Where did you serve and what did you do?

14 Years – 4 years active-duty Army 1992-1996 (Fort Knox Ky, Fort Carson Co, Camp Hovey Korea and Fort Hood TX). 10 years Kansas Army National Guard 1996-2006 (2-137th Infantry Kansas City KS, C Co. 1-635th Armor Lenexa KS) MOS 63T Bradley Tank Systems Hull mechanic. I had two deployments for OEF 2002 and 2004.

How are you Still Serving?

I have been a VFW Post commander, senior vice commander, built and support Post 846 website. I also started a small business called Veteran Lighting where I create one of a kind custom lighting and give back a percentage (minimum of 10%) and donate lights to raise money to support local veterans. I am also one of 3 trustees of a newly formed veteran operated educational non-profit organization called United States Veteran Charity based out of Kansas and registered to my home. Through our non-profit, we plan on creating a one stop source for veterans to find information and links to answer their questions or educate themselves on what is available to them. I am also organizing a community outreach called “The Rally Point” where with local community support, we will put on a veteran outreach community gathering for all veterans and their families, in order to build connections and friendships which most of our older veterans no longer have and want. I continuously stop and talk to other veterans when I can and check up on them and see if they need any help at all. It’s all about taking care of each other and I am passionate to make sure my fellow brothers and sisters are taken care of. I have a good size network of veteran support personal already that I have created friendships with to assist me if I need help.

Why do you do it?

It’s all about taking care of each other and I am passionate to make sure my fellow brothers and sisters are taken care of. I enjoy building my custom lights and it helps me with my PTSD that I have from my military service. If I don’t have the answers to help a veteran out, I have a good size network of veteran support that I have created friendships with to assist me if I need help.