Starting with Thanksgiving and then throughout the holiday season, members of the Legion Family stepped up to assist others.
The holiday season has concluded, but we wanted to take one more opportunity to applaud the efforts of members of our American Legion Family who went above and beyond during the season to assist others.
It started with providing either food or free meals on or around Thanksgiving and moved into community Christmas parties, food assistance and providing presents for those who might not otherwise receive one.
These are just a few of those efforts not already mentioned in previous legion.org stories.
Alabama
In Fairhope, American Legion Riders Chapter 199 provided Christmas for 11 families with a total of 31 children. Chapter members shopped for gifts, and then wrapped and delivered the presents on their motorcycles. Chapter 199 Director James “Red Beard” Currie dressed as Santa and was accompanied by elves.
Chapter 199 also provided Christmas gifts during a visit with six veterans living in a local nursing home and to a former member in the hospital.
Arizona
· In Phoenix, 15-plus motorcycles from Posts 2, 39, 44 and 138 took part in a ride to MANA House on Christmas morning. MANA House is a peer-support organization of homeless and formerly homeless veterans that supports veterans rebuilding their lives by providing support from its staff and partners. The posts provided gifts to veterans at the facility.
· In Yucca, American Legion Post 136 provided holiday meals to veterans and Gold Star Families in need. The post also conducted a toy drive and hosted a toy handout Christmas party for the community.
Florida
· American Legion Riders from throughout the department took part in Operation Precious Gift, which provides gifts for children of active-duty military stationed at Patrick Space Force Base. Operation Precious Gift was created by Tim Morris, a member of Chapter 117 in Palm Bay who passed away two years ago of pancreatic cancer. This year’s effort supported more than 30 families, providing more than 100 toys, diapers and baby wipes.
· In Jacksonville, American Legion Auxiliary Kelly J. Mixon Unit 9 is in the third year of adopting Pickett Elementary School, which has several families in need. Unit 9 prepared food gift boxes for Thanksgiving break and the Christmas holiday season. The unit also requested wish lists for the families in order to provide Christmas presents. Members of Post 9’s Legion Family dressed in holiday outfits, including Santa and Mrs. Clause and the Grinch, to deliver the gifts to the families. Eight families were provided for this year. The group also made a stop at a local fire station to deliver hot cocoa, cookies and other snacks as a way of saying thanks for their efforts. The post also hosted a holiday party featuring lunch, crafts and gifts for community members. A total of 174 children were gifted presents during the party.
· In Tampa, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 138 provided a mammogram bus on Post 138 Day on Dec. 14, and also assembled 10 blessing bags to a local school that was severely damaged by the hurricanes.
· In Fort Myers, American Legion Post 351 urged community members to donate any artificial Christmas trees they were planning on throwing away. The post provides the trees to families in need; this year, 50 families received trees.
Georgia
In North Augusta, American Legion Post 71 teamed with the Marine Corps League Riverfront Marines, Detachment #1132 to host a holiday dinner for Fort Eisenhower soldiers who were not able to go home on the holidays. Approximately 80 trainees and soldiers were provided a meal and the opportunity to play games. It’s the third year the dinner has been provided.
“It gives them ... a home away from home,” Post 71 member Ralph Wainwright said.
Indiana
In Elberfeld, Post 351’s Legion Family visited Lucas Place 2, a permanent supportive housing facility for formerly homeless veterans. American Legion Riders Chapter 351 donated $900 to the facility, while American Legion Auxiliary Unit 351 provided a fried chicken meal. Each veteran at the facility was presented a poppy from members of the Junior Auxiliary.
Iowa
In Castana, American Legion Post 502, Unit 502 and Sons of The American Legion Squadron 502 worked together to raise enough funds and collect enough toys to provide Christmas presents to 75 families in need.
Japan
In Okinawa, Post OK28’s Legion Riders – along with Santa Clause – passed out treats to all the kids at the Uruma City Social Service building.
Mississippi
In Horn Lake, Post 134 provided a free Thanksgiving dinner for veterans, active-duty military and their families, and also hosted a community Christmas dinner.
