If one were to look at communities across the country, the overwhelming image that presents itself is that veterans outnumber non-military civilians in voting booths and volunteering missions.

The notion that veterans interact and insert themselves into community volunteer opportunities more than non-military civilians despite little recognition for their involvement gained merit with a new civic health survey published last November.

“There’s a narrative out there, where veterans hear that they’re broken or that they need help,” said Mary Beth Bruggeman, president of The Mission Continues, one of the many veteran-based nonprofits behind the survey. “Organizations like ours exist to remind [veterans] that while they may need some help, in fact, the community needs [their] help.”

The report, which surveyed more than 60,000 U.S. households, accentuated prior findings by civic health studies that showed veterans engage at a higher rate across an array of community activities and volunteer opportunities throughout the country.

Some of the data gathered from the survey showed that veterans, on average, accrue 95 hours of volunteer work in a year, which is 21 hours more than non-veterans. The survey also showed that veterans are more likely to register as voters than their counterparts by a margin of 75 percent to 70 percent.

Across the U.S., 37 percent of all veterans belong to a group or organization striving to help better its community, while only 27 percent of non-veterans partake in similar opportunities, according to the study.

The report notes: “In almost all measures, veterans, old and young, were more civically healthy than non-veterans.”

Compiled with extensive research from the National Conference on Citizenship in concert with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the report also states that “the civilian population has not always recognized the veterans’ population at large as an asset to communities and too often focus on the challenges that some veterans face.”

Set to denounce a narrative that all veterans carry physical and psychological burdens that impair their ability to continue serving, the report stresses that “they are not the only narratives” for veterans in post-military life.

The civic health report’s conclusion recommends that civic leaders not only help veterans, but “recruit, empower and leverage” them into community improvement efforts, where their skills
and leadership can flourish.

“Challenge veterans to lead at work and in the community,” the report states. “These are the men and women who volunteered to fight our nation’s longest war. Recognize their desire and skills to serve and actively recruit, and engage them in making an impact in communities.”

This article is featured in the April 2022 issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., senior writer for VFW magazine.

When construction began in early 2021 on a housing complex for veterans in Jonesboro, Arkansas, members of VFW Post 1991 wanted to offer help for the veterans and their families when they moved into the facilities.

In addition to assisting veterans, it was a way, Post Commander Robert Murphy said, to aid in improving the VFW’s image as an organization that provides many services.

“It’s not just a bar where veterans share old stories,” said Murphy, a 23-year Army veteran who served from 1975 to 1998. “The canteen plays a role for our members, but there’s so much more that we do.”

Since taking over as the commander three years ago, Murphy has overseen the distribution of bi-monthly food boxes to veterans’ families, donations of toys for Christmas and help with utility bills. Murphy also has worked to distribute supplies to the homeless and developed a program to provide service dogs to veterans.

“We know veterans are struggling,” he said.

Post 1991 members soon focused on the Jonesboro Veterans Village project.

90 DAYS OF FREE RENT
Armed with a $100,000 Federal Cares Act grant, the Post’s 413 members first offered to buy furnishings and appliances for the nine houses built on an acre of land near downtown Jonesboro. But another civic organization decided to do that, purchasing couches, tables, chairs, washers, dryers and other electrical appliances.

“We didn’t want to duplicate efforts,” said Murphy, who retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3. “We knew of veterans who were struggling. They were trying to get back on their feet. We thought, ‘What is a good way to help them?’ “

The Post’s members opted to buy a year’s worth of cleaning supplies for each of the nine homes. That would free up veterans’ money for food and utility bills, Murphy said.

Workers finished building the homes near the corner of Aggie Road and Allis Street just east of the downtown area in late summer of 2021.

Much of the funding came from the National Housing Trust Fund Program. Private donations also were received, and Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge donated $250,000 to complete the Jonesboro Veterans Village.

There are seven 550-squarefoot, one-bedroom homes and two 950-square foot, two-bedroom homes on the complex. They were placed in a horseshoe shape on the lot with sidewalks and a pavilion in the center. At the southern edge of the lot is a community center. The entire project is surrounded by black fencing.

Veterans selected to live there are given 90 days of free rent and assistance in finding jobs. It is the only housing project of its kind in Arkansas and one of only a few in the midsouth.

