American Legion Post 390 Supports Veterans While Serving The Community

Story By Patrick Sherry  |  Photos by Denise Fleischman

When veterans leave the military, many never truly stop serving Americans at home. The American Legion, with more than a million veteran members and dozens at Wellington’s Post 390, is an army fighting to help local communities.

Veterans in Wellington founded American Legion Post 390 in 2008. The group started with 24 members but has since grown to have nearly 100 members. Throughout the year, those who are a part of the organization participate in a variety of initiatives intended to support local veterans and residents alike.

Maxwell Nelson, the current post commander, has been involved with the organization for about 15 years. He explained that members do everything from sponsoring local baseball teams to regularly holding blood drives — anything that helps veterans and residents in the area. Much of the post’s funds come from fundraisers and local sponsors, which are then directly invested back into their charitable efforts.

“We work hand in hand with the community,” Nelson said. “Whatever they would like us to do, we’re right there.”

Education and youth development are two of the organization’s biggest initiatives. Each year, they award $2,500 scholarships to high school seniors who have family members affiliated with American Legion Post 390. It also sponsors local high school students to attend the annual Florida American Legion Boys State program, where selected delegates run a mock state government to learn about the inner workings of these political environments.

Through its work in the community, American Legion Post 390 has developed a strong relationship with the Village of Wellington. Members of the organization routinely participate in civic holidays with village officials, such as observances for Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and public service through activities like regular “Adopt a Street” cleanup programs.

“I’m in many different organizations,” Nelson said. “I wear many different hats, and the one that I see gets the most [positive] feedback from is Wellington.”

Camaraderie is one of the most meaningful parts of being involved in an American Legion post. Service members, while in the military, live together through hardship and life-threatening situations for years, but when they leave this environment, many lose that shared bond. Veterans from local charters like Post 390 are there to fill that void and help each other find a similar tight-knit, military-like unit as they readjust to mainstream society. This connection with each other, combined with the post’s local activities, gives veterans new ways to contribute toward protecting American interests at home.

“Camaraderie is huge when you’re in the military,” said David Roman, adjutant of Post 390. “When you get out and come out to civilian life, you’re missing that camaraderie.”

Post 390 members meet monthly at the Wellington Community Center to discuss community projects and future activities. Local businesses and communities can reach out to participate in these meetings as speakers or provide their services to help veterans in the area.

Members also meet for breakfast each month at Turning Point Wellington to maintain the relationships they built together, too. These meet-ups help members maintain their bond with each other.

“I love my American Legion family,” Roman said. “We are like brothers and sisters. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

What sets the American Legion apart from other military veteran organizations is its eligibility policy, which welcomes all active-duty service members who have been honorably discharged since 1941 or are still serving. American Legion posts like Wellington’s local chapter have generations of veterans from all different branches of the military. All are committed to supporting each other and working to benefit the local veteran community.

“We all have something in common,” Roman said. “We’ve all been through hard times, good times and we’re able to talk about those things together… But camaraderie is what is key.”

Members of the American Expeditionary Forces founded the American Legion in 1919 while waiting to return home after World War I. The same year, the U.S. Congress officially chartered the organization. Throughout the years, members of the American Legion have been heavily involved in hundreds of veteran-related charity efforts and initiatives. Members’ work is meant to uphold the organization’s four pillars: national security, veteran affairs and rehabilitation, Americanism, and children and youth.

Among its most notable accomplishments is lobbying the federal government to pass the GI Bill of 1944 and helping fund independent scientific studies on the health impacts of Agent Orange exposure on veterans who fought during the Vietnam War.

In 1930, the organization’s advocacy helped establish the Veterans Administration, which later became the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This government agency continues to provide healthcare, financial benefits and memorial services to eligible service members and their families. Today, more than 1.6 million veterans are members of the American Legion, and the organization has more than 11,500 local posts worldwide.

“I’m a veteran, and it’s important to give back to the veterans and to the community,” Roman said. “I truly believe in what the American Legion does.”

This year for Veterans Day, members of Post 390 plan to participate in Wellington’s annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11, starting at 8:15 a.m. They invite all active or retired service members to walk in the parade with them from Wellington Village Hall to the Wellington Veterans Memorial.

Millions of service men and women for years fought to keep the country safe. When they return home, the American Legion and its local posts are there to give veterans another chance to fight for the support and betterment of their comrades.

“If a veteran doesn’t support a veteran, a civilian won’t,” Roman said. “It’s very important that veterans support veterans. We’re there for each other when we serve, and we need to be there for each other after we serve.”

American Legion Post 390 meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Wellington Community Center, located at 12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd. To learn more about American Legion Post 390, or to apply for membership, e-mail wellingtonlegion390@gmail.com or visit www.alpost390.com.