As most everyone knows, Post 36, both as an organization and individual members connected with other organizations, have focus on helping veterans in need. “Needs” can be veterans who have a situation that happened suddenly that put them in financial distress, veterans that are on the verge of homelessness or are homeless, or veterans who are struggling to get back on their feet. Post 36 supports programs like VETS (Veteran Emergency Temporary Shelters), Maine Veterans in Need, Mid-Coast Veterans Resource Center and are ready to support other programs/needs as they arise.

Last Friday, as part of the Mid-Coast Veterans Council and Post 202 in Topsham, we raised funds by standing by all the Bath Iron Works gates as the employees came to work. That effort raised $2,500. The next event is Post 202’s annual Winter Softball Classic on Feb. 18-19. Yup, outside softball in the snow! As they say “we play in the cold to help stop veterans from living in the cold.” Softball teams pay $200 to register then it is “Play ball!” Opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m.; first pitch at 9. This is a great spectator event so bring the whole family! As a bonus, Post 202 is having a Veterans Resource Fair on Saturday, the 18th, opening day of the Softball Classic. Some of the organizations that will be there are VA Healthcare, Veterans Resource Center, Quilts of Valor, Veterans Benefits Administration, Northern Light Home Care and Hospice, Martins Point, Vet’s Inc., and our own VETS. All the proceeds will go to Maine Veterans In Need that is dedicated to prevent homelessness, help those who are homeless, and assist veterans as they transition to a stable environment.

The new 118th Congress is now in session. For the past two years, the House has initiated House bills hoping they will be approved by the Senate and the Senate have initiated Senate bills hoping the House approves them so they can go to the President to become law. Over 3,500 bills were initiated with only 328 becoming law. Many of those bills didn’t become law because they simply ran out of time. What happens now? Congress starts all over, even those that were in progress, start over. The American Legion, as well as the other veteran organizations, actively lobby Congress in support of legislation important to our National Security and our veterans. Our Post is actively involved with the process. As new laws are introduced that are important to us, members of our Post, and readers of this column will be notified. Then it is up to each of us to communicate with our delegation and voice your opinion on legislation important to you. Our path to the delegation is through their veteran representative who are for Senator King, Teague Morris; Senator Collins, Ellie Espling; and Congresswoman Pingree, Pam Trinward. They work tirelessly on behave of veterans regardless of your political preferences.

The next Post meeting for 2023 is Feb. 13 with dinner at 5:30, meeting at 6.