Redwater Legion shares a cup off coffee

By Brandie Majeau

Redwater Legion shares a cup of coffee Brandie Majeau
The Redwater Legion hosts a morning coffee on Monday, Wednesday, and
Friday mornings. They welcome everyone to come down and spend the morning talking
about everything and nothing, all at once. It is a place to meet with friends and make
connections. Coffee groups are a fantastic way to fight loneliness and enhance a social
network of support and belonging. Research shows that people who are more socially
connected are at a reduced risk of depression and anxiety. On the other hand, those
who are more isolated and lonely are at an increased risk of cognitive impairment,
including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
As individuals age, the need for social interaction becomes even more vital.
Being part of a group allows for the pooling of resources and mutual support.
Additionally, isolation can contribute to various physical ailments such as heart
diseases, strokes, and Type 1 diabetes, and it is linked to an increased risk of
premature mortality. Regular social engagements can provide structure and comfort,
giving older adults something to look forward to and anchoring their days or weeks.
Redwater Legion’s morning coffee group is not just about the health benefits. It’s
a unique gathering that holds a special place in its history, rooted in the tradition of
sharing a good cup of coffee.
During challenging times and when far from home, it’s often the little things that
matter the most. For soldiers, a cup of coffee holds a special place. It has been a staple
in U.S. military rations since 1832. While Canadian troops favored tea due to their
British rations, the Korean War impacted Canadian soldiers and their preference for
American foods, including coffee.
Coffee was more than just a pick-me-up for soldiers, sailors, and aircrew working
long hours. It also served as a social centerpiece, bringing people together for brief but
memorable moments of relaxation and camaraderie. Whether they were in the field, on
watch, or in the air, those serving in challenging and confined environments cherished
the opportunity to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and engage in conversation.
It was coffee—coffee for breakfast and dinner, coffee for breaks, coffee they
longed to have. Coffee was familiar, comforting, and strengthening, and it became
routine and normalcy amid the chaos of war.
Union soldiers during the Civil War were allotted 36 pounds of coffee every year.
They brewed their daily coffee using water from canteens and muddy puddles, even
from brackish bays and the Mississippi River, fluids so unappealing that even their
horses refused to drink them. The soldiers relied on coffee before and after marches,

while on patrol, and even during combat. This ritual and warmth fostered camaraderie
and provided much-needed boosts of energy, a break, and a simple reprieve.
While Redwater Legion does not find itself at the center of a battle, it brings
home the sense of closeness and community that comes from wrapping hands around
a hot cup of coffee and sharing a togetherness three mornings a week.