Hezzie Griffis American Legion Post 30 launched a monthly Veterans Coffee Hour on Sept. 12 with a simple goal: create a gathering that was lively, social and easy to drop into. No formal program, just coffee, music and a roomful of veterans enjoying one another's company. It worked.

Veterans who had never met struck up conversations, old friends caught up, and the laughter was loud enough to be heard outside the Edgefield Welcome Center. When the hour was over, people weren't in much of a hurry to leave. Someone compared the atmosphere to a cocktail party except with coffee. A coffee party.

Post 30 member John Sherry hosted the inaugural gathering, with help from Adrienne Pixley, Dave Coates and Samantha McClure. Sherry got a surprise of his own when his friend and fellow Marine Beau Dunbar and his wife drove from Louisiana to Edgefield just to attend and surprise him.

It was a real community event: the Edgefield Welcome Center opened its doors, Mayor Ken Durham stopped by, and Walmart Aiken on Whiskey Road provided all the coffee and necessary supplies.

Watch a video compilation of the Veterans Coffee Hour at https://www.alpost30sc.org/in-the-news/event-videos#coffee.