Buddy Checks - Thank you!

To our Comrades,

First and foremost, I have to sincerely thank the following members of our Post that stepped forward and generously volunteered their time to undertake the 2025 Post 68 Holiday Buddy checks:  Margo Chestnut, Jo Anne Britt, John Hacker, Frank Pain, Gary Bryskiewicz, Ed Barkley and Gordon Humphries.  According to all, this year’s Buddy Check program was a huge success!  We were able to contact almost all the members of the Post whether in person, via email or by leaving a voice mail.  There were members that we were not able to reach due to no contact information, bad telephone numbers or emails or in a few cases, transitioning to the Post Everlasting.  I am going to further look into ways that we can have a 100% contact rate in the future.  I was extremely pleased that when I left a voice mail or penned an email with our member, I received a response.  I only had one situation where a member remarked that he was going to refer a fellow veteran (a non-member) to our service officer.  But it was very heartwarming to receive the reports from the callers that they received positive responses to their contacts.  

This program - which is a staple of the Legion and became a National initiative in 2019 and in place in over 4000 Post’s since 2023, exemplifies the last line of the preamble:  “to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.”  This not only pertains to the local veteran community that we advocate and support, but to make sure that the members of the Post are all well and not in need of financial, social or emotional needs during this Holiday season.  Our National organization hopes that the Buddy Check program is done twice a year, once in November and again in March during the Legion’s Birthday week.  As Post’s 1st Vice Commander and as this is one of my duties of my office; I will begin working on the 2026 Spring Buddy Checks.  I have no doubt that I will receive the support of the Post and have more volunteers next year.  Please remember that one personal contact can be the difference and in some cases, life changing, in helping someone out that we don’t know needs a helping hand and who might be afraid to reach out to us. 

Lastly, I must impress upon the members of the Post that by no means does our Buddy Checks eliminate the need to refer to the Post's officers, a brother or sister member that we come across during the entire year that we learn is in need of some of assistance and a personal touch from the Post. One of the greatest strengths of Post 68, is the willingness to help a fellow veteran (whether a member or not) and in a timely manner.  This is something that I and the members of the Post should be extremely proud of!  I read this in the Legion guide to Buddy Checks and thought it was appropriate: "As you know, we serve greater than ourselves and we try to extend hearts and hands to others."

Once again, THANKS to my fellow callers: I hope that Santa puts something extra in your stocking this year!  You all deserve it!  

I remain in Comradeship and May God Bless you and your families during this Holiday Season.

Jim Mac

1st Vice Commander