Already, officials in Little Rock and Fayetteville have shown interest in replicating the Jonesboro model and building similar complexes in their Arkansas cities.

“Housing is a key for some veterans,” said Lynda Nash, the director of the Beck Pride Center at Arkansas State University, a program aimed at helping northeast Arkansas veterans.

Nash also worked on securing funding for the housing project.

“Some [veterans] live in cars,” she said. “Others are homeless. We wanted to give them something nice.”

‘THE HARDEST PART WAS ASKING FOR HELP’
There were delays in getting veterans into the homes, Murphy said. The Department of Housing seemed to often change its housing regulations, and the process to apply for a home was slow.

Then, on Sept. 13, 2021, someone broke into several of the homes and stole clothes, washers and dryers, furnishings and other items. Insurance covered the losses, but it further delayed the opening.

Finally, in late December, the first three veterans moved into houses.

“This is amazing,” Mark Freeman, a Marine who served in Japan from 1998 to 2003, said of the homes.

Freeman lived in Bono, Arkansas, a small, neighboring community of Jonesboro, until he got into a dispute with his landlord. The apartment owner locked him out of his place, and Freeman ended up living in his car.

“The hardest part was asking for help,” Freeman said.

Jeremy Wells, a Navy veteran who served from 1999 to 2010, moved into the village on Dec. 21. Someone had broken into his home in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, twice in early December, stealing everything, “including the trash,” he said. Wells was then homeless and without a car – the thief made off with his vehicle as well. He went to the emergency room at a Walnut Ridge hospital shortly after, complaining of stomach pains.

He was later released and began walking in the frigid December night toward Jonesboro, some 25 miles away.

“I was freezing my butt off,” Wells said. “But I had nowhere to go.”

He called an acquaintance who picked him up, and then he called VFW Post 1991 in Jonesboro. Within a day, Post members helped place Wells into a home at the village. He set a small Christmas tree atop his stereo for the holiday season.

‘THE VFW HAS HELPED GREATLY’
Jeffery Hill Sr., of Texarkana, Arkansas, was the first to move into the village. Hill is a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1978 to 1983 with the 82nd Airborne Division.

He had lived in a hotel in southwestern Arkansas, paying $2,000 a month.

He had relatives in Jonesboro and visited them briefly before being treated at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, for a knee injury. Two days after his release from the center, he was admitted into the Jonesboro housing village.

“It’s a blessing,” he said. “I got stuck in motels. I was depressed and I couldn’t find my way out.”

There are nearly 6,000 veterans living in Craighead County, which includes Jonesboro, said Larry Pierce, a VA service officer for the county.

Pierce, a Life member of VFW Post 2242 in Paragould, Arkansas, served with the 2nd Marine Brigade in Korea in 1968 and 1969. He later served with a Marine liaison brigade in Cambodia in the 1970s. A former sergeant, Pierce said he suffers from post traumatic stress disorder now.

“I’ve got what they’ve got,” he said of the veterans he helps with applying for disability, resumes, job applications and other services. He estimates there are between 75 and 100 homeless veterans in Jonesboro.

“There is a strong need in this county,”

Pierce said. “The VFW has helped greatly.”

The projects, including the Veterans Village, have helped restore the image of VFW Post 1991. Several years ago, a civic organization with a club across Airport Road from the Post was the scene of a small riot. Police were called and the club eventually was closed, and the organization suspended.

Although the fracas did not involve VFW members, the Post was included in talks about the incident because of its proximity to the club.

“We had the reputation then of just being a bar,” said Post 1991 member Ira Brown, a 22-year veteran of the Navy who was a chief petty aviation and electrician officer during two tours in Vietnam. “We’re not that way at all.”

The 83-year-old Brown says the inclusion of new veterans from the Gulf War has helped keep the Post young.

“We relied on Korean and Vietnam veterans for so long,” he said. “We were getting old. The new ones came in and we started seeing changes.”

REGAINING A SENSE OF PURPOSE
Mark Davis, commander of VFW’s Department of Arkansas and Life member of Post 1991, said a lot of the Post’s work goes unnoticed. Each year, the members give a $30,000 college scholarship to a high school essay writer.

