Dominic Mele, 49, lives with his wife, Kristi, in Painesville, Ohio. He has two children, Jacqueline and Jerad, and is a member of VFW Post 2595.

Mele served in the Army for six and a half years, a time that included deployments to Iraq and Kuwait. He spent another six and a half years in the National Guard. After more than a decade in the military, Mele sustained injuries that continue to affect him.

“I am unable to do some jobs because of my disabilities. They also impacted my first marriage, which ended in divorce,” he said. “Today, I’m married to a nurse, and she is better able to understand my health issues and work with me.”

Mele connected with VFW Accredited Service Officer Eric Drake via email to find additional assistance.

“Eric understands the law and how the ratings system works,” Mele said. “He’s top notch. Working with him was very rewarding.”

With Drake’s help, Mele received a 100% disability rating and discovered a renewed sense of purpose.

“I had been working a dead-end job, but I wanted to make something of myself and do better for my family,” Mele said. “Eric’s knowledge inspired me to become a VFW Accredited Service Officer.”

Mele encourages other veterans who are struggling to manage service-related conditions or to receive benefits to seek help.

“Call your local Veterans Association regional office (VARO),” he said. “There are very knowledgeable VFW Accredited Service Officers ready and willing to assist you.”

Learn more about the VFW’s National Veterans Service (NVS) program.

Bonnie J. Gibbs lives in Detroit, Michigan, with her husband, Maurice, and their two children, Brittany and Willie.

After starting work as a secretary for the Vietnam Veterans of America in 1997, she transitioned to being a full-time VFW Accredited Service Officer with the VFW.

Gibbs spends her days assisting veterans and their spouses as they navigate the VA system.

“One of my biggest challenges is getting veterans to understand how it works,” she said. “It’s really complicated sometimes.

“A typical day for me is working in the field. I’m always in a different location. My day usually begins with walk-in appointments, and then I’ll take phone calls in between those.”

Gibbs says her favorite part of the job is seeing clients’ faces when they finally get their VA disability claims approved.

“It makes me feel wonderful!” she said. “I’m so glad I have the chance to help them.”

Learn more about the VFW’s National Veterans Service (NVS) program.

Nathaniel Juarez is a member of VFW Post 8116. He lives in Cape Canaveral, Florida, with his wife, Amelia, and their three children, Carolina, Nathaniel Jr. and Alexander.

After serving in the Air Force for 13 years, he transferred to the Space Force. Today, Senior Master Sgt. Juarez is the senior enlisted leader for Assured Access to Space. He oversees the intelligence operations responsible for safeguarding 22,000 personnel across Space Launch Delta (SLD) 45 and SLD 30.

His family inspired him to enlist when he was younger.

“My grandfather was in the Army and is a Vietnam veteran. My mother, stepfather and uncle were also in the Army, and I saw how proud they were to have served,” Juarez said. “They are the reason I decided to apply for the Air Force at the age of 17. I graduated from high school in June 2007 and was enrolled in basic training in July.”

Juarez heard about the VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” while he was stationed in South Korea.

“A supervisor told me about it because I was taking so many classes that I ran out of tuition assistance but wasn’t able to pay out of pocket for additional classes,” he said.

Juarez is grateful to the donors who provided the financial aid that allowed him to pursue and obtain his Doctorate of Information Technology from Walden University.

“You are the reason I was able to get on the right path,” he said. “This scholarship catapulted me forward. I am extremely grateful.”

Juarez is still on active duty with the Space Force and plans on continuing his military career.

“I want to apply for the astronaut program now that I have completed my doctorate, which has allowed me to work as a part-time professor,” he said. “I’m enjoying being on the instructor side. But in the future, I want to be part of a company that does space debris cleanup.”

Juarez encourages other veterans to use what they learned in the military to chase their own dreams.

“Your skillset and life experiences will help you because you’ll have a unique viewpoint,” he said. “Keep taking steps toward your goal, and you’ll achieve it.”

Learn more about the VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship.”

Linda Eshenbaugh, 66, has lived in Sarver, Pennsylvania, her whole life. She has been married for 48 years and has three sons, James, Matthew and Iraq War veteran Christopher. Growing up, Eshenbaugh’s brothers were Marines, and she spent many summers in the Carolinas where they were stationed.

Today, as VFW Accredited Claims Consultant and supervisor of the Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs regional office, she takes great care in serving veterans.

