American Legion Post 283 and American Legion Gaming collaborate on video game-themed Morale Recreation Center.
In January, a wildfire burned through more than 23,000 acres in Los Angeles County, killing 12 people and destroying more than 6,800 structures. It was the third-most destructive California wildfire on record – and the most destructive to hit Los Angeles.
But surviving the fire was Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283. And a collaborative effort between the post and the gaming community born at the post is doing what it can to thank the National Guardsmen who both provided critical support during the fire and are assisting in the restoration efforts now.
On April 11, a new video game-themed Morale Recreation Center at the wildfire response camp adjacent to Malibu City Hall was opened. The center is a collaboration between Post 283 and American Legion Gaming (ALG), whose mission is to provide a supportive environment where participants can find comfort, build connections and explore career opportunities through gaming.
André Andrews, the chief operating officer of American Legion Gaming and the Department of California’s Gaming Committee chairman, said the center was a way to say thank you to the Guardsmen who risked their lives during the fire and now are deployed to assist with the aftermath. The center will remain in place for the length of the Guardsmen’s deployment.
“This is personal,” he said. “When the fire was here, they were here to protect the community and people’s property. The Palisades felt safe with … California sending these National Guardsmen to protect our community, and they did a hell of a job. So, it was personal to go there, help them out, give them a bit of a morale booster while they’re here. Now we provide them with something to do.”
Andrews was part of a team that was instrumental in the creation of the center. A former member of Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283, he’s the founder of Vanguard American Legion Post 1337 – the department’s first digital post.
He said American Legion Gaming provided a similar setup for U.S. servicemembers in town last year for LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. American Legion Family members staffed a large tent covering 14 different gaming stations within steps of the USS Iowa.
“It was a really good success,” Andrews said. “I showed (National Guard deployment leadership) what we did at Fleet Week, and he liked it.”
A few days later, Andrews and his team were shown the 30-by-50-foot tent they’d supply for the Guardsmen. “We were like, ‘This is perfect,’” he said. “We’ve got the perfect amount of interior furniture and everything for it, so let’s set it up.”
Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283 provided the center’s equipment. In a press release, Post 283 Commander Joe Ramirez said, “This isn’t just a lounge. It’s a show of support. These men and women are standing watch over our communities during a time of need. We owe it to them to provide comfort, camaraderie, and a few moments of joy while they’re on mission.”
The center provides gaming on a variety of consoles, including PlayStation, Xbox, PCs, Nintendo Switch and Oculus. There’s also a ping pong table, and Andrews brought his guitar to the center for Guardsmen who play.
“It was something I wish I had when I was stuck in Qatar on a base, where the only thing you could do was sit around,” Andrews said of the center. “If you’re forward-deployed, you can’t even bring stuff with you.”
A ribbon-cutting for the center took place on April 11. Over the weekend, three race car driving simulators allowed Guardsmen to compete for top lap times to win free tickets to last Sunday’s Long Beach Grand Prix.
Post 283 Adjutant Jared Morgan, also instrumental in American Legion Gaming’s inception, was a part of the effort and credited Andrews, ALG Streaming Coordinator Christopher Keener, and Post 283 Finance Officer and American Legion Gaming’s Todd Hickman for their roles in the success.
Andrews said that among the military and veteran community, gaming is “Almost a line of communication we all understand, and we speak to each other right now. It’s a bridge builder. As a gamer myself, I know where the veterans are. If they’re in this space, let The American Legion provide them with a structure for this space. That’s what we want to do. New or old, we have the language and structure to understand.
“This organization changed my life. Post 283 provided me with a place to go play PlayStation together with my friends. If The American Legion can … provide these young people with the stuff that they need now … it can really help us succeed in the future.”
- Troops