They also hold a motorcycle ride to collect Christmas toys for veterans’ families. Finally, in late December, the first and give away turkeys for the holidays. The Post’s Auxiliary bakes and sells goods each Christmas as a fundraiser.

“Our motto is, ‘We’re the last to let you down,'” said Davis, who served in the Navy for 14 years as a chief petty officer and then with the Army for 12 years as a master sergeant.

“I don’t want to see a veteran in need,” he said. “I’m going to do everything I can to get you back on your feet.”

Some veterans have a hard time adjusting to civilian life, leading to problems, Murphy said.

“There’s such a sense of purpose in uniform,” he said. “You make life and death decisions when you’re 18 or 19. You come back here and there’s nothing. You lose that sense of purpose.”

More are expected to move into the village. Eventually, officials want to see the nine homes filled with veterans continuously.

After a warm welcome home from the Gulf War, veterans are now forgotten and must fend for themselves, Murphy said.

“The veterans of today are now experiencing what the Vietnam veterans did when they first came home,” he said.

“When I came home from the Navy, no one was waiting at the pier for me,” Wells added. “Here [at the village], I’ve made friends.”

This article is featured in the April 2022 issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Kenneth Heard. Heard is a former newspaper and television reporter based in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He currently is the media information director for the Craighead County (Arkansas) Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

When a new Orange Heart Memorial sprouted on the fertile grounds of the Springfield Memorial Gardens in Tennessee last year, the 532 names inscribed on the bronze cenotaphs humbled Ken Gamble.

Each name, that of a Vietnam War veteran, presented Gamble, a Vietnam War veteran himself, with another reason to continue his mission to honor those who fight, and those who fought and succumbed to the devilish effects of Agent Orange.

Representing the Orange Heart Medal Foundation, a Springfield, Tenn.-based nonprofit Gamble started in 2018, the brown-water Navy veteran stood at the Orange Heart Memorial’s unveiling ceremony on Veterans Day last year and remembered the journey of Kenneth Webb.

Webb, a Vietnam War veteran from California, had sent an application to have his name added to one of the bronze cenotaphs. He, like Gamble, had fought Agent Orange side effects for decades since their exposure to the herbicide.

“He told me he would love to come in for the dedication after getting his name on the memorial,” recalled Gamble, a Life member of VFW Post 2120 in Greenbrier, Tennessee, about 8 miles from Springfield. “But he told me he would have to catch a train because his doctor said he couldn’t fly in his condition.”

What Webb left out was that he had been living in a hospice, fighting daily to keep from going gently without completing his final mission in life. He later confessed to Gamble that he had gotten an Iraq War veteran to get him out of the hospice and help him get on a plane for Nashville, where he then caught a train to Springfield.

“He was staying at this hotel in town until the ceremony, but he never made it,” Gamble said. “He passed out in his hotel and was rushed to the hospital, where we picked him up to take him to see the memorial.”

It was in Webb’s private moment that Gamble witnessed the visceral impact his Orange Heart Medal Foundation and the newly sprouted memorial had on those suffering from the long-lasting effects of Agent Orange exposure.

“I remember him tracking his name down and touching it,” Gamble said. “He told us this had been his last mission and then he broke down and cried. He had to miss the ceremony and return to California. He died three days later.”

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT
For Gamble, the Orange Heart Memorial was a labor of love and duty that came from a VFW Post 2120 meeting in the spring of 2019 that welcomed Kentuckian Kathy Diel, who promoted an idea to put a stone in every state to recognize veterans.

She was a guest of Gamble’s, whose creation of the Orange Heart Medal Foundation had gathered nationwide buzz for its mission to bring recognition for veterans who were affected by exposure to Agent Orange.

Gamble, who fought past radiation and chemotherapy at VA hospitals for prostate cancer as a result of his exposure, took on the gargantuan responsibility of serving as a voice for Vietnam War veterans suffering from Agent Orange.

His foundation, which is made up of six veteran boar funds to honor veterans suffering from Agent Orange exposure by awarding them an Orange Heart Medal that resembles a Purple Heart.

“You would not believe the amount of emails I get every day from veterans or, sadly, their widows thanking me for what we’re doing,” Gamble said. “They are extremely grateful just to have someone recognize them and their fight against Agent Orange.”

