Where did you serve and what did you do?

Fort Campbell, KY with 101st Airborne Division. Went to Afghanistan and was a guard on the DMZ in Korea as an Infantryman.

How are you Still Serving?

o I volunteer to lead and help with all events making sure they run safely and well, going to all recruiting events and numbers show the achievements. o I go out to the hospital ICU and nursing homes to sit and talk with veterans. o I go to veteran cemeteries for honoring the sacrifice of service and clean up trash. o I build connections with the community by showing a presence and helping with the JROTC program at Halifax high school. o I pass out stickers and other things to help raise awareness to the community. o I build relationships with the city, county, and state police departments and established a program where on duty police officers and firefighters get a safe place to eat. o I go above and beyond helping the VFW Auxiliary with any issues and events. o As the Sgt at Arms of the VFW Post 1264 and member of VFW of VA State Riders’ groups, I educate on rules of the road and gave a brief class at the 2024 VFW Winter Conference on dealing with outlaw motorcycle clubs. o I promote the VFW to homeless veterans to get a meal and drink at the Post and to pick up the proper paperwork to get the help they may need. o I went above and beyond with helping save a VFW rider’s life in a dangerous situation. o I got the community to come out for a back-to-school drive. o I assisted with Trunk or Treat by standing out by the road making sure kids got in the parking lot safely. o I participate in Feeding Virgina with donations. o I give free drum lessons to kids of veteran families plus free gun safety classes. o I lead by example with always presenting myself as a leader and humble to learn the way of the VFW what it is as the true meaning of still serving. o I give rides to VFW members who need rides home or to the Post and events. o I check in on all members and Auxiliary that go to the hospital and sit with them and cheer them up. o I participate in motorcycle rides to help the community and lead by raising funds for the Post with raffles, etc. o I have perfect attendance (avoids non-excused absences) for meetings and committee meetings. o I lead by example with always presenting myself as a leader and humble to learn the way of the VFW what it is as the true meaning of still serving.

Why do you do it?

To prevent the 22 a day to go down to zero. Out of my 17 in my platoon 7 are still alive, 8 are dead to suicide, and 2 in Afghanistan. This is why I still serve.