Welcome to our Veteran Community Page

Our intent is to include photos, articles, and more pertaining to our Veterans.

Your input is welcome, just email to Doug@2TWR.com

HISTORY OF AMERICAN LEGION

POST 123, THE VIRTUAL POST 

This history of Post 123 is written in narrative form, by PDC Doug Winter, to the best of my ability.

I was a Jr. Vice Commander for 2 years, Senior Vice Commander for 1 year, and elected Department of Colorado Commander 2003-2004. (This is the normal progression in our Department.)

As I traveled my Senior Vice Commander and Commander years, I encountered numerous veterans, the majority of whom were Vietnam Vets. They were willing to join the American Legion but not excited about joining a post.

During my Commander year, I took this challenge to adjutant Pat Smith, and we created a new Post 123 from an old charter (Coal Creek). We were granted a charter, November 2003. The new post was placed in district 00. It was understood that Department would process the membership, renewals, etc.

From hour 1, day 1, it was always our goal to treat these veterans with the respect they deserve and no differently than any other post member. Colorado has more than 160 American Legion posts.

By the end of my year as Commander we had less than 50 members. At that time, we began the “virtual post”.

In subsequent years the membership in post 211, the department holding post, grew substantially to the point National was telling Colorado they had to address it. Thus, moving members from post 211 to post 123 became an option. At that juncture, The Department of Colorado hired a veteran to call as many members as possible, explain what was happening and verify that they wanted to be in Post123.

Shortly thereafter, Adjutant PDC Smith and Deputy Adjutant PNC Tom Bock called me and asked me to get involved again. With the blessing of the Department Commander, I accepted the assignment.

My initial charge was to contact the members of Post 123 several times a year, thank them for their service, and be available should they have questions.

I began writing emails to the members. In every email I mentioned the Colorado Legion website, The Observer, and National. Without fail, I mentioned the availability of joining a local post and some did. I understand membership and it was always included in my newsletters.

Over the last several years we have added a few, transferred a few, corresponded with a few and last year presented 50-year membership certificates to two deserving Legionnaires.

The Department of Colorado has experienced a few growing pains as of late. The one that affects us the most is the reorganization and transformation of communications. They are in the process of moving to a new web hosting company and I can attest that is not easily accomplished.

Thus my wife Patty (American Legion Auxiliary, life member) and I decided the time was right to move our growing daytime job, Kitchen Tips, and begin sharing a new domain: 2TWR.com with Post 123. Our 1st email went out under the new website and we welcomed and invited all members to open, share and experience our new hosting website to include Kitchen Tips.

We held our breath as we emailed all members of Post 123 as well as our Kitchen tips followers. To our astonishment not 1, zero, zip, of Veterans had any negative comments but rather, “Great, Fantastic, Wow, What a Christmas present!”

If all continues to go well, we expect Post 123 to have a sub-domain of its own in the future.

If you are reading this, you are on the American Legion page of 2TWR.com. We hope you are navigating well on our site and would welcome any comments or suggestions you may have.

PDC Doug Winter