The medals, which are legally recognized in Alabama and Tennessee, with the proposal on the voting floor in South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, California, Hawaii, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri, have been shipped to more than 8,000 Agent Orange victims and their spouses to date. But Gamble wanted to expand his mission, thus bringing Diel to the Post 2120 meeting in hopes of finding his next task.

“She did her presentation, and it led to us deciding to instead make it a memorial here in town,” Gamble said. “I reached out to our local Legacy Group Funeral Home, and they offered us a plot of land as well as offering to do all the foundation for it, flagpoles and placing flags on those flagpoles. They even offered to do the memorial’s maintenance for us.”

‘WE’RE DYING AT A RATE OF 557 A DAY’
The first phase of the memorial, which exceeded $37,900 in costs that did not include the Legacy Group Funeral Home’s labor donations, was unveiled on Veterans Day 2021 in front of thousands of people from across the country who found their way to Springfield Memorial Gardens.

From Vietnam War veterans to their families, friends, local residents and friends of the foundation, the crowd huddled around the first of what Gamble believes to be many sections soon to be added to the memorial.

“The first phase was made of bronze cenotaphs, each one having 60 names of not just Vietnam War veterans that made it back home, but we also added orange hearts to those suffering from Agent Orange.”

The second phase, which is slated to unveil on March 29 to coincide with Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day, will set the precedent for years to come, according to Gamble’s proposed plan.

“We want to start hosting ceremonies to unveil new phases of the memorial on Vietnam Veterans Day from here on out,” Gamble added. “We currently have 532 names on there, and we expect it to keep growing.”

Through his time at the helm of his foundation, Gamble also has worked continuously over the last three years with a filmmaker from Florida on a documentary exposing the effects of Agent Orange. From testimonials to recent scientific studies conducted at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Gamble hopes the documentary can amplify the voice of awareness and extend its reach for Agent Orange victims everywhere.

“Look, we’re dying at a rate of 557 veterans a day, so we’re dying fast,” Gamble said of Agent Orange victims. “We don’t have a lot of time, so we have to keep fighting to raise awareness for these veterans.”

Gamble encourages those wanting to apply for an Orange Heart Medal or add a Vietnam War veteran’s name to the Orange Heart Memorial at Springfield Memorial Gardens to visit the foundation’s website at www.orangeheartmedal.org.

This article is featured in the 2022 March issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., senior writer for the VFW magazine.

No matter the time of year, when you check the calendar of VFW Post 10804, you are sure to find something worthwhile. Located in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the Post hosts regular functions and is almost always raising funds for a good cause. Members can also be spotted in the community building connections and giving back through other engagements.

It is important to Commander Mike Mishoe that the Post reflects its members. He encourages each of them to play an active role, saying, “This is your Post. You are an owner. Invest time and money to make it a place we all want to go and share time with comrades, auxiliary, guests and friends.”

Members have ample opportunity to take Mishoe up on this. Each week, the Post hosts several meals to bring people together for good food and company. Other monthly activities further build comradery and benefit those in need. For instance, the Post often hosts fundraising events for VFW National Home and provides ongoing support to the local VA Clinic’s Veterans Needs Program.

Individuals in the community – and well beyond it – benefit from Post members’ generosity and service, too. From hosting food and coat drives to donating to a local ROTC program to sending emergency supplies to individuals in Kentucky, who were impacted by tornadoes, Post 10804 shows up.

Even during the holidays, you’ll find members putting others first. On Thanksgiving, friends and family are invited to share a meal prepared by members. And through its Angel Tree program, the Post provides gifts to children as well as veterans, who they visit at local nursing homes. Without such generosity, many of those heroes would not have holiday celebrations to enjoy.

The Post’s far-reaching service is inspiring – people want to take part in it. The numbers speak for themselves. As of this month, it met some important thresholds.

“The Post is 100% in membership. We are also number one in the state for total community service. Everyone is a key contributor in both these milestones,” said Mishoe.

VFW Post 10804 has proven it is there for veterans and the greater N. Myrtle Beach area in a variety of ways. Its devoted members are proof of the good work being done. The VFW is proud to honor Post 10804 members who are #StillServing.

If you’re a veteran with a #StillServing story to share, we want to hear from you.

The plan had consisted of a fundraiser to raise money for an operation at the Mayo Clinic on behalf of veteran Greg Crane, but things changed.

