Florida’s American Legion says it will lose more posts if the state doesn’t lift pandemic-related restrictions

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida’s American Legion said it will lose more of its posts if the state doesn’t lift pandemic-related restrictions they say are crippling them financially.

The state said posts can stay open, as long as they don’t serve alcohol.

At the Orlando headquarters, Florida’s American Legion department commander Rick Johnson recapped the three weeks of red tape the veterans organization has been trying to navigate since the state’s executive order affecting their many posts.

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The American Legion is now asking the state to reclassify those posts so that nonprofits are no longer categorized as bars.

The commander said losing permission to sell alcohol destroys the ability to fund their mission to veterans and their communities.

“We have 27 programs we operate and we take care of. We’re not saying alcohol is the best way but to get people to come in and spend money and to have money to put back in community, that’s the only way we can do it,” Johnson said.

In a department commanders webinar this week, Johnson rallied members to speak out.

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He believes backing from Gov. Ron DeSantis would make an impact and keeps requesting a meeting but hasn’t received an answer yet.

“I don’t know why he’s avoiding us. Him being a veteran himself, he should understand what we’re going through and what we do out there, and he’s also a Legion member,” Johnson said.

Johnson is asking all American Legion members to call state lawmakers hoping their support can help these posts and keep their community programs going.

Cox Media Group