The American Legion celebrates its centennial

The American Legion celebrated 100 years of service to veterans and the community.

Veteran Miguel Lizarraga recalled the first time the American Legion made an impact in his life while he was on active duty in the Middle East.

” They sent me care packages. Not only containing food supplies, hygiene supplies. But also containing letters, clips from home. Pictures of my wife, my kids. It meant the world to me, ” Lizarraga said.

Lizarraga is now paying it forward as a commander for the Boyce Aten American Legion in El Centro, to others who answered the call.

” I knew right away, meeting those folks I needed to get involved. I needed to do for someone else, for another veteran why they had done for me. ”

For a century the legion helped veterans build lasting bonds through shared experiences.

Lizarraga added, ” When you’re in the military it’s tight-knit. You’re with these people 24/7. You’re with them for months at a time in foreign countries. They’re your best friends And to be able to come back out to where you don’t have that anymore, it’s nice to find an outlet to where you can have that type of reconnection ”

The legion also helps veterans transition to civilian life after active duty.

Bob Candland , the Judge Advocate for the Boyce American Legion said, ” The veterans will help each other to go ahead and move forward and get back into the peacetime United States. You move from a sort of swords to plowshares. And you’ve got to get guys going from that combat envelope and move them into the peacetime envelope. ”

Leaders at the post hope to past the torch to a new generation who will continue their ongoing tradition.

Canland added, ” The young guys come in who are from the post 9/11 community and generation to get involved and actually drive our legion now down through the next 100 years. ”