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Escalon City recognizes Men’s Health Month and veterans; American Legion warns membership decline
Summary
The Escalon City Council proclaimed November as Men’s Health Awareness Month and honored local veterans. Members of American Legion Post 263 warned the post is losing members and requested help recruiting volunteers; funeral arrangements for a long‑serving member were announced.
Escalon City Council on Tuesday proclaimed November as Men’s Health Awareness Month and took time to honor local veterans, while representatives of American Legion Post 263 urged the community to help address a decline in volunteer membership.
At the start of the meeting the presiding speaker read the proclamation urging early diagnosis and preventive care, saying the council wanted to "recognize the month of November as men's health awareness month and join communities around our nation to challenge men to spark conversations" and to pay tribute to those who lost their lives to disease.
Council members then invited veterans present to the dais. A long‑time member of the American Legion described an aging membership and appealed for new volunteers, saying, "I'm 80... we need more members or there won't be an American Legion here." The same speaker emphasized the importance of honors for deceased veterans and said the post is struggling to field volunteers who perform honors at funerals.
American Legion representatives announced funeral arrangements for a member referred to as Al and asked attendees to be at Burwood Cemetery by 1:00 p.m. the day of the service; the post plans a celebration of life at their post following the funeral. A post representative also said the post currently has about 66 members and that it performs roughly 25 to 30 veteran funerals a year.
Speakers described outreach efforts to neighboring communities — including Riverbank, Oakdale, Stockton, Ripon and Modesto — and encouraged residents to refer veterans or law‑enforcement officers who might be interested in joining. A veteran leader said the post meets on the second Tuesday of each month around 6:30 p.m. and reiterated the group is free and open to new members.
Council members expressed appreciation for veterans' service. No formal council action was taken on membership or funding; the request was for community recruitment and publicity, and for staff and council members to consider what outreach the city could assist with.
The council's presentation and the veterans' remarks highlighted concerns about sustaining volunteer veteran organizations that perform memorial honors and youth outreach in Escalon.
