will be escorted by Department of New York leaders and Oneida County Commander Mike Wakefield.

An ordained minister from Wisconsin, Seehafer served in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve as a military chaplain. A member of American Legion Post 157 in Horicon, Wis., Seehafer has served in a number of American Legion offices at every level, including national chaplain and commander of the Department of Wisconsin. He lettered in cross-country track while in high school and later received a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry from Concordia University and a Master of Divinity at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind. Seehafer serves as administrative pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran Church and its school in Horicon.

In 2023, Seehafer earned an Outstanding Heroism Award for administering the Heimlich maneuver to a choking victim at an American Legion dinner.