“Since the beginning, VFW Post 9126 decided we wanted to provide a healing and safe environment for veterans,” said State Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster Andrea Melcher.
The Post, located in Glenpool, Oklahoma, is making good on its promise through its wealth of programs, resources and general willingness to do whatever it takes to help a veteran in need.
“We have spent countless hours repairing vehicles, homes and trailers for needy and disabled veterans,” said Melcher. “We even rebuilt a camper for a homeless veteran and their family living in a dangerous situation.
“And many members have provided transportation to and from VA appointments, VFW meetings and events or simply helped a veteran with a ride to the grocery store.”
In addition to these acts of kindness, VFW Post 9126 has created programming to address mental health within the local veteran population. At Warrior’s Night, veterans are invited to network with one another to build trust and develop friendships in a safe and controlled environment.
The Post also established Warrior’s Hope, a 12-week program designed to help veterans and their families who are affected by Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and moral injuries.
“Every one of us has answered the call and gone to war. But what happens when you get home? The U.S. military has the best training programs in the world! For some of us, that button didn’t switch from ‘on’ to ‘off’ when we came home,” explained Melcher.
“This doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. You’re doing what you were trained to do. It’s our goal to help give veterans struggling with PTS or a moral injury a new mission and to set them on a new path. In the military, you had battle buddies that had your six. We want to create places for veterans to meet new battle buddies!”
Post Commander John L. Shimp agrees. It comes down to being there for one another.
“To me, the VFW means hard work, late hours, blood, sweat and tears. However, it also means comradeship,” said Shimp. “It’s that feeling when you’ve done a good job, but it’s more than that because you’ve done a good job helping out your fellow veterans and your community, and what’s better than that?”
Through all its efforts, the Post strives to bring together veterans from all generations to let them know they are part of a community – one that they can turn to in good times and bad. The VFW is proud to honor the members of Post 9126, who are #StillServing in such important ways.