Two members of American Legion Palisades Post 283 drove to San Diego early Saturday morning to set up a video game demonstration for the organization’s top leader.

National Commander Daniel J. Seehafer was attending San Diego Post 731’s “Be the One” symposium, which included a weekend of panel discussions and other events organized around membership, post revitalization and veteran suicide prevention.

The Department of California Gaming Committee was invited to set up video games alongside other booths. Post 283’s gaming committee, chaired by Jared Morgan, and the Department Committee, chaired by Andre Andrews, were on hand with a video game kit, which they set up in Post 731’s bar next to its pool table.

“In theory, you can look at video games the same way you would pool tables,” Adrews said. “A pool table is a centerpiece that brings people together. Video games can do the same thing for American Legion posts.”

Among the day’s video game offerings, a Meta Quest 3 mixed reality headset was on hand and placed on the national commander’s head, treating him to First Encounters, a game that pits you against round, fuzzy aliens that invade your surroundings. The national commander was so immersed in the game, he didn’t want to take off the headset. His aide, Mike Rohan, had to remind him several times when it was time to go.

“I’m your reality, commander,” Rohan said. To which, Seehafer responded by pointing the joystick at Rohan and pulling the trigger. Luckily for Rohan, the ray gun Seehafer possessed wasn’t lethal, but merely a device used to gather up the benign aliens.

Nonetheless, Seehafer bid the Gaming Committee farewell and inquired about the headset and its model name. Andrews said he’d gift one to the national commander if he agreed to play with the California Gaming Committee once a quarter, to which the commander happily agreed.