The President of the Board of Directors of The Veterans’ Place, Stephen Weston (left), and the National Commander of the American Legion. Jimmie L. Foster, hold a photoop session on the porch of the Vine Street facility last Wednesday afternoon. The National Commander took a tour of the transient housing facility for homeless veterans and said that he was very impressed with both the facility and all the great work that is done there to aid the veterans. Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News Northfield’s Veterans’ Place on Vine Street, a transitional housing facility for homeless veterans, got a visit from some high- powered company last Wednesday afternoon. The National Commander of the American Legion and the Department (State of Vermont) commander stopped by for lunch and a tour of the facility. The former hospital has 22 rooms to house the residents and provides access to a wide range of services to help them get back on their own. National Commander Jimmie L. Foster was impressed with the facility and the work that it does. “It’s a nice facility and the things they do here are crucial in getting these veterans back into the community. I like how they get the residents involved in helping out. It gives them a sense of self worth and some self confidence to succeed on their own,” Commander Foster said. The Legion’s National Commander, who hails from Anchorage Alaska, has been to Vermont before but he said he liked this trip better. “I was through Vermont about 18 months ago when I was on the campaign trail and they showed me around a little. But, this time I’m getting to do the fun stuff like coming here,” the Commander said. His two and a half day visit was a whirlwind tour that also included visits to the State Legislature in Montpelier and the state’s only V.A. hospital in White River.

Although he really liked the Veteran’s Place and the Legion has a Homeless Veterans Task Force set up in 35 Departments (states) Commander Foster does not see a direct role for the Legion at the National level in supporting The Veterans’ Place in particular. “As the National Commander of the American Legion I feel that this is something that the Department (state) level would get involved in helping. Each state is their own entity and National per-se doesn’t intervene. All politics is local, and The Veterans’ Place would be better served by local help.

Vermont’s Legion Commander Ed Brown and the Vermont American Legion are already helping. In January the Washington County Legion Posts held a big fund-raiser for Veteran’s place in Barre. Department (state) Commander Brown kicked off his “Commander’s Project” for the year at that event. “My plan is to have all the posts in Vermont raise funds for the Veteran’s place. Ideally each post would support a room. Of course the smaller posts would have to combine their efforts but I think it is a very worthwhile project,” Department Commander Brown said at that time. On Wednesday he said he still felt that it was an important project. “Each time I come here I’m impressed. I can’t stress the importance of the work done here enough,” he said while he was talking to the National Commander.

In keeping with the “Commander’s Plan”, as of March 20th thirty five Vermont Legion Posts, American Legion Auxiliaries, and Sons of The American Legion chapters have contributed to The Veterans’ Place.