VFW Post 1963 Auxiliary hosted their annual “Adopt-a-Troop” program on April 18, and this year’s recipients are the 180th Engineers in Somalia, East Africa.
During a livestreamed video conference with the adopted unit’s soldiers, Auxiliary members asked questions about their work in Somalia. Without disclosing any sensitive information, the soldiers answered the questions, which ranged from the type of food the soldiers are eating to the interactions they are having with the Somalian people.
VFW Post 1963 Auxiliary President Peggy Moore shared about the event, “This is one of the first Adopt-a-Troops where we were able to video call with the whole platoon. We got to meet each platoon member, find out their job, where they are from, and learn about a typical day– from getting up in the morning until the end of their day.” She added, “It was amazing to be able to talk to them in Somalia with no downtime.”
As part of a fundraising effort in support of this program, the Auxiliary members sold t-shirts and also plan to provide each soldier in the 180th Engineers unit with two of those shirts. Additionally, the unit was also given the monetary equivalent of two months of service with Starlink, which is the internet provider soldiers often use to communicate with their families and loved ones during active duty.
As is the case each year, the 2026 “Adopt-a-Troop” recipients have local ties to Sea Isle City. Lieutenant Nate Cossaboon, of 180th Engineers is from Sea Isle City, where his parents and grandparents also live. Nate’s great grandfather was Commander of Post 1963, and his mother and grandmother are both Auxiliary members.
During the ceremony on April 18, Lieutenant Cossaboon’s parents, Michelle and Steve Cossaboon, unveiled a framed tribute honoring this year’s recipients, which will be displayed inside the Post 1963 all year. The Auxiliary also presented a matching framed tribute to the Cossaboon family.
Sea Isle’s VFW Post 1963 has the largest and most active auxiliary in the State of New Jersey. In addition to their community outreach programs, the group also hosts an annual POW-MIA Ceremony in September, an annual Christmas Caravan to the New Jersey Veteran’s Home in Vineland, and other efforts to raise funds and awareness for their mission of serving our nation’s veterans and active-duty military members. For more information, visit vfwauxillary1963.com or email pllrnmoore@gmail.com.