When VFW Post 280 members in Columbia, Missouri, heard that their fellow member had died on the operating table, they contacted his family to ask if they wanted to continue with the fundraiser.

Through advertising and ticket sales, Post 280 members turned the fundraiser into a celebration of life concert in January that helped raise more than $1,800 for the veteran’s family to use for funeral arrangements.

“Brandon and Megan from [music group] the Baldknobbers out of Branson, Missouri, drove three hours one way just to donate their time and talent to provide us with the entertainment,” Post 280 Quartermaster Larry Lammers said. “They’re great people.”

The concert consisted of several songs by the Baldknobbers, while 10 volunteers from the Post assisted in ticket sales at the door, as well as concessions. Upon the final performance, Lammers and Post Commander Ed Miller took the stage to present the veteran’s surviving family with the honorary donation.

“Helping others in time of need is very gratifying, and I am very thankful to have that opportunity throughout the year,” Lammers said. “It is, to me, a hidden benefit of being a member of the VFW.”

Over the last five years, VFW Post 3769 members in Pikeville, Kentucky, have weekly basked in the energetic and affable company of canines.

Dubbed “Veteran Dog Days at the Pound,” most veterans from Post 3769 took up the weekly tradition after Quartermaster Darian Hylton realized the power of canines in holistically helping veterans struggling with PTSD.

“This has directly helped seven [of our] veterans,” said Hylton, who based his decision on the book, “War Dogs: Tales of Canine Heroism, History and Love,” by Rebecca Frankel, which details how the military utilized canines, specifically during the Iraq War. “For veterans, it causes them to take care of something. It gives them a purpose again.”

While venturing into the pages of Frankel’s book in 2017, Hylton and his daughter also began visiting the local Pike County Animal Shelter weekly, where they petted and walked dogs. The more he read about therapeutic canines helping service members with PTSD, coupled with his personal experience, the more Hylton desired to invite others in sharing the experience.

Every Wednesday since, Hylton has welcomed a growing group of fellow veterans and community members into the animal shelter at roughly 10 a.m. for “Veteran Dog Days at the Pound.” The weekly event allows veterans, in particular, to connect with the canines, as well as find purpose in helping socialize them before adoption.

“Dogs have the mentality of about a 3-year-old,” Hylton said. “So with the therapeutic dogs, they [veterans] get up in the morning, feed, water and exercise them. During all of that, it’s the socialization. It’s very common for veterans with PTSD to get into plant care, and once they get comfortable with that, then they will get into other things like working with people or working with animals.”

Though the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 slowed the process of welcoming more and more volunteers to bask in the benefits of connecting with canines, Hylton is hopeful that numbers will grow steadily in years to come. He added, however, that part of the hesitance in potential volunteers falls on the perception that they must adopt upon visiting.

“A lot of people consider this too hard because they think that every dog wants to go home with them,” Hylton said. “That’s not true. Now, the big thing that the dogs like to do is to get out and be dogs – sniff the grass, sniff the trees and mark their territory. They are just happy with a visitation.”

Among the horde of Post 3769 members joining Hylton at the animal shelter each week, Vietnam War veteran Billy Ousley remains a most frequent devotee to visitation hours.

“Once I came up here with Darian, I just kind of got hooked on it,” Ousley said. “It’s fun to get them out, play and kind of socialize them a little bit. I just love dogs.”

Hylton, Ousley and other members of Post 3769 welcome any and all volunteers to the Pike County Animal Shelter for what could help propel the process towards healing in the company of loving canines. For more information, visit “VFW Post 3769 Pikeville Ky” on Facebook.

Debra Lewis vividly recalls the extra dessert placed at her table in the cavernous mess hall during her first week at West Point in 1976.

She was among the first group of women allowed to enter the military academy that year but quickly realized that not all were so welcoming.

In that medieval-like dining hall, hazing was all too common, said Lewis, commander of VFW’s Department of Hawaii. It wasn’t just the women getting hazed, of course. Male cadets were often hazed merely for talking to the female cadets. Yet there was something about that extra dessert that struck a chord in Lewis.

It turned out that Jorge Chavez, a Chilean waiter, had noticed Lewis getting especially picked on in the mess hall and was making sure she had an extra bit of sweetness at mealtime.

