WASHINGTON, DC — As Americans are self-quarantining to avoid the spread of COVID-19, the American Legion says it’s more important than ever to check in on our veterans.

In the spirit of the military Battle Buddy program, the Legion has similarly created a coronavirus pandemic Buddy Check system ensure no veteran is left without support and social connection.

“If you remember back to the World Wars, there was a term called ‘battle-buddies’ and that’s making sure the guy in the foxhole with is ok,” American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford told 104.7 WONK FM’s Jen Richer. “When we think about this coronavirus, it’s social distancing, but we still want to maintain contact.”

As the nation’s largest veterans service organization, the American Legion is mobilizing their 3,600 members to check in on veterans who are particularly vulnerable during this pandemic. “We are reaching out to make sure our veterans, our Legionnaires, are ok, ‘[asking] do they need anything, can we help?,’ that’s what a buddy check is,” Oxford explains.

Over the past several months, the program has proven to be successful. “We’ve had Legionnaires from across the country who make four or five hundred phone calls, that’s the kind of participation that we’ve had,” Oxford said.

The organization has seen unprecedented engagement, with participation from volunteers in all 50 states and the the five offshore departments. "In Minnesota, they have come up with an enhanced buddy check, they’ve appointed and created team captains. These team captains have different members on their team, [and] they’re reaching out to individual veterans,” Oxford described.

Once the members, or Legionnaires, have made contact, they’ve offered to run errands and perform daily chores for those at highest risk for contracting the disease.

“We’ve had Legionnaires be able to make a trip to the grocery store to pick up groceries for those shut in. We’ve had Legionnaires pick up a prescription at a drug store, we’ve had Legionnaires go to a veteran’s home and move the garbage can from the street back to the house, those are the things we’ve been able to see and do as we make these buddy check phone calls,” Oxford said.

Although the American Legion Buddy Check program was designed for Legionnaires to connect, they are encouraging all members of the community to find ways to connect with veterans during this crisis.

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