On Sunday, April 24, the American Legion Charles E. Sherman Post 36 restarted our traditional every other Sunday breakfast. As many know, this was the first time in recent memory that we stopped the breakfasts during the winter. So, it was with some trepidation that we restarted not knowing what the participation would be. Well, we shouldn’t have worried. It was a huge success! There are reasons for that, of course. First and foremost, our faithful participants over the many years returned. Also, our Legion volunteer crew jumped back into the fray with excitement and enthusiasm; both out front and in the kitchen, plenty of smiles and friendly banter. And, our cleanup crew was back at it, the same crew (two aren’t even Legionnaires) that have faithfully returned the hall to the pre-breakfast condition since 1994.

This year there is a new twist to American Legion breakfasts. The American Legion has four pillars as its foundation; Supporting Veterans, National Security, Americanism and Children and Youth. The last two pillars ties us directly to our community. In 2016 we will be focusing on increasing our community efforts. One way of doing that will be sharing our breakfast’s income with the Boothbay Region Community Resources Council (BRCRC). As many in our community know, the BRCRC's mission is to assist persons and families in need on the Boothbay peninsula by providing information, referrals, resources and programs. The post and the council already work together when their “Community Navigator” identifies a veteran or veteran family in need, we collaborate to ensure the VA resources are added to the other resources available to help. Now we will be helping in another way by sharing our income from the breakfasts. It is not just financially supporting the BRCRC, it is more of a “partnership.” Their community network will ensure we reach out to more people and get more participation at the breakfasts. A dream would be to “fill the hall!” And Legionnaires will be supporting their programs, and many already do.

Already we have seen the benefit of the partnership. We far exceeded our participation on Sunday. And, Sue Burge, BRCRC president, was there with her husband Bill, a new Legionnaire, serving “to die for” homemade Belgium waffles, strawberries and whipped cream. This was actually Sue’s idea so many thanks Sue!

It was wonderful to see old friends and to meet new ones. Please come and join us at our next breakfast May 8.