Where did you serve and what did you do?

I SERVED DURING DESERT STORM AND ALSO AGAIN FOR OEF. DURING DESERT STORM, I WAS A COMBAT ENGINEER. AFTER I WAS OUT OF THE MILITARY, I DECIDED THAT I STILL NEEDED TO CONTINUE MY MILITARY COMMITMENT SO I JOINED AGAIN 13 YEARS LATER. I THEN BECAME A COMBAT MEDIC AND SERVED DURING OEF. AFTER THAT TERM, I DECIDED THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR ME.

Tell us how your dog is helping you continue Still Serving in your community.

MY SERVICE DOG, JOKER, HELPS ME TO GET BY IN MY DAILY ROUTINE. HE ALLOWS ME TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST, BY DETERING ME FROM EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF PTSD. HE KNOWS WHEN I AM ABOUT TO HAVE A CRISIS, OR IF I AM IN ONE. JOKER DIVERTS MY ATTENTION TO PULL ME OUT OF THOSE UNRULY TIMES THAT HAPPEN DUE TO PTSD. HE ALSO MAKES IT TO WHERE I DO NOT HAVE TO RELY ON MEDICATIONS THAT WERE PRESCRIBED FOR THE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. THANKS TO JOKER, I AM STILL LIVING LIFE AND STILL SERVING TO HELP OTHER VETERANS!

Why do you do it?

I JOINED THE VFW BECAUSE I WAS APPROACHED BY THE COMMANDER AT A CONCERT. HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD CHECK OUT THE VFW AND WHAT IT DOES FOR THE COMMUNITY AND VETERANS ALIKE. AFTER HAVING MADE THAT INTIAL VISIT, AND WAS WELCOMED WITH GREAT INTENT, I DECIDED TO BECOME NOT ONLY A MEMBER, BUT A LIFETIME MEMBER SO THAT I COULD TOO HELP WITH MY COMMUNITY AND ASSIST OTHER VETERANS. WITH THIS BEING ONLY MY 2ND YEAR AS A VFW MEMBER, I HAVE BEEN SELECTED, NOMINATED AND PLACED AS THE POST ADJUTANT/QUARTERMASTER, AND JOKER AS WELL HAS BEEN ELECTED AS THE POST MASCOT FOR 2 YEARS NOW! I WILL CONTINUE TO STILL SERVE, WITH JOKER’S ASSISTANCE AND GREAT LOVE!