The Boyd Bristol, Medical Equipment Program

The Boyd Bristol, Medical Equipment program was conceived to provide an important service to our veterans and their families. The Boyd Bristol name honors the memory of a cherished member of Post 66, who was too when he transferred to the Post Everlasting.

Our Post Service Officer is responsible for the operation and management of our Medical Equipment Program. Post 66 has created an outpost for receiving and issuing medical supplies to veterans and their families.  Any veteran can seek equipment to meet medical needs from our Post 66.   We currently have walkers; some with seats, canes, mechanical/electric scooters, and crutches.  These items are given to veterans and their family members, free of charge. Delivery can be arranged.  They can keep the items as long as you need them and it is not essential that they be returned ever.

Those who wish to donate items that are no longer needed; can contact the Post Service Officer or leave a message on the Post 66 phone; 805-543-6445. We will make arrangements to meet at the Post to receive items or pick them up if necessary. This is another important way we serve our Veterans and their families.

Another important way we serve our Veterans and their families. 

Click Here  – to see more pictures of our Medical Storage building being built.

The Legion Family of Post 66 is

Dedicated to Serving Veterans!

Buddy Check Program

Through phone calls, texts, emails, letters, cards and face-to face meetings, Buddy Checks let veterans and their families know Post 66 cares

The Legion has a national resolution calling for Buddy Checks to be conducted in the weeks leading up to Veterans Day and the organization’s birthday in March, but posts are encouraged to conduct them year-round.

Buddy Check Background from The American Legion national website

In the first four years after The American Legion launched Buddy Checks as an official program, our members have reached more than 1 million veterans and provided critical assistance.

The number of local American Legion posts conducting Buddy Check operations in those first four years has grown from 3,683 to 4,456.

Buddy Checks are not membership or fundraising calls; they are simple check-ins with veterans in the community to see how they are doing and to learn how the local post can help.

The MyLegion.org web platform contains contact information of American Legion members and former members.

The Department of Veterans Affairs launched its own National Buddy Check Week in 2023 and invites involvement from local American Legion posts.

American Legion posts are also strongly encouraged, by resolution, to make Buddy Check calls during Veterans Week (mid-November) and American Legion Birthday Week (mid-March).

Many American Legion posts have assembled Buddy Check teams that make calls monthly or even more frequently.

Buddy Check teams are urged to have at their fingertips a list of local resources available if needed.
These may be American Legion service officers, Vet Centers, VA healthcare facilities, or others who can help.

Veterans may be reminded of the Veterans Crisis Line in case they know of someone who needs urgent assistance, or if they need it themselves.

Read about how Buddy Checks work at the local level on LEGIONTOWN.ORG/BUDDY-CHECKS or SHARE YOUR OWN BUDDY CHECK STORY

Veteran Treatment Court (VTC)

Post 66 is a strong supporter of the San Luis Obispo County, Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) which assists veterans who have entered the criminal justice system and receive treatment and rehabilitation from the U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). http://www.ccvhv.com/

60 Minutes 2012: An alternative court program in Harris County, Texas, seeks to
rehabilitate veterans who turn to crime for the first time. Scott Pelley reports.

VTC Mentor Flier

About Veterans Treatment Court (VTC)

The San Luis Obispo County, Veterans Treatment Courts assists veterans who have entered the criminal justice system receive treatment and rehabilitation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Veterans are eligible for treatment court if the criminal activity is attributed to conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, traumatic brain injury, sexual trauma and other triggers related to military service. The program is also designed to assist local agencies by having the VA provide staff in courts, provide treatment and use trained volunteer mentors who will assist veterans through their individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans.

For more information, please contact the County Veterans Services Department at 805.781.5766 or visit www.slovets.org

In order to qualify:

• Your case must be otherwise eligible for probation •
• You must be willing to enter the required treatment program
• Your offense must not be a “strike” offense as listed in PC1192.7 or PC 667.5(c)
• Your offense must not require registration as a sex offender

The Veterans Treatment Court begins at 9 a.m. in Department 6 of the San Luis Obispo Superior Court, for more information please contact Pete Pepper at 707‐217‐8657 or email him at petepepper@aol.com.

Post Service Officer

A post service officer (PSO) is an important volunteer position that is often the first Legionnaire post members or dependents turn to for help with veteran benefit issues. The PSO’s primary duty is to serve as a link between the veteran or dependent and an accredited veteran service officer in the Department of California.

Beyond helping to establish this link with an accredited service officer there is more a good Post Service Officer should know, The American Legion created the Post Service Officer’s Guide to assist PSO’s in their duties. It states:

“An effective PSO understands benefits afforded to veterans and dependents; however, the PSO is not authorized to file any claims on behalf of the claimant. PSOs serve as valuable resources to veterans in local posts to ensure that our veterans and their dependents receive their earned benefits.”

To request your military service records (including DD214) Click Here
For all who have been told their military records are lost, call the VA at 844-531-7818.

Points of contact

Each PSO should have readily available contact information for various resources in their local area that could
be beneficial to veterans and their dependents. These resources can include, but are not limited to:

• • American Legion department service officer (DSO)
  • County/local representatives with American Legion accreditation
  • Agencies for senior citizens
  • State and local nursing homes
  • Homeless shelters
  • State and national cemeteries
  • Department of Veterans Affairs contact information, including phone numbers and website addresses

Dependent upon location, state, and municipal governments may provide benefits to disabled veterans; PSOs should contact DSOs and/or local accredited representatives to gather the information that can be provided through state government programs.

 Funeral Honors
(VA Resource)