'We’re just trying to do our little part'

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, American Legion Family members throughout the nation, and abroad, have been assisting their communities in a variety of critical ways.

It’s no different in Montgomery, Ala., where Charles L. Martin American Legion Post 1948 has been taking coronavirus relief efforts to those directly in need: local veterans and the elderly. For Post 1948 Commander Frederick Williams, the effort is simply a continuation of how the post was formed less than two years ago – growing out of Williams’ nonprofit homeless transitional program P.E.E.R.S. (Positive Environment Engaging Recovery Support) Caring Home for Veterans.

With veterans already in the facility, and Williams himself a U.S. Army veteran and already a Legionnaire, he was urged to chart his own post, using P.E.E.R.S. as the base for the post. And the same driving force behind his founding of P.E.E.R.S. has driven Williams and other members of Post 1948 to serve through the coronavirus pandemic.

In early May, Post 1948 became the recipient of the first of its two $2,500 Community COVID-19 United Relief Fund grants, which were made available via the River Region United Way and the Central Alabama Community Foundation. The post has been using the funds to make biweekly deliveries of masks, water and gloves to area shut-ins and those unable to go out in public for health reasons, as well as driving to a local food bank and then delivering both perishable and non-perishable food items to those unable to leave their homes.

Post members follow all the proper precautions – wearing masks and gloves and social distancing – when making the deliveries.

“We have four pillars in The American Legion, and the first pillar – Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation – our post was founded on that,” said Williams, a certified peer-support specialist. “Another is Children and Youth. And we know if we can keep our elderly protected, nourished properly and healthy, then we’re passing on education, we’re passing on wisdom, and we have more patriotism going through our youth. They see that ‘one day, I can do this to. I don’t have to stop giving back.’”

Post 1948 Service Officer Rob Turner, who was the first resident at P.E.E.R.S. and now serves as the facility property manager, said the post was able to team up with the Montgomery Area Food Bank to distribute what has added up to more than 16,000 pounds of food since May.

“We literally go door to door in the needy neighborhoods that are overlooked,” Turner said. “We go up and down streets, literally, with bags of food, and we offer them. If they don’t want them, we just say, ‘We wanted to offer you some help.’ We tell them, ‘We’re American Legion Post 1948 offering help to the community.’ We don’t make a big spectacle of it. We’re just trying to do our little part.”

The post also has passed out flyers to let the community know it is available to provide food relief. When it comes to perishable items, the post makes sure someone will be at the residence to receive it.

For Williams and the members of Post 1948, the coronavirus relief efforts are simply part of a continued mission. “We went and served our country. Now let’s come back and serve our community,” he said. “That’s what we do. We want to be out there on the frontlines of care for our community.”

Other American Legion Family members continue to assist their communities through the pandemic.

California

Via Twitter, Los Angeles County Supervisor and former Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis thanked members of Eugene Obregon American Legion Post 804, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Fire Department and members of the community for taking part in a car parade to honor the 93rd birthday of World War II U.S. Navy veteran Philip Beltran.

Illinois

Members of American Legion Post 342 in St. Charles took part in a drive-by parade of more than 100 vehicles organized to honor the 95th birthday of World War II Navy veteran Al Centofante.

U.S. Airborne Division World War II veteran Angelo DiLiberti, a past commander of Post 342, spoke during the parade and presented Centofante with an honorary American Legion challenge coin.

Maryland

C. Henry Price II Post 246 in Betterton has opened up its facility to the Kent County Feed the Elderly Initiative and The Farmers' Wagon, two local non-profits working to ensure available packaged and locally produced food is distributed to those who need it. The post will serve as the sorting, packaging and distribution point for this effort, and will also provide volunteers to assist with the effort.

Nebraska

Vietnam veteran Craig Kelly was supposed to go on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials, but all Honor Flights were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. But Midwest Honor Flight still wanted to find some way to honor Kelly, who is in declining health.

A ceremony took place at Freedom Park – which has a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial – to honor Kelly, where Nebraska Legionnaires came to pay their respects. Among those was South Sioux City Post 307 Commander John Ludwick, who told the Siouxland News the Vietnam Wall in Freedom Park was the next best thing to being in the nation’s capital.

"A lot of these guys never get to see the wall, either place,” Ludwick said. "To see the wall here and to know that they're remembered is what this park is about. I'm sure (Kelly’s) feeling a lot of gratitude right now. I don't think he quite expected what was waiting for him."

New Hampshire

After a family-owned Almost There restaurant in Albany, N.H., spent part of the stay-at-home period renovating its facility, New Hampshire Sons of The American Legion Alternate National Executive Committeeman John Cook noticed the restaurant’s flagpole also needed work.

Looking for a community service project during the coronavirus pandemic – and knowing a member of the family owning the restaurant was a Vietnam veteran – Cook volunteered to install a new flagpole to honor the veteran.

"It was an honor to do something for someone who gave so much to his country,” Cook said via Legiontown.

New Jersey

• Morvay-Miley American Legion Post 524 has been teaming up with the Ocean City Exchange Club to provide complimentary meals for elderly and medically-involved residents living in the Ocean City, Upper Township and Somers Point areas. Two days a week the two organizations have been delivering the meals to senior citizens; the program has delivered more than 250 meals since its inception. “Our organizations are proud to be helping local community members, especially those struggling with travel restrictions during these unprecedented times,” American Legion Commander Bob Marzulli told OCNJDaily.

• In Brigantine, the Kline-McAnney American Legion Auxiliary Unit 396 is providing assistance to local veterans and senior citizens homebound as a result of self-quarantine measures. The unit members will run errands and provide other services based on need on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Oklahoma

American Legion Riders Chapter 153 in Wagoner and Twin Oaks Baptist Church are working together to distribute food boxes to local residents each Friday until further notice. Farmers to Families food boxes include anything from fresh produce and fruit to dairy items and milk. Around 100-150 boxes are taken to Chapter 153's post, where they are distributed to those in need.

West Virginia

American Legion Post 2 and Auxiliary Unit 2 in Morgantown donated meals to the first departments and emergency medical services personnel in Petersburg and Chesterfield to show thanks to first responders for their work for their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wyoming

In Cheyenne, American Legion Riders from Post 6 in Cheyenne normally stage a Stride Ride to raise funds benefiting the Stride Learning Center, a developmental preschool serving children with and without disabilities from birth to age five.

But with COVID-19 precautions in place, ALR Chapter 6 had to cancel its annual ride of typically more than 200 Riders. Instead, Chapter 6 raised thousands of dollars in donations and then rode 10 at a time to deliver the donations to the center. Other motorcyclists also took part in the fundraisers.