“It made such a difference in my life,” Lewis said. “It just takes one act of kindness to make a difference in life. At the end of my time at West Point, I presented Jorge with an engraved saber.”

Lewis, whose father also attended West Point before embarking on a prestigious Army career as a lieutenant general, had not planned to follow in her dad’s footsteps. Instead, she had her eyes on the University of Virginia, followed by medical school, where she would study to be a doctor.

However, through friends of friends, Lewis was encouraged to apply to West Point so that she could be on the equestrian team since she was an avid horseback rider. She went on to become the
riding team captain during her time at West Point.

Lewis laughed recalling how she felt she was fully prepared for West Point. That is, until the running began on day two. For Lewis, who admittedly is not a runner, it was brutal.

“It was a 2-mile run in formation but I had only prepared for 1.5 miles,” Lewis said. “I was getting very nervous. In front of me there was another woman who ran like a gazelle – she was smiling
and not breaking a sweat. The run was beyond my abilities, but what I did next changed my life. I just learned to focus on each stride.”

That lesson has been the driving force throughout Lewis’s life. It’s also a lesson she shares with others to this day as a stress management coach.

‘I LOVED WHAT I DID’
Following her time at West Point – Lewis was one of 62 women in her graduating class – she embarked on a career in the Army, which included a deployment in 2006-2007 to Iraq with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where she commanded the Central District in the Gulf Region Division.

In Iraq, Lewis led engineers in building everything from firehouses and treatment plants to schools in Baghdad and Al Anbar Provinces. She said it was “meaningful” engineering work in how it helped the people of Iraq.

“I could have never succeeded in combat if I hadn’t had all those experiences leading up to it,” she said. “I learned so much from those experiences. I may not have liked all the people I worked with, but I loved what I did. I was an engineer.”

Lewis said for her, life is about always looking ahead and looking for ways to make things better. She said that after getting knocked down, yelled at, spit at and harassed, she figured out the key is to simply get back up.

“Bad stuff happens to everyone,” she said. “Focus on what gets you through.”

After retiring from the Army in 2010 as a colonel, Lewis embarked on a career as a stress expert helping others manage life stressors. Her website, www.mentallytoughwomen.com, offers two free
online courses on stress management in addition to other resources.

Lewis made two of the courses free after COVID-19 plowed through the world in 2020. To date, the courses have helped more than 4,000 people in 119 countries.

In 2021, Lewis released a book “Why is Pono not Pono Today?” She never intended it to be for children necessarily, but it has been widely received by educators.

Set in Hawaii, Pono the bull and his friend Kuleana help adults and children alike bring out their best when stressed. A fifth-grade teacher reached out to Lewis after she shared the book with her students. She told Lewis that an autistic boy in her classroom asked if he could look at the book again after hearing it. He told his teacher he wanted to learn how to manage his emotions.

“I knew that even if I just changed one life with this book, that it was worth it,” Lewis said. “I did that.”

An online companion course to the book – “Take Your Kids from Stressed to Success” – also is available on Lewis’s website.

Lewis said she believes that a lack of stress skills holds most people back from achieving full potential. It’s particularly true, she said, in the veteran community.

“Veterans are constantly labeled with PTSD as though it’s a life sentence,” she said. “They just need ways to overcome it. We have to make people stronger. Veterans are our greatest source of strength.”

‘UNITED IN ALOHA’
In 2011, Lewis and her husband, retired Army Lt. Col. Douglass Adams, to whom she’s been married 22 years, embarked on a U.S. continental journey called “Duty, Honor, America Tour.”

Adams, also a West Point graduate, cycled his way across the country with Lewis following in an RV. The 18,000-mile trip, which crisscrossed every state, gave Lewis and Adams the chance to thank veterans and active-duty personnel as well as their families for their service.

The duo understands the sacrifices military families make in supporting their uniformed loved ones. Between the two of them, Lewis and Adams have three children – Emily Cardarelli, Douglass Adams and Theresa Adams – and one grandson, Mac Adams.

The last 222 miles of the trip was in Hawaii, where the couple decided to put down roots in Hilo on the Big Island. It was on that last leg of the journey that Lewis became acquainted with VFW Post 3830 in Pahoa, about 45 minutes from her home. In 2016, she became Post commander, a position she held for three years.

