When San Mateo resident George Smith returned from serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, he wasn’t aware of the benefits available to him as a veteran.
Smith said no one told him and his fellow veterans what they could access after their service, and it wasn’t until much later in his life that he learned about the resources for which he was eligible.
“It took me 40 years to find out I could go to the veterans hospital because nobody told us anything,” he said. “There was no method for knowing what benefits you were qualified for.”
Now a volunteer for several veterans organizations in San Mateo County, Smith, who also serves as the San Mateo County district commander for the American Legion, and hundreds of other county veterans contribute their time to organizations like the American Legion to ensure any veteran looking for help receives it.
And in kicking off a year of celebrating the service-oriented nonprofit’s 100th anniversary, the some 1,500 American Legion members in the county are reminded of the reason why the organization was formed in 1919 and has grown to include some 2 million members throughout the nation.
San Carlos resident David Collins, post commander for the American Legion Post 105 in Redwood City, said a lunch held earlier this month with Brett Reistad, the American Legion’s national commander, also commemorated the 100th anniversary of the year the American Legion Post 105 in Redwood City and Post 82 in San Mateo were established.
Collins said the effort to form an organization in support of veterans came in the aftermath of World War I when a group of officers who served in the war lobbied Congress to establish a nonprofit representing wartime veterans. By opening facilities providing care for injured soldiers and assistance for widows and orphans of soldiers killed during the war, the organization provided support and fostered pride in the veterans community in an unprecedented way, noted Collins.
“It was formed out of necessity, and it’s still necessary,” he said.
In the years since it was established, the American Legion has played a critical role in establishing the GI Bill, which provides returning veterans financial assistance so they can attend college, said Collins. In helping veterans facing post-traumatic stress disorder or simply finding a community where they can share their experiences, local posts continue to support veterans and their communities today, he said.
As a host to community events and supporter of youth groups like the Boy Scouts and baseball teams, American Legion members at local posts invest in their communities by volunteering hundreds of hours every year, said Romie Bassetto, first vice commander of the American Legion Post 105.
Bassetto said many newer members learn about the resources the American Legion offers when they are facing a crisis, but noted the organization supports veterans throughout their lives, whether or not they are facing challenges.
Having served in the Vietnam War, Bassetto remembered the reaction many had to soldiers returning home from the war, and said he didn’t feel comfortable discussing his service with anyone for years. Determined not to let other veterans feel isolated for their service, Bassetto said he’s been involved with the American Legion in various capacities for nearly 30 years to help support others.
Bassetto acknowledged the challenge of bringing veterans together across generations and with a wide array of military experiences, but said outreach to community colleges and an increased awareness of the challenges younger veterans face has helped foster community among veterans of all ages.
“’What are we doing that appeals to them?’” he said. “That’s a question that we’ve been fighting for a long time.”
Having been a member of the American Legion since he returned from the Vietnam War, San Mateo resident AC Ralston, adjutant for American Legion Post 82 in San Mateo, noted the organization has grown from one that was formed out of necessity to a family surrounding veterans. With groups formed in support of local posts for veterans’ spouses and children, the community surrounding the American Legion has provided scholarships for high school students and support for nearby Veterans Affairs facilities.
Though he acknowledged the organization was supposed to be temporary, Ralston noted the organization has played a critical role in advocating for veterans and supporting their families for the last 100 years and was glad to see the American Legion reach a landmark milestone.
“We weren’t supposed to be here now,” he said. “It was such a necessity to help the veterans because no one else was doing it.”
(650) 344-5200 ext. 106
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.