The American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 716, Los Alamitos, takes a Christmastime “Tour of Lights” through Naples, Belmont, Belmont Heights and Bayshore Ave. The Auxiliary organizes events and projects throughout the year to help active-duty military, veterans and the larger community.
This year’s fundraising will support an Auxiliary project to feed veterans in need and purchase sleeping bags for homeless veterans.
The night of the tour was cold but Auxiliary members come home to a warm home and a bed with several blankets.
In contrast and for whatever reason, veterans from the Iraq War and as far back as Vietnam find themselves living on the streets, cold and homeless.
One local spot of warmth and cheer for such homeless veterans is the Long Beach Veterans Affairs PIER Center. The acronym stands for Partnership In Effective Recovery. The Center provides a place for homeless veterans to get a hot meal, clean clothes and a shower.
The PIER Center is just one of the beneficiaries of the efforts of the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 716, Los Alamitos. The organization’s next meeting is on Monday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. at 3252 Florista Street in Los Alamitos. You are eligible to join the Auxiliary if you are the mother, wife, daughter, sister, grand-daughter, great-grand-daughter, or grandmother of members of the American Legion, and deceased veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during any of these war times:
- April 6, 1917 – Nov. 11, 1918 (World War I)
- Dec. 7, 1941 – Aug. 15, 1945 Merchant Marines (only eligibility)
- Dec. 7, 1941 – Dec. 31, 1946 (World War II)
- June 25, 1950 – Jan. 31, 1955 (Korean War)
- Feb. 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War)
- Aug. 24, 1982 – July 31, 1984 (Grenada/Lebanon)
- Dec. 20, 1989 – Jan. 31, 1990 (Panama)
- Aug. 2, 1990 to today
Featured photo
Santa put smiles on the faces of members of the Ladies Auxiliary, Unit 716, Los Alamitos during the Auxiliary’s “Tour of Lights” Fundraiser to help veterans. From left to right: Santa; Auxiliary Chaplain Carrie Taylor holding grandson Bodie with granddaughter Emm in front of her; Second Vice for the Junior Auxiliary Hanna Janji; Auxiliary Secretary Stephanie Janji; and Sherrie Hamlin, Auxiliary member.
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Thank you for your article about the American Legion Auxiliary raising money for the PIER Center. Our homeless veterans need all our help. Donations, a warm blanket, a hot meal….it goes a long way with these heroes. It is our turn to return the service of gratitude for what they have done for our country. I hope your readers will take some time this holiday season to make any contribution to this program. God Bless all our Servicemen and Women.