Missouri
· In Hannibal, American Legion Riders Chapter 55 delivered Christmas gift bags to 39 veterans in nursing homes in the Hannibal area. The gift bags included a throw blanket, custom tumbler, toiletries and snack foods.
· In Webb City, American Legion Post 322 fed more than 300 people during its free community Thanksgiving meal.
Nebraska
In Grand Island, American Legion Riders Chapter 53 handed out thank-you cards and treat bags at the Grand Island VA Medical Center. Members of Nebraska’s District 6 Legion Family also delivered presents at the facility through the Gifts for Yanks program.
Nevada
In Fallon, Post 166’s Legion Family teamed with other community volunteers to help package and deliver 172 meals on Christmas Day to area senior citizens as part of the Meals on Wheels program.
New York
· In Oneida, American Legion Post 169’s Legion Family participated in Toys for Tots; provided throw blankets, personal care items, socks and sweatshirts to Madison County Social Services Foster Care; and collected non-perishable food items, lunch meat, bread and other items for a ham dinner donated to families in the community.
· In Port Jefferson Station, Wilson Ritch Post 432’s Legion Family teamed with Boy Scout Troop 377 to provide an Italian-style Christmas dinner at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook.
Ohio
· In Portsmouth, American Legion Post 23’s annual polar plunge on New Year’s Day was a collaboration with the Portsmouth Motorcycle Club with a goal to raise money and awareness for veterans. The event typically raises between $500 and $1,000.
· In Barnesville, American Legion Riders Chapter 168 delivered gifts to veterans in local nursing homes, and also provided meat, cheese and buns to the Barnesville Police Department.
Pennsylvania
In Saint Marys, American Legion Riders Chapter 103 visited two care homes in Elk County to deliver gift bags from the Riders and another bag from Santa. A third care home was closed to visitors because of a virus outbreak, so the chapter left gifts at the door.
As part of its Holiday Cheer Tour, members of Post 103 also visited veterans at the Erie VA Medical Center, the Pennsylvania Soldiers & Sailors Home and the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center.
South Carolina
In Goose Creek, American Legion Post 166 assisted more than 142 families during a Thanksgiving food drive and hosted more than 75 people at a Thanksgiving dinner. At Christmas, the post assisted 42 families with Christmas dinner and provided presents to 75 children. And two days before Christmas, the post hosted a blood donation drive.
South Korea
In Pyeongtaek, Paul E. Finn Memorial American Legion Post 37 in Camp Humphreys donated toys and diapers to a Korean orphanage. The post also hosted a breakfast with Santa Claus.
Texas
· In Sherman, American Legion Riders Chapter 231 assisted a veteran moving into a new home through the Military Veteran Peer Network (MVPN) on Dec. 22. Chapter 231 has assisted multiple veterans moving into new homes through its relationship with MVPN and has created a Quick Response Team comprising of members with trucks, trailers and the desire to help our veterans in their time of need.
· In San Antonio, Fred Brock Post 828’s Legion Family was a sponsor of the 46th annual Claude W. Black Community Center Holiday Gift Giveaway. The giveaway provided gifts to 423 children in low-income families. “The Holiday Giveaway continues to place smiles on the faces of children and their parents and grandparents,” Post 823 Commander Burrell Parmer said. Post 828 also donated 40 pairs of pajamas and 80 pairs of socks to the Normandy Terrace Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and Pecan Valley Rehabilitation Center. “We want the residents to know that they are not forgotten,” Parmer said. “Providing something as simple as a pair of pajamas and some socks can significantly bolster the emotional well-being of the residents.”
Virginia
· In Madison, American Legion Riders Chapter 157 delivered gifts for the fifth year to nursing home residents of Autumn Care of Madison. Members of Post 157’s Legion Family donated to the effort.
· Virginia’s 13th District conducted a combined Legion Family Toys for Tots toy drive and book drive across eight counties. The combined collection amounted to 997 toys and 116 age- and subject-appropriate books for children and preteens. All donations were collected at Post 175 in Mechanicsville and were provided as one single donation to Toys for Tots. Posts across the district continued to accept donations after the deadline date, which provided an additional 150 toys for children in residence in Richmond’s Children’s Hospital.
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