Lewis was encouraged by Department of Hawaii Quartermaster Norbert Enos to run for the position of Department junior vice commander.

After her election as Department commander last year, Lewis announced her theme, “United in Aloha.” Her logo is a shield – protection from harm.

“I chose this theme because we overcome our greatest challenges by working closely together and supporting each other with aloha,” she said. “Every organization faces leadership challenges,
and we must be up for the challenge. It’s up to me to help people armor up.”

Lewis said she and Adams find Hilo to be the “perfect community” in which to live because of the caring nature of the people there.

One example of that caring spirit is the partnership between VFW Post 3830 and the Yukio Okutso State Veterans Home in Hilo. The Post Auxiliary made fidget blankets – blankets adorned with
buttons, zippers and Velcro to keep hands busy – for the residents.

Lewis plans to finish her year as Department commander doing what she does best – helping people be the best version of themselves.

“Veterans have some of the biggest gifts to offer the community,” she said. “Together, we can lift people to be more empowered to do what they want to do in life.”

This article is featured in the 2022 March issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Janie Dyhouse, senior editor for VFW magazine.

Members of VFW Post 10380 in Green Township, Ohio, were at their recruiting best at the 161st Harvest Home Fair in September. Held in Cheviot, Ohio, a suburb near Cincinnati, the fair kicked off with a parade through the city’s downtown.

Life member Bill Ostermeyer pulled his Iwo Jima-themed float while the Post’s 2½-ton truck was packed with Post members in the parade.

Following the opening festivities, veterans filed into the fair for free. Once inside, folks flocked to the myriad booths, including one sponsored by Post 10380. Set up by VFW Post Jr. Vice Commander Ed Murphy and Joe Augustine, both Vietnam vets, the booth featured informational literature, copies of the Post newsletter and VFW Service Officer Roger Giblin on hand to answer questions.

“We had 16 Post volunteers man the booth,” Murphy said. “Bill ran a shuttle service from his house so that our members would have a place to park. He also provided pizza and drinks for our volunteers.”

Augustine said the fair drew about 300 to 400 veterans, and more than 100 of those came to the VFW booth. He said several had questions about VA compensation while others wanted more information on service projects the Post performs for the community. Post volunteers also distributed membership applications.

Post Chaplain Bob Abrams said that Murphy had requested informational pieces from the VFW Membership Department at National Headquarters to give out during the fair.

“Ed had some really good literature which talked about the different campaigns,” Abrams said. “Roger provided information about the VA’s list of presumptive afflictions related to recent medical findings and the proper way to file a claim.”

Post Commander Mike Donnelly called the event “a success.” At press time, his staff was processing paperwork for possible new members.

“It will take time to know the exact number of new members joining our Post,” Murphy said. “But people attending ‘The Biggest Little Fair in Ohio’ definitely got to know about the VFW and Post 10380.”

‘WE HAVE BEEN PRETTY FORTUNATE’
Founded in 1988, VFW Post 10380 does not have a bar or restaurant, which keeps overhead low, Murphy said.

“Our fundraising efforts not only support the necessary expenses of our Post, but allow us to give back a majority of our funds to veterans and their families,” he added.

Post members are especially proud of their color guard, which is trained by the U.S. Army Color Guard. Murphy said the Post performs more than 80 military funerals each year, in addition to serving as the official color guard at numerous other events.

“Our Post is very active in the community,” Murphy said. “We have a good reputation, and people call on us all the time.”

Abrams noted that with 140 members, about half are active. He added that the past few years, the Post has seen an increase in membership growth. He attributes that to the Post’s positive influence in the community.

“Between our talks in the school and our scholarship program to our Post color guard, our community relationships are strong,” Abrams said. “We have been pretty fortunate.”

This article is featured in the February 2022 issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Janie Dyhouse, senior editor for VFW magazine.

Each workday, Joe Riener, 55, commutes 54 miles roundtrip from his home in Cottonwood, Idaho, with his wife Angie, to the North Central Idaho Office of Veterans Advocacy in nearby Lewiston.

“The drive isn’t bad,” he said. “It gives my mind the time to spin up for the day and wind down at the end of it.”

