American Legion Post 129 Enhances Lives of Local Veterans Through Nine Years of Unwavering Support
16 June 2026

American Legion Post 129, located in Huntsville, supports residents and patients of several veterans support facilities in the local area. Over the past nine years, the Post’s Veterans Administration and Volunteer Services (VAVS) Committee has focused its efforts on three veterans homes and our VA hospital, constantly reviewing their priority needs for donations and volunteer activity, providing maximum support within financial constraints. Those are the George Wahlen Veterans Home in Ogden, the Homeless Vets Fellowship in Ogden, the William Christoffersen Veterans Home in the VA complex in Salt Lake City, and the George E. Wahlen VA Hospital also in the VA complex. The post has consistently increased its financial support to them over those nine years. During that time, the VAVS has committed to spending all funds approved for it by the membership, with any overages funded out of pocket by the committee.

Donations provided by the Post include clothing such as winter coats, gloves and hats, shoes, boots, sweat shirts, pants, and hoodies; as well as food items such as canned and freeze-dried groceries, fresh fruit, complimentary coffee at hospital stations for visitors and patients, candy and cookies for snacks and game prizes, Gatorade and sodas that are not normally available in the facility. Assistance is also provided to support major functions such as holiday celebrations including donations of Easter candy and plastic eggs for Easter egg hunts, decorations and candy for Halloween parties, and include decorations for Christmas, Memorial Day and Fourth of July events.

Also included are donations of household items such as bed frames, mattresses, foam pads, safety bathmats, desk-top fans, toasters, pots, pans, utensils, bowls, cutting boards, brooms, mops, laundry detergent, etc. The Post has also provided a wide variety of toiletries and personal grooming equipment for welcome baskets. Donations have also included recreational equipment and supplies such as board games, card games, soccer and volleyballs/nets, paint sets and brushes for art classes, reading glasses, CD players, and remote controls for TVs.

The Post has also donated potting soil and flowers; and, in some years, organized large-scale planting projects at some facilities. Members have assisted residents of the homes, escorting and helping them on tours and outings such as Walmart shopping trips, trips to the State Fairs, as well as donating rods, reels and tackle for fishing excursions.

The VAVS has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the leadership, recreation and volunteer services staff at the various veterans facilities. Of particular note is the great teamwork and assistance provided by Molly Cook, Volunteer Coordinator, and Brooke Brown Recreation Coordinator, at the William Christoffersen Veterans Home; Andrea Dixon, Recreation Director and Lisa Whitman, Recreation Assistant, at George Wahlen Veterans Home; Jon Graff, Executive Director of the Homeless Vets Fellowship; and Sarah Hallen, Chief of the Center for Development and Community Engagement and Thomas Bala, the Voluntary Service Specialist, with the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System.

Donations are welcome. If you would like to donate to Post 129 in support of the VAVS program, please send cash or check to American Legion Post 129, PO Box 317, Huntsville, UT.
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