American Legionnaires in Los Angeles and throughout California are lobbying to reopen their posts in light of an eight-month closure due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Some Legionnaires are saying the closures could become permanent if posts aren’t allowed to reopen so they can begin generating revenue to pay bills. Advocates note that many Legion posts are rented out for local city council meetings and other events to generate income that goes towards keeping posts afloat. Without income, many posts throughout California are at serious risk.
Advocates have thusly petitioned Gov. Gavin Newsom to change Legion posts from being designated as “bars,” which are not allowed to be open in counties labeled with a purple tier rating indicating widespread coronavirus transmission.
Those for reopening Legion posts note that while many posts do contain bars and provide a space for socializing, the primary purpose of these posts is to provide support and services for veterans. California State Commanders Veteran Council lobbyist Bob Reed, who was part of the group petitioning Gov. Newsom, says “the bar does not have to be open in these posts in halls. These posts and halls serve important roles in the lives of our veterans.”
Although some Legionnaires have been able to adapt to an online-only structure to continue receiving Legion services, many have not—including the majority of older veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
State of the Pandemic: Coronavirus Lockdowns Have Been in Effect Since March
Most American Legion posts have remained completely closed since the initial shutdown orders were issued in March. While case numbers began to decrease in summer, recent reports note that California recently surpassed one million cases.
Nationally, the U.S. is averaging 100,000 new cases per day.
While some types of businesses have been allowed to reopen, it remains unclear if California will grant any kind of exception for Legion posts.
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.
