It’s been close to three months since Gov. Gavin Newsom effectively shut down California by issuing social distancing measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus and The American Legion has worked to make sure communities in the state remain socially and emotionally intact.
The American Legion Family — to include its military veterans, members of The American Legion Auxiliary, the Sons of the American Legion and American Legion Riders — have stepped up to form food banks, deliver groceries and vital supplies to the elderly, perform drive-by and telephone “buddy checks” to boost morale, organize blood drives and make masks for medical workers. All of this has earned the attention of local media, and rightly so.
Contra Costa County
Last month, American Legion Riders from Antioch, Brentwood’s Chapter 202, Santa Clara County’s District 13 and Chapter 105, Redwood City, gathered in Antioch for a drive-by parade to celebrate the 100th birthday of veteran Teresa Conley.
Fresno County
Sanger Post 23 provided funding for the Career Technical Education Charter (CTEC) medical school to 3D print 500 VA-approved masks with face shields to give to the VA Central California Health Care System in Fresno. “CTEC Director John Delano is a friend, so I reached out, appealing on behalf of the VA hospital,” said Post 23 Commander James “JD” Bennett. “All I had to say was ‘Veterans,’ and John was all in!”
American Legion – Post 23 Commander, James Bennett
Imperial County
Frontline medical workers fighting the Coronavirus in Imperial County got a much-needed shot in the arm recently when American Legion El Centro Post 25 partnered with regional stakeholders to provide them face masks. Post 25 also collects bottled water for first responders.
IID Office of Emergency Management personnel wear news face coverings contributed by the Boyce Aten American Legion Post 25.
Los Angeles County
Palisades Post 283’s first vice commander, Jim Cragg, used his military and first responder gear production facility, S.O. Tech, to produce low-cost masks for medical workers.
Palisades Post 283 First Vice commander Jim Cragg
South Gate Post 335 is holding blood drives and delivering food to area senior citizens. City officials have set up a call center for seniors to use to request assistance. “We have close to almost 12,000 seniors in South Gate right now,” Post 335 Vice Commander Robert Montalvo told ABC7. “Just from speaking to them the past week, the majority don’t have anybody to help them out. They don’t have family or friends. And they are very isolated in their homes and scared.”
Monterey Park Post 397 has offered use of its facilities to host the L.A. Face Shields group and production of free medical face shields and surgical barriers for nurses and doctors across 48 medical facilities in the greater Los Angeles area, Detroit and New York. The group is collecting donations through its website. ABC 7 covered the story. Post 397 have also collected and delivered food to those in need since the beginning of the quarantine.
Hollywood Post 43 is organizing blood drives and delivering groceries to its elderly members. Post 43’s latest blood drive was previewed by LA Weekly and is a partnership with the UCLA Blood & Platelet Center.
Orange County
Newport Post 291 converted their restaurant operations to provide a drive-thru service to the community. “We’re learning a lot of new things, because we’ve never done this before,” Commander Jon Reynolds told ABC News 7.
San Diego County
Borrego Springs Post 853 is putting together care packages for quarantined active duty troops.
Post 760 in Oceanside is partnering with the Veterans Association of North County and the San Diego Food Bank to offer drive-thru food distribution for area servicemembers and veterans.
Ventura County
Moorpark Post 502 is making buddy checks and helping with grocery shopping and other errands for those who absolutely can’t leave their homes for essentials.
Yolo County
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 77 in Woodland delivered food from local restaurants.
Feed our Woodland Vets: Past Department Commander Gary Leech enlisted the help of his granddaughter, Madison Leach, a junior member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 77, to deliver food to the area’s elderly veterans from Kitchen428 Restaurant.
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.