BP offers first female Legion commander

It took nearly 100 years for the American Legion to elect a female national commander, so in retrospect, Blooming Prairie Post 52 wasn’t that far behind.

The local group will celebrate the national organization’s 107^th birthday with a dinner and program March 14 at the Blooming Prairie Servicemen’s Club.

The event will be overseen by Holli Naatz, Post 52’s first female commander, now in her second year in the role.

The BP Post was the first in Steele County to receive a charter from the national organization; it will turn 107 years old in July.

Rise to commander

Naatz served in the U.S. Army Reserves for nine years, entering the military as a high school senior. She attended basic training in Fort Dix, N.J., and advanced individual training at Fort Lee, Va.

Her roles included serving in a medical unit in Rochester that provided training to become a MASH unit during combat situations; Naatz spent her final four years at Fort Snelling with a combat stress unit – one of only two in the country at the time.

After leaving the military, Naatz and her husband raised their family in Udolpho Township; she was active as a 4-H leader, in the BP Music Boosters, in the after-prom committee and more.

She’s been a member of the local American Legion for 19 years, but was busy with family responsibilities.

After her children left for college, though, Naatz said, “I felt like I needed something” more.

“The Army, obviously, is a huge part of my life, so I just walked into a meeting and … it’s me,” she said of how her involvement expanded.

“They really welcomed me,” Naatz said of the group. “They really did. I mean, they are a great group of guys, and some of them – I didn’t have a clue who they even were.”

She started her trip through the ranks soon after, and now also oversees the American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion.

Equal opportunity

She’s one of just a few female members – not for lack of trying, said Keith Holman.

“We haven’t had very many women members until following some of these more current wars,” he said. “It used to be, most veterans were old coots like me. Now, with young ladies coming out of the service as veterans, it opens the field up.”

Naatz said she’s never been made to feel anything but accepted.

“It’s almost like they just consider me one of them,” she said of the mostly male membership. “There’s never been any indication that I’m any different than them. The American Legion doesn’t care what your rank was before, or your age. It really doesn’t have a place in their army; it doesn’t matter. We’re all equal.”

She knows there is a lot of experience from which to draw.

“I am constantly asking them questions,” Naatz said. “I’m like, OK, sorry guys, but I have to ask – and you guys can tell me to quit thinking…”

They rarely do, she said, instead voicing appreciation for new and different approaches to the role.

“Holly is doing a great job,” said Holman, who has also served as commander, financial officers for several years and as membership director.

“She’s very thorough, very thoughtful – and a very good commander,” he said. “Our post has had no problem at all, accepting her as the commander. Once she was willing to do it, we were willing to put her in the role.”

Naatz returns the praise.

“They’ve done a great job all these years, and I just continue to follow in their footsteps and execute what they’ve all started.”

The honor

Her goal is to grow the membership.

“I wish people would just come and be a part of the group, because we earned it, as veterans,” Naatz said. “I think so many people think if you start coming to something, you’re going to be given a ‘job’ right away.”

Though she admits she did “jump into” new roles right away, “I didn’t feel forced. That was my choice; I could have said no – and they would have totally accepted that. Never once did they make me feel pressured to take on anything,” Naatz said.

Her role in the military and now as American Legion commander is “probably one of the things I’m most proud of.”

Naatz said she is grateful to “continue on with (service) at a level like this, and still contribute, and honor veterans, and do the community things that we do, and just be a part of something.”

Honoring veterans is close to her heart, specifically as part of a military funeral honor guard.

Naatz encourages other veterans to become part of the honor guards, “because we’re going to want it for ourselves,” she said. “I hope that there’s people around the day I go that will send me off with honors, you know?”

To that end, she has planned an honor guard training for anyone interested. It will be at 5:30 p.m. April 9 at the Servicemen’s Club.

Being a veteran is the only requirement; there is no need for membership in service organizations.

Naatz doesn’t have immediate designs on higher office, but …

“I guess if it’s meant to be, the opportunity will come,” she said, “but right now I’m pretty happy with where I’m at with it, and still learning. One step at a time, right?”