Legion Family offers support to troops in Germany

A delegation delivering Samsung Galaxy tablets, gift cards and words of appreciation from The American Legion Family continued its tour of the Kaiserlautern Military Community June 2.

Landstuhl Fisher House Manager Vivian Wilson met with several American Legion Family members, including Auxiliary National President Janet Jefford, Department of France National Executive Committeeman John Miller, France Department Commander James Settle, France Department Adjutant Max Rice, Air Force 2nd Lt. Jacob Helm and other guests who are visiting troops in Europe and commemorating sacrifices made during World War II.

Miller presented eight tablets to the Fisher House and the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) as part of the Legion’s Operation Comfort Warriors program. Jefford distributed commissary and Amazon gift cards from the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation.

Wilson explained the Fisher House mission of providing free and pleasant lodging to families and patients receiving medical care at them. “The last thing we want families to worry about is finances and lodging,” she said. “It is our honor to serve them, and we want this to be as positive an experience as they can have when something bad is going on in their lives.”

As the delegation toured the hospital and visited patients and staff, Miller noted a positive change that has occurred. “I’ve been coming to this place since 2003 and this is the emptiest that I’ve seen it,” he said. “Let’s hope it stays this way. The LRMC is often the place where U.S. troops wounded in war zones are sent for stabilizing treatment.

National Commander Michael Helm will join the group in Brussels Thursday and participate in D-Day remembrance ceremonies at Normandy, France, on June 6.