“When you realize [a claim] could be me or my son or my dad or brother, it makes a big difference in my work,” she said.

Eshenbaugh oversees the hiring of VFW Accredited Service Officers and aims to run a smooth, productive office. Within a six-month period, she and her team figured out how to increase efficiencies to accommodate 100 veterans a month. Eshenbaugh provides “tailored guidance” to the individuals she helps.

“I value personalized experiences and understanding each veteran. I want to provide the right information to rate their claims correctly and get the results they deserve,” she said.

Eshenbaugh has learned how to read the ratings and the requirements from the VA to help veterans receive a positive rating. After an award or denial, she reviews the case to see if there’s anything more she can do. Sometimes, this includes providing information to veterans about state benefits they aren’t aware of. On other occasions, she represents them during a hearing.

“My biggest challenge is when the veteran can’t get a second opinion for a specific condition, such as hearing loss. That’s when I go looking for an expert who will review the case, examine the veteran and give an opinion. Not many doctors want to do that,” she said.

Recently, Eshenbaugh assisted a widow who filed a claim with another organization. After more than a year, she still had no answers. With help from her co-worker Angela Johns, Eshenbaugh quickly helped the woman receive an award during an overwhelming time.

“This work is very rewarding, especially when clients thank me and tell me how this has changed their lives,” she said. “Plus, I get to work with wonderful people.”

In fall 2024, Eshenbaugh was nominated for Service Officer of the Year in the state of Pennsylvania. She is a life member of the VFW Auxiliary and enjoys attending VFW-sponsored events and socializing with veterans.

“When I help veterans,” she said, “I feel happy.”

Learn more about the VFW’s National Veterans Service (NVS) program.

When torrential rainfall in early July caused devastating flash floods to rip through Kerrville, Texas, fellow VFW Post 5480 members in Madisonville, Kentucky, sprang to action.

Separated by nearly 1,000 miles, Post 5480 members held a donation drive throughout the month that culminated with $25,000 toward the Kerrville Relief Fund, with an additional $4,000 for its local VFW Post 1480 on July 21.

“The impact of the events motivated us to take decisive action,” said Post 5480 Quartermaster James Werfelman. “Our Post’s donation drive was a testament to the power of community spirit in response to the devastating events in Kerrville.”

On July 4, heavy rain caused the Guadalupe River to rise 36 feet, severely impacting Kerr County, Texas. The flash floods left 119 people dead and caused additional destruction to property and infrastructure, from which the county continues to recover.

“We were blessed to have been able to hopefully relieve some burden, though we know no amount of money can make up for the loss these families have experienced,” Werfelman said. “We pray these families find peace in their time of need and hope they know they have love and support from their brothers and sisters across the country.”

On July 18, VFW Post 2205 in Denton, Texas, got a call from Bobby Maes, an Army veteran of VFW Post 10460 and employee of the Denton-based homeless shelter Our Daily Bread. Maes was calling out to any local VFW Posts that could help assist the shelter that day – it was more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside and the shelter was low on bottled water.

Tim Middleton, commander of Post 2205, answered the call and began to reach out to other veteran-affiliated organizations in the area, including other VFW Posts to help assist with gathering water.

“There’s a lot of connective tissue with each organization in North Texas,” Middleton said.

He went to Sam’s Club and picked up 10 large cases of water, enough to cover his entire truck bed.

“We had to move quickly,” Middleton said. “It was becoming dangerously hot outside.”

Our Daily Bread is a “low-barrier” homeless shelter, meaning there are fewer obstacles for admission. The shelter also has priorities for past military service members, with 10 beds in the facility being dedicated to homeless veterans.

Middleton and Maes were successful in delivering the water to the shelter on time.

“We had the resources, we had the capability,” Middleton said. “Being able to address the immediate need was very fulfilling for our organization.”

Post 2205 and Our Daily Bread share a “strong bond,” according to Middleton. The Post provides a quarterly donation to the shelter, continuing to help homeless veterans in any way they can.

VFW Post 4575 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, held a Jeep and 4×4 show in July at the local Hop Springs Brewery – an event that members hope to turn into an annual tradition.

The show was put together by the Post’s Auxiliary, and showcased Jeeps, along with Broncos and other similar off-roading vehicles. The event was held on July 26 and was open to the public. VFW Post 4575 Quartermaster Jerry Stewart says a couple hundred people attended the event.