As a VFW-accredited service officer with the state of Idaho, Riener’s days can be demanding, but for him, it is worth it.

“I describe my work as the most miserable job I’ve ever loved!” he said. “I get to help so many diverse and wonderful people, but I’m never done and never caught up.”

Although his responsibilities vary, the goal remains the same – to ensure veterans receive the support they earned through their service. For some, it can be as simple as providing the VA crisis line phone number.

Riener recalled, “After handing it out to one veteran, he called back weeks later to thank me for saving his life. I was truly humbled.”

More often, Riener helps veterans enroll in VA health care or file claims to receive compensation for service-connected conditions. If a claim has been denied, Riener will help prepare and file an appeal.

For some veterans without service-connected conditions – those who served in a war, are over the age of 65, are considered low income or have high medical expenses – Riener helps them file for a non-service-connected pension.

He also conducts outreach services in eight surrounding counties to assist remote veterans and visits other veteran service organizations to inform them on benefits, news and issues. Regardless of the task, Riener is determined to help veterans work through complex processes.

“The bottom line is, veterans’ benefits are included throughout 38 Code of Federal Regulations, which amounts to several thousand pages of law,” he explained. “The state of Idaho, as well as the VFW, does not want veterans navigating that mess on their own.”

Having gone through the claims process himself, Riener understands the value of a knowledgeable advocate. After a 20-year career in the Air Force, during which Riener earned four National Defense Service ribbons, he looked to the VFW for assistance.

“When I retired, a very dedicated VFW Service Officer took the time to go through all 400+ pages of my military medical service treatment record and helped file my VA compensation claim,” said Riener.

The experience had a lasting impact.

“I was very impressed by my VFW Service Officer’s dedication and never forgot what he did to help me. I got to know the local VSO and told him to let me know if he ever retired. When he did, he forwarded me the job posting, and I applied.” said Riener.

Since being hired in 2016, Riener has taken every chance he gets to provide veterans the same level of support he received years ago.

“As a VFW Service Officer, there are so many opportunities to change the lives of veterans and their families,” he said. “Being a crew member on Air Force jets and flying the air refueling boom was a major accomplishment, but it pales in comparison to seeing a smile or a grateful tear from a veteran who didn’t believe anyone cared or could help.”

For veterans seeking assistance, Riener has two pieces of advice: do your best to obtain and organize all medical and travel paperwork, and trust that your VFW Service Officer has your best interest at heart.

“I encourage veterans to ask for everything, but also, to listen to the answers from your VFW Service Officer – we’re on your side,” he insists. “The key element to a favorable claim is a cooperative and patient veteran, especially one with good documentation!”

Although each day presents new challenges and the job is far from easy, Riener cherishes it.

“Helping veterans is a huge responsibility,” he said. “But when it goes well, there’s no better feeling in the world, and the appreciation of veterans and their families is a reward beyond description. It’s pretty amazing work.”

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is proud to announce the inaugural VFW Day of Service – a dedicated day of service led by VFW members throughout the country and the world.

The VFW Day of Service is an outgrowth of the organization’s #StillServing campaign launched in 2020 to recognize the ongoing dedication of veterans and service members who continue to serve their communities. VFW Day of Service, led by veterans and in concert with other organizations and civic groups, is open for anyone to participate. The inaugural VFW Day of Service kicks off the first Saturday in May (May 7), marking the start of veteran-led community service projects to take place throughout the month.

“The positive feedback from VFW members and the communities we serve tells us the stage is set to expand our #StillServing initiative,” said Fritz Mihelcic, VFW national commander. “We have already seen how the campaign amplifies the volunteer efforts and camaraderie of America’s veterans. The time is now to take its visibility to the next level.”

Veterans are more likely than civilians to volunteer in their communities, according to a recent civic health survey1 of veterans. The same study showed veterans donate to charities, register to vote, and are involved in their communities and local government at a greater rate than their civilian counterparts.

“We are calling on all VFW Posts and members across America and around the world to join in the VFW Day of Service by planning an activity for May 7, or at another point during the month, to show that we never stop serving” said Mihelcic.

The VFW urges its members and all veterans to visit VFWDayofService.org to register their event on the interactive Day of Service map and receive a special participation decal, or find a local event to join and see what other veterans around the country are doing to make a difference.