The Fisher House Foundation and Department of Veterans Affairs dedicated the 43rd Fisher House in Brentwood, Calif., earlier this month. American Legion Pacific Palisades Post 283 donated more than $2 million to the project.

"The hurdles to gain community support for the project were too many," said Louis Cozolino past post commander and executive board member. "So I asked my executive board (in 2007) to approve the donation, called for a vote, and it was approved. Then my board stood up and applauded themselves."

Wounded Marines from Camp Pendleton joined the dedication; one led the Pledge of Allegiance and another helped cut the ribbon. A few notables from the celebrity world also attended, including CNN talk-show host Larry King and actress Kim Delaney, who stars in the TV series, "Army Wives." Families who will be living in the newest Fisher House also were on hand to dedicate the 16,800-square-foot building, which provides military families a "home away from home" while their loved ones recover from injuries or illnesses.

Cozolino said the dedication "was put together like a good movie." Post 283 members lined both sides of a red carpet, where guest speakers entered. The ceremony included a color guard and the 40th Infantry Division Band. "Everyone honored our American Legion Post 283 - this is our monument," Cozolino said.

Located at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System campus on the edge of Beverly Hills and Hollywood, the Spanish-style "comfort home" includes 21 suites, each with a private, handicapped-accessible bathroom. The two-story, elevator-equipped house features a family room, multi-station kitchen, a large dining room and shared laundry facilities.

"The American Legion Pacific Palisades Post 283 ... donated $2.125 million to us," said Jim Weiskopf, Fisher House Foundations executive vice president of communications. After placing a call to The American Legion's National Headquarters, Weiskopf learned the amount was the largest single donation ever made by an American Legion post.

"We're the veterans of past wars, and we know what our young people and their families are going through," Cozolino said. "That's the reason I and my members love The American Legion. We really are vets helping vets."

Early on, members of Post 283 made sound real-estate investments, purchasing properties that later housed a pharmacy and a U.S. Post Office in its community. Rent collected from those properties, as well as donations from its members, allowed Post 283 to make the large contribution to the Fisher House Foundation.

"The foundation has made a solemn commitment to keep faith with those who have served the country," said Ken Fisher, chairman of Fisher House Foundation. "It's a responsibility the foundation accepts gladly."

The Los Angeles Fisher House is the only one that will open this year; about eight more are planned. "We are going to start a whole bunch more projects," Weiskopf said. "But since we're not 'in the ground' yet, and they take almost 14 months to build, nothing will open up in calendar year 2009, We'll have lots to open up in 2010."

Re-published from The American Legion Online Update. Subscribe for the Online Update here.