Air Force veteran joins Laguna Beach American Legion Auxiliary as first male member of chapter

An Air Force veteran has joined the Laguna Beach American Legion Auxiliary Unit chapter as its first male member.

Richard Moore previously served as an American Legion Post 222 Commander for over nine years and currently holds the rank of 2nd Vice Commander. Moore joins his wife, Evelda Loftsgaard, who was a veteran of the Marine Corps, in Laguna Beach’s American Legion Auxiliary Unit 222.

Both are also members of American Legion Post 222.

For about a century, auxiliary membership was available only to women as membership of American Legion Post, a national veterans’ service organization, were only available to veterans. Women were required to be related to a veteran to join the American Legion Auxiliary, which supports families of military officers.

Men are now eligible to join American Legion Auxiliary if they are related to a female veteran that is a member of American Legion Post, regardless of military service.

Moore officially joined the organization chapter, but has not been formally welcomed due to the suspension of events due to the coronavirus pandemic that has swept through the country, but the organization hopes to resume its social gatherings in the fall, Sandi Werthe, a spokeswoman for the organization, said.

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