Palisades Post 283 hosted a video game day in September 2023.
The American Legion Department of California Video Game Committee convened its inaugural meeting this month.
But this shift isn’t just a California dream. In August, during the national convention in Charlotte, NC, committee members took it upon themselves to pitch the idea of video game committees to delegates from all over the nation. Their goal? To get each state to recognize and incorporate gaming as a tool for community building among its veterans.
At the national convention, California’s efforts to propel the video gaming movement were evident. Pacific Palisades Post 283 and the California Video Game Committee teamed up with Stack Up, a nonprofit organization that focuses on fostering connections among veterans through the shared enjoyment of video games. Also participating was Regiment, a national community of both veterans and active service members who see gaming as more than just a pastime, but a means to camaraderie and understanding.
The collaboration between these groups highlighted the fusion of tradition and modernity. As part of their participation, Palisades Post 283 purchased a gaming PC for a raffle, with a post from New Jersey emerging as the lucky recipient. The computer isn’t just for leisure; the New Jersey post plans to leverage it as a magnet to draw in veterans, fostering both a sense of belonging and friendly competition.
Closer to home, Palisades Post 283 hasn’t been shy about integrating video games into its community events. Just last month, on Sept. 24, the post organized a family video game day. The event, bolstered by the recent purchase of two Xbox consoles, was designed to appeal to families and veterans alike, emphasizing that gaming can bridge generational divides.
And they’re not stopping there. In what promises to be an engaging event, Post 283 has announced plans to host a two versus two video game competition in collaboration with Newport Harbor Post 291. It’s a testament to how deeply this new initiative has been embraced and the potential it has to reshape the way veterans connect post-service.
For over a century, The American Legion has provided a space for veterans to share stories, support one another, and build community. Today, in California and beyond, the organization shows it can evolve with the times, all while maintaining the core values that have always defined it.
For many veterans, the digital battlefield might be very different from the ones they encountered during their service. But the camaraderie, competition, and community they find? That remains unchanged.
Author: Jared Morgan
Jared is the senior editor and web team lead for the Department of California and chair of its Media & Communications Commission. He became a member of the American Legion in 2014 when he joined Palisades Post 283 to find stories about veterans issues for a local newspaper while working as its news editor. He was soon brought in as 283's assistant adjutant and historian to help produce the post's award-winning community newspaper. Since then, Jared has used his media skills to help further the efforts of The American Legion in its advocacy of veterans and their families. Jared has also worked for several years to help revitalize the 100-year-old Santa Monica Post 123, formerly as its adjutant and as a member of its executive board, before transferring back to Post 283.
