Now, as commander of Post 958, on Main Street, he wants to continue the organization’s long-running outreach to the community. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Johnson recounted, the post offered monetary help to its members who were affected by the storm while they were waiting for insurance money.

Another one of his goals, Johnson said, is to increase the post’s membership. There are currently around 180 members, but he believes there should be more. “There are a lot of young men and women coming home now from different services,” he said, “and we’d like to see … if they could be active in the American Legion.”

Johnson, who has four grown sons, retired last year after 41 years of working for the New York City Transit Authority.

The East Rockaway American Legion is sponsoring a children’s Christmas party in December, and is collecting toys for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. For more information, call the post at (516) 599-9580.