AUBURN – Members of American Legion Post 153 hosted a visit from their national commander Saturday noon.

John A. Brieden of Brenham, Texas, told the Maine Legionnaires, “It’s absolutely important that we support our young men and women in uniform. There should never, ever be a day when there’s a doubt in the mind of anyone wearing that uniform that we stand behind them. There should never be a doubt that what they are doing is honorable service.”

Brieden represents 2.8 million members of the nation’s largest veterans organization. He is a U.S. Army veteran where he served as an infantry officer from 1972 to 1977. He was elected national commander on August 28 in St. Louis during the American Legion’s 85th national convention

Brieden told the local veterans of a visit he made last week to Walter Reed Army Hospital with soldiers recently wounded in Iraq.

“What’s amazing is their attitude,” he said, “and even, sometimes with lifetime disabilities, how proud they were of their service and how many of them want to go back.”

“We’ve got amazing young people today, and they deserve our support,” Brieden said. “People who have been the warriors of the past understand the warriors of today. We’re the ones who can give that support. We’re the ones who can rally that support, and we need to be doing that.”

Brieden also spoke briefly about several legislative issues on the American Legion’s national agenda.

“A lot of the veteran’s issues are moving ahead right now, in spite of things you are hearing,” he said. “Within the next few weeks, I predict you are going to see a number of victories for veterans.”

Brieden said the national organization appreciates the New Auburn post’s work in a program called Operation Iraqi Express which shipped two tons of goods from residents of the area to troops in Iraq. He also praised their work with the post’s Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts who developed a nearby veterans’ memorial.

Auburn Mayor Normand Guay proclaimed Nov. 1, 2003, National American Legion Commander Day in Auburn.

Among the American Legion dignitaries from throughout the state who welcomed Brieden were Emmett Stuart, commander of Post 153, and William J. Rogers, a former resident of Auburn who was national commander of the American Legion in 1976-77. Rogers, now a resident of Kennebunk, is a long-time member of American Legion Post 153 on South Main Street in New Auburn.