The Bonners Ferry American Legion Post 55 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3622 hosted their first watch party Dec. 13 at the Bonners Ferry Senior Center for the Army versus Navy football game. 

The event was open to all veterans and was part of an effort to provide veterans in Boundary County with a sense of community. 

Ben Apo, a VFW American Legion member, said the idea for the event stems from a Legion meeting several months ago. 

“We were at the Legion district meeting three months ago and some other outfits were talking about watching games and JoAnn looked at me and said, ‘Let’s do one,’” Apo said. 

“It’s the first time we’ve done an event like this,” Apo said. “We’ve been slowly getting more involved in the community and trying to do more things.” 

Apo said members of both organizations worked together to plan and host the event. 

“The local VFW and the local Legion — our membership — coordinated it and planned the meals,” Apo said. “This was something we thought we could give back to the veterans of the community, get the Army guys here, get the Navy guys here and get some good banter going.” 

While the watch party was geared toward veterans, Apo said both organizations also host events for the broader Boundary County community. 

“Without community support, we’d be nothing,” Apo said. “We’re here not only for the veterans in this community, but for the community as a whole.” 

Apo also addressed the lack of veteran representation and accessible resources in the area. 

“We haven’t really had strong representation for veterans and veterans haven’t had anyone to go to for questions or help,” Apo said. “That’s why I started the Outreach Center — so I could reach out to veterans in need and help them.” 

He emphasized that participation is voluntary and that veterans are not pressured to join either organization. 

“We’re not pushing anybody to join,” Apo said. “We just want them to know we’re here and that they have a resource.” 

“Every one of us, whether we’ve seen combat or not, raised our right hand and wrote a blank check to the government,” Apo said. “No matter your experience, we’re all brothers and sisters.”