By Mary O’KEEFE

Members of American Legion Post 288 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1614 took part in assembling and distributing care packages for veterans living throughout Los Angeles County. Chapter Companions completed the deliveries last Thursday and Tuesday. This was done in partnership with Operation Gratitude, which this year observed Veterans Day by partnering with local volunteers nationwide to deliver more than 27,000 care packages to veterans.
The local LA County Chapter Companions delivered 766 care packages. Lead organizer Lt. Col Dave Worley, USAF, retired, thanked the many who helped in this effort including those from the San Fernando Valley Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Sgt. Bob Donovan, liaison with Operation Gratitude, and the Operation Gratitude organization for allowing them to be part of the delivery to veterans.
This year Operation Gratitude will extend its reach to more than 500,000 of the nation’s heroes across the country and around the globe by sending care packages to COVID-19 frontline responders, deployed troops and the children they leave behind, veterans, new recruit graduates, first responders and wounded heroes and their caregivers.
“With each care package Operation Gratitude sends to a veteran, we will make tangible and profound impact that goes far beyond saying ‘thank you for your service.’ We will serve as a lifeline and a connection point for 27,000 men and women who served our country and represent every generation of heroes – from World War II to Afghanistan. This Nov. 11 [was] particularly difficult because [many] are homebound and isolated due to COVID-19. I am overwhelmed with the knowledge that when they receive their Operation Gratitude care package filled with handmade items and handwritten letters, many of them will be experiencing the gratitude of the American people for the very first time,” according to Lt. Col. Kevin Schmiegel, USMC, retired, and chief executive officer, Operation Gratitude.