On a quiet street in Windsor, Colorado, stands a building whose story runs far deeper than its walls suggest. Before becoming home to American Legion Post 109, it served as an officers’ quarters at the Prisoners of War Camp in nearby Greeley during World War II. In 1947, the building was moved to Windsor, beginning a new chapter of service: this time to veterans,
families, and the community.
In its early Windsor days, the Legion hall was lively. A roller skating rink occupied the downstairs, where kids could rent skates for just 25 cents. While the skates are gone, the spirit of welcome remains. Today, Post 109 is a living reminder that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off; it simply takes a different form.
Walking Through the Door
For many members, joining Post 109 began with a simple invitation. Eric Salisbury, a U.S. Army veteran who enlisted the day before 9/11 and received a Purple Heart in 2003, was introduced to the Legion by a friend. “There were a lot of older vets, but as a young veteran, I felt very welcome,” he recalls. Now serving as bartender and service officer, Eric has found not only friendship but purpose.
Pat Silber’s path began during loss. After 16 years in the Air Force and later as a Department of Defense civilian, she joined the Legion following her husband Carl’s passing, who served a combined 26 years in the Army and Air Force. “I was lonely,” she says. What she found instead was kindness, understanding, and community. Now a dual member of the Post and Auxiliary, Pat describes the Legion as a place where people come together to support one another and accomplish much through service and fundraising.
Steve Kennedy, who served in the Army from 1967 to 1970, found the Legion familiar. Growing up in a small town in New York, he was used to everyone knowing everyone. After hearing about the Legion by word of mouth, he found the same sense of belonging in Windsor. Today, Steve serves as finance officer, board member, and games manager, keeping the post open and thriving.
Commander Scott Esh discovered Post 109 after relocating from Michigan. Encouraged by his grandfather to join the American Legion, Scott searched online and walked through the doors with his wife. “We felt welcome immediately,” he says. A U.S. Army veteran and local business owner, Scott now leads the Post while raising a family involved in Legion programs: his daughter in the Youth Auxiliary, his son in the Sons of the American Legion.
Past Commander Brad Irion, a Navy submarine veteran from 1975 to 1979, joined more than 20 years ago after a friend’s invitation. For Brad, the Legion represents both advocacy and continuity. “The American Legion is the largest voice for veterans in Washington, D.C.,” he says, “but it’s also about local help and day-to-day support.”
A Second Home
Members say the people are what keep them coming back.
“It's a sanctuary,” Eric says. “As a veteran, you miss the brotherhood. You get that back here.” Through color guard ceremonies, celebrations of life, and honoring veterans, Eric sees patriotism passed to younger generations. He emphasizes that Post 109 is open not only to veterans but to supporters, many of whom are the most generous members.
Pat speaks of the shared language of service. “You miss the camaraderie,” she says. “In the military, your background doesn’t matter, only why you’re there.” That bond, forged through shared mission and trust, lives on in the Legion walls.
Steve sums it up simply: “Everyone knows you. Everyone supports you.”
Scott compares the atmosphere to Cheers. “You come in as a friend, and you leave as family,” he says. “After a month, everyone knew my name. There’s instant trust. You can open up about your experiences.”
Brad sees the Legion as a bridge, connecting veterans back to service and forward to the future. “Vietnam vets weren’t treated well,” he remembers. “I never want to see that happen again.” For him, the Legion ensures veterans remain visible and valued in the community, serving on school boards, driving buses, mentoring youth, and being recognized by the town they served.
Moments That Matter
The impact of Post 109 often reveals itself quietly.
Eric shares a time when he struggled with PTSD, homelessness, and despair. “The Legion gave me a job and a place to stay,” he says. “They helped me get back on my feet.” For Eric, the Legion didn’t just offer support - it saved his life.
Pat recalls a Christmas party hosted at a fellow member’s home. “It was genuine, fun, and relaxing,” she says. “I felt like I belonged.”
Steve remembers being honored by the Color Guard at a Windsor High School football game, flipping the coin at halftime to a cheering crowd, a moment he’ll never forget.
Brad recounts a flag-folding ceremony for a World War II veteran performed at the family’s home. “Seeing the tears,” he says, “you realize how much this means, not just to the service member but to their family.” He speaks of military spouses, recalling the long silences and heavy responsibilities of Navy wives during submarine deployments. “While Submariners are submerged, the spouse may feel like they are drowning. Recognizing that matters.”
More Than a Veterans’ Organization
While rooted in service, Post 109 is far more than a veterans-only space.
The Post supports Auxiliary programs, Sons of the American Legion, Riders, and youth shooting sports - one participant is on the road to becoming an Olympian! It sponsors Boy Scouts, youth baseball, Boys and Girls State scholarships, and Auxiliary scholarships for local high school juniors. The Post provides immediate financial assistance to veterans in need and hosts
family-friendly events like Turkey and Ham Bingo, live music, karaoke, and community celebrations.
“We want people to know we’re open to the public,” Steve says. “If we weren’t, we wouldn’t survive.”
Scott echoes this: “Everyone is welcome. Your background doesn’t matter.” From leading parades to hosting family events, Post 109 is deeply woven into Windsor’s civic life.
Brad invites community participation; volunteering, joining the Sons of the American Legion, Auxiliary, Riders, or simply stopping by. “Every dollar spent here goes back into supporting veterans and youth,” he says. “It’s about paying it forward.”
When asked to sum up the Legion in one word, members reply: Home. Camaraderie. Sanctuary. Community. Love.
At Post 109, these words aren’t slogans; they are lived every day. For veterans not yet born, families serving quietly behind the scenes, and a town that understands service’s value, the doors remain open, as they have for nearly eight decades.
“If you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came,” stop by American Legion Post 109 at 624 Ash Street.
Whether you’re a veteran, associated with one, or a supporter of veterans, you will feel welcome and treated right.
“Every dollar spent here goes back into supporting veterans and youth. It’s about paying it forward.” - Brad Irion
“In the military, your background doesn’t matter, only why you’re there. That instant bond, forged through shared mission and trust, lives on within the Legion walls.” - Pat Silber