Where did you serve and what did you do?
As an combat engineer officer, I served on AD at Fort Bragg as a 2nd LT CO reconstituting a panel bridge company for deployment and in Vietnam with the 20th Engineer Bn (Combat) in Pleiku and Kontum Provinces during the period Mar 1967 to Mar 1969. I retired as a LTC USAR Engineer in 2003.
How are you #StillServing?
Yes, in fact our entire Lyme-Old Lyme VFW Post consisting of 80 members serves Vets In Need as its main mission. In fact, it was chartered as a “No bar, no building; just Good Works” VFW Post 30 years ago by WWII vet intending this same mission. We have served over 70 Vets and Vet families In Need since 2012 in a very big way, that is by now over $70k of temporary assistance services to about 72 Vets In Need, with used cars, farm tractors, paying back and forth of rentals, and keeping at least 10 Veterans from becoming homeless. We also give big to the CT Veterans Home each year in meeting their needs as well as giving thousands each year to the West Haven, CT VA Giant Steps Program for special needs.
Why do you do it?
We do it because once we were small and mighty within just the Lyme-Old Lyme, CT community in mind but in 2012 we received our first large $10k grant by a local person who was indebted to the military for his life’s success. We have since been recognized and supported by thousands of dollars every year from the Military Ministry of the Saint John’s Episcopal Church of Essex, CT. We hold a Stars & Stripes Benefit each year which also brings in hefty contributions. We advertised years ago in the newspaper about our Vets In Need mission and now most local area social service workers call us regularly with Vets In Need. All Pro Automotive in Old Lyme discounts used vehicles and repairs for Veterans In Need. We are blessed to be recognized and have worked with Work Vessels for Vets of Mystic in this regard and our Trustees continue to be right-minded about serving Vets In Need.