“It means a lot,” said Stewart about the car show. “It gets us connected with the community and shows that not only does the Auxiliary support the Post, but also that the Post supports the Auxiliary and the community.”

The event also hosted live music from local bands, as well as a silent auction, food trucks and an open bar, provided by the brewery. Local Murfreesboro vendors also came to sell various goods and wares.

Stewart hopes to see the event expand over the next few years.

“We had a late start on planning the event,” he said. “However, with this being the first year, it can only grow with time.”

Along with the car show, the Post also began an annual cook-out at the Tennessee State Veterans Home in Murfreesboro this year. The Post also holds an annual Memorial Day 5k Ruck March, as well as supports the Rutherford County Recovery Fest and the Student Veterans of America Chapter at Middle Tennessee State University.

This article is featured in the 2025 August issue of Checkpoint. If you’re a VFW member and don’t currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at magazine@vfw.org.

Members of VFW Post 56 in Leavenworth, Kansas, carried out this year’s fourth annual VFW National Day of Service project on May 3 at a local housing facility for veterans and civilians with severe and/or permanent mental health disabilities.

Volunteers gathered at Marion Apartments, a 10-unit facility owned by the nonprofit regional branch of Mental Health of America, where they cleaned the property and added new plants to the garden in hopes of creating a peaceful, healing space for residents.

“The reaction from their people was so amazing,” said VFW Post 56 Commander Jamie Cox. “They joined in with us and helped rebuild their gardens and plant vegetables for consumption.”

Cox, a Navy veteran who became the first female commander at Post 56 in May, is familiar with the needs and concerns of Marion Apartment residents, having worked closely with them as a housing specialist and case manager.

“Most of the people who live there suffer from food insecurity,” Cox said. “I am there weekly for my regular job, and the vegetables are definitely being eaten. They always ask when they see me if we can come cook for them again.”

The Post’s commitment to those living on the margins of society, according to Cox, exemplifies the VFW’s core values of bringing veterans and their communities together to work and uplift one another.

“Those we serve love the social interaction and working with our members,” Cox said. “More than one expressed their gratitude for not being forgotten about. They feel seen and valued. Our members get to perform acts of service, and we love doing that.”

Cox added that continuing to participate in these annual VFW National Day of Service projects also amplifies the Post’s visibility within the community, as it resonated with dozens of local volunteers who joined members in beautifying Marion Apartments this year.

“The event was widely talked about for weeks after,” Cox said. “We were humbled and grateful for our community’s support when we asked for volunteers. These projects in our community benefit everyone.”

This article is featured in the 2025 August issue of Checkpoint. If you’re a VFW member and don’t currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at magazine@vfw.org.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Carol Whitmore of Des Moines, Iowa, was elected today as the new national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), a congressionally chartered veterans service organization comprised of approximately 1 million eligible combat veterans and military service members from all six branches of the armed forces.

“Standing here today, surrounded by such incredible people – fellow veterans, families and friends – I am filled with a deep sense of pride and humility,” said Whitmore during her acceptance speech. “This is not just a recognition of me, but of all the men and women who have served in our armed forces.”

Whitmore’s election as the VFW’s 117th commander-in-chief occurred at the conclusion of the organization’s 126th National Convention in Columbus, Ohio. More than 10,000 members of the VFW and its Auxiliary converged on the city to conduct the business of the organization, recognize individuals and organizations for excellence and to elect new leadership for the 2025 – 2026 year.

Whitmore is the first woman elected to lead the more than 125-year-old organization. She delivered remarks to those attending in person at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and watching via livestreaming video.

“When I think back on my journey, I am sure it was just like many others – my reality is not necessarily the VFW reality,” said Whitmore. “But I was driven by a sense of duty, a desire to serve something greater than myself. And little did I know that decision would shape me in ways I could never have imagined.”

Enlisting in the Women’s Army Corps in 1977, Carol’s 36-year military career was marked by significant milestones, from integrating with men into the regular Army to becoming an Army nurse and later serving as a first sergeant for her unit while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was there that she earned her VFW eligibility. In recognition of her service, she received the Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal (six), Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (two), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Non-Commissioned Professional Development Ribbon (three), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (three), Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device and the Combat Action Badge.

“As we look to the future, I believe that the strength of our veteran community is our greatest asset. We have so much to offer,” said Whitmore. “We have lived through adversity, we have faced challenges that many can’t even imagine and we’ve come out on the other side stronger. It’s because of that strength that we are still serving our communities and our nation.”

