08/20/2026
A heartbreaking reminder that "WE ARE FAMILY", some Legionnaires are related, while the rest fight and love like blood family.
Not every Legionnaire attends meetings or events, some have moved out of state, some are housebound. But they are never to be forgotten, they are not to be ignored, they are to be included.
Today, an email went out from the The American Legion Department of Massachusetts and an excerpt, with minor changes, from it reads -
"Today we received a call from the family member of a deceased member. The member recently passed away and had 46 continuous years as a PUFL member. The family member indicated they were thoroughly disappointed that no one from the Post reached out or acknowledged their family member. It was completely heartbreaking to hear in voice their disappointment in us. They mentioned their family member had been sick for a while and hadn't visited the Post for over a year due to declining health."
As a child of a Vietnam Veteran who passed away three and a half years ago today, and a Veteran myself, the email hit me hard today. I am proud to be the Adjutant of Post 33, knowing that at each meeting we do inquire of members we haven't seen, and make notes. Sadly, we do follow obituaries, we make sure to attend services, provide certificates and grave markers, and we have members of the Family, that are members of the Patriot Guard.
This post isn't a brag about what our post does, but it is a reminder to check on your friends and family that you haven't heard from or seen in a while. Perform the "Buddy Check", and if you need help reach out, we are here.
Regardless of the location Legionnaires are Family.