American Legion Post 1063 highlights outreach, breakfasts and poppy drives

John Gallinoff, adjutant for American Legion Post 1063, described the Legion’s national mission and local activities. He said the post runs a poppy drive twice a year (its primary fundraiser), sponsors two free veterans breakfasts each year, conducts nursing-home visits, operates outreach calls to veterans living at home, and runs a clothing drive coordinated with a regional veterans group.

Gallinoff listed upcoming local events and meeting times: a free veterans dinner at the senior center on Nov. 10 and a free American Legion breakfast on Nov. 14; the Legion meets at 10 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month and is experimenting with weekend or lunchtime meetings to better reach younger veterans. "Basically locally our mission is we make veterans lives better," Gallinoff said, summarizing the post’s focus on direct community support.

He said the Legion works closely with the VFW on flag placement at cemeteries and other memorial events, and encouraged residents to attend or contact the post for volunteer opportunities and scholarship information.