She joined the VFW in 2012 at Post 9127 in Des Moines, Iowa, where she maintains her Gold Legacy Life membership. She has served in elected and appointed positions at the Post, District and Department levels, culminating with her election as the VFW Department of Iowa Commander from 2018 to 2019, in which she achieved All-American status. On the national level, she served on the Legislative Committee, the General Resolutions Committee and on the National Council of Administration from 2019 to 2023. In 2022, she was elected as designee for National VFW Commander-in-Chief for the year 2025, becoming the first woman and first Iowan to hold the position. She is also a life member of the Military Order of the Cootie, the VFW National Home, and the American Legion and its Auxiliary.

During the speech, Whitmore emphasized legislative advocacy as a priority for her year, with a focus on fighting to get Congress to grant concurrent receipt for select combat-injured veterans through the Major Richard Star Act.

“Through advocacy, our legislative efforts need to be resolute,” said Whitmore. “The [Major] Richard Star Act must pass this year. This effort was started in 2004, and the bill has repeatedly and shamelessly been voted down. Let’s get this done already. Honor the Contract!”

Whitmore also spoke passionately about the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) mission and the key diplomatic role the VFW played in Southeast Asia during the early 1990s.

“More than 30 years ago, it was VFW Vietnam War veterans who led the mission back to the country that cost them so much to extend a hand of peace to their former adversaries,” said Whitmore. “This tremendously brave effort opened U.S. relations with Vietnam and access to the country so DPAA could find and bring home our comrades who were missing in action.”

In addition to Whitmore, other national officers elected were Cory Geisler, an Iraq War veteran from the Department of Wisconsin, as senior vice commander-in-chief, and Glenn Umberger Jr., from the Department of Pennsylvania, who is also a veteran from Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, as junior vice commander-in-chief. The final day of the convention also saw Adjutant General Dan West and Quartermaster General Marc Garduno reassume their posts.

“I may be the first veteran to have been elected VFW commander-in-chief while wearing a dress … the first female veteran, but I will not be the last,” said Whitmore. “And as I have said while campaigning, I am your sister by mud, by blood, by dust, by dirt, by sand, by land, by sea, by air … I am a veteran first.”

Carol, a retired nurse, attended the University of Northern Iowa and Hawkeye Community College. She and her husband, Brad, reside in Des Moines, Iowa.

Watch or read Whitmore’s acceptance speech.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Humana announced today the successful Uniting to Combat Hunger & Homelessness (UTCH) program will officially be known as the ‘Uniting for Veterans’ program moving forward. This change reflects the programs’ ever-expanding scope and the VFW and Humana’s united commitment to addressing the diverse and evolving needs of the military and veteran communities.

In addition to announcing the program’s name change, leaders highlighted the support it has provided over the last year. UTCH raised more than 800,000 meals and 325 nights of housing for homeless veterans, shared Cara Brown, Director of Key Relationships for Humana’s MarketPoint, and Al Lipphardt, VFW National Commander, during the 126th VFW National Convention Joint Opening Session today.

The newly named Uniting for Veterans program will offer greater flexibility in providing comprehensive assistance beyond its initial focus on food insecurity and housing. This includes a broader array of support tailored to help increase its VFW Posts and Auxiliaries’ impact in their local veteran communities.

“Our military and veteran communities are incredibly diverse, and their needs are constantly changing. While hunger and homelessness remain critical issues, we recognize the necessity to adapt our program to offer additional support as necessary,” said VFW National Commander Al Lipphardt. “The Uniting for Veterans name change better suits our ever-expanding mission and dedication to provide responsive and comprehensive assistance through our Posts and Auxiliaries that truly adapts with the needs of our veterans and their families.”

Humana, the VFW’s long-standing ally in this vital initiative since UTCH’s inception in 2018, expressed enthusiasm for the program’s evolution.

“At Humana, we are proud to stand with the VFW in this important transition. The Uniting for Veterans program will allow us to collectively address a wider spectrum of needs and help improve quality of life for America’s military and veteran families,” Brown said. “This enhanced flexibility ensures our combined efforts continue to make a profound, positive impact on the lives of those who have served and their loved ones.”

The VFW encourages all members and the public to learn more about the expanded Uniting for Veterans program and to support its vital mission at vfw.org/UnitingforVeterans.

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