A respiratory illness is rapidly spreading, putting the world on high alert and seemingly slowing it to a grinding halt.
California isn’t immune and as more cases of COVID-19 — or Coronavirus Disease 2019, named for the type of virus and the year scientists believe it originated — are being reported in its cities, organizers are being forced to make tough decisions about whether to cancel events that could force too many people in close proximity to one another and risk potential spread of the disease.
During The American Legion Department of California spring executive committee meeting, held the weekend of March 13 in Oceanside, the organization’s adjutant, or secretary, recommended sanitation and “social distancing” measures based on Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.
“We are asking everyone to wash your hands [with soap and water] for 20 seconds prior to entering the room,” said Adjutant Paul Brown. “We have arranged the meeting room in a different layout than normal to allow for more space between ourselves. … If you are sick, please go home and stay home. … As more information becomes available that may affect our meetings the leadership will evaluate and make decisions based on information available.”
The executive committee meeting, which is composed of the organization’s key leadership in 30 districts, six areas and its Sanger, Calif. headquarters, was attended by approximately 134 members, or about half the 250 figure Gov. Gavin
Newsom ordered as the max for public gatherings.
On March 16, the California Department of Public Health issued guidelines on slowing the spread of the disease and stated a total of 472 positive cases and eleven deaths from Coronavirus in California
(cdph.ca.gov/covid19).
Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency on March 4 and issued a March 12 executive order on public gatherings and measures to aid workers quarantined at home.
“Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease,” Newsom said in a statement.
Other elements of The American Legion’s Department of California increasingly announced event cancelations to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
American Legion Day at the Capitol — an annual event that brings legionnaires to the state’s capitol building in Sacramento to discuss issues that affect veterans — scheduled for March 24, was also canceled.
In the Los Angeles area, events scheduled into April, and even as far as May, were either canceled or postponed.
The much-anticipated Blue Tie Gala fundraiser for veteran service officers organized by the Los Angeles County Council, Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283, and hosted at Hollywood Post 43, was canceled “due to the uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus.”
The American Legion California Boys State Foundation — an organization that puts high school junior males in mock government leadership positions — postponed its fundraising and recognition dinner scheduled for May 9 at the Legion Club of Pasadena and will reschedule it for early Fall 2020.
The American Legion Riders California detachment’s convention committee chair, Karl Risinger, told his group on Facebook the organization was closely considering cancellation of its annual convention, to be held at Hollywood Post 43 in May.
“We are still moving ahead as if [the convention] will be happening,” wrote Risinger, who is also the events manager at the Hollywood post. “Pending Local, State or National shut down taking us beyond mid-April. The Convention Committee has said we will make the call by the registration deadline, April 3rd.”
While some are opting to “flatten the curve,” a term being used to describe the practice of slowing the disease through social distancing and reducing the impact the virus can have on the hospital system, there are those who feel the situation has been blown out of proportion.
“People are in a frenzy over a media-driven panic,” said Mick Sobczak, immediate past president of the California Riders group. “Nothing should be canceled. It should be the option of the person who wants to, or does not want to, attend. If you have a weak immune system do not go. I will continue to ride, shake hands, and hug my brothers and sisters.”
For more information about COVID-19 and ways to minimize its impact, visit cdc.gov/COVID19
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.