Every once in a while, it’s nice to look inwardly at what our Post is doing and how we are contributing to our veterans and to our community, and then, perhaps, brag about it a little.

We sponsor our local Scout program and are always actively recruiting to see that program grow. The Post has always supported sending boys and girls to what was called Boy State and Girls State, now combining the two and called Dirigo State. This program is for high school (and home schooled) juniors. Since COVID, we haven’t had anyone wanting to go but hope that this coming school year might have a few juniors who really want to get emerged into how our government works and spend a week at one of our colleges actually campaigning and then governing. This past year we sponsored our first American Legion baseball team, the 36ers. This team is for players 16 to 19. This season we had three wins and many really close games and most of our players were 16. Next year we will really be competitive!

This coming school year, starting in September, we will start our Legion Junior Shooting Program. The Brunswick Post has had an active shooting program for years and are looking forward to competing with us.

Organizing the Memorial Day parade has always been a privilege for our Post, each year honoring our comrades who have passed. And now, Jim Singer is leading the charge to honor our community veterans by having picture banners hanging from our telephone polls on the peninsula.

Knowing we have veterans who are homebound or just need company, the Post, along with our Auxiliary initiated the Bridging the Gap program where volunteers visit with any veteran identified who would like support. Many of these articles talk about how our Post provides help to veterans trying to navigate the VA system. Many posts have “Post Service Officers” but our Service Officer, Ed Harmon, goes above and beyond. Any veteran who has issues with filing claims or getting help enrolling in the VA healthcare system, Ed is there, often actually going with the veteran to appointments to ensure the veterans issues are resolved appropriately. As a result of our members actively participating in other veteran organizations, it became clear that there was a gap in the services necessary to get homeless veterans off the street. When Ed saw that the system couldn’t get a veteran shelter quickly, he started the VETS (veterans emergency temporary shelter) non-profit. With 26 trailers built and currently housing veterans (numbers changed frequently as veterans find permanent shelters or housing), and more trailers in the pipeline, Ed and his team are making a huge difference. But, a gap still remains. So, five of us started another non-profit, Maine Veterans in Need (MVN). We only accepted donated money so with our credit card we can resolve immediate financial crisis until the “system” catches up and provides the necessary help. What separates MVN from all government supported programs is that we are 24/7.

So, our members should be proud of your Post! We are making a difference!