CHAPTER & DEPARTMENT

Pro Football Hall-of-Famer and DAV Ambassador LaDainian Tomlinson speaks with students from the Castleberry Independent School District at the Fort Worth VA Outpatient Clinic as part of his Team America Character & Leadership Initiative, which develops character and trains student leaders from grades 6–12, incorporating DAV community engagement at VA centers. “Serving others lays a cornerstone for future success because it helps instill sacrifice and empathy— both of which make a tremendous difference in the lives of those who are touched by your selflessness,” Tomlinson said. The students engaged with veterans throughout the facility, providing escort assistance and serving coffee and cookies to patients and their families. They also helped assemble care packages, worked on a clinic mural and posters, and assisted with preparations for National Salute to Veterans Month in February. The VA North Texas Health Care System was instrumental in putting on the event.

From left: Frisch’s Big Boy CEO Jason Vaughn and VP Bob Ritter presented Inspector General Ed Hartman with $42,000 raised by Frisch’s annual charity golf outing in Fairfield, Ohio. Frisch’s has been supporting DAV for the past two years, providing funding to support DAV’s mission to fulfill the promises to the men and women who served.

DAV members from Chapters 10 and 18 in Augusta, Ga., banded together to raise funds for Camp Corral, a summer camp for the children of wounded, injured, ill or fallen military members. The team surpassed their goal of $6,000, raising more than $7,500 for the cause. Front row (from left): Chapter 18 Commander Patrick Walker, manager of the Augusta Golden Corral Mark Ogletree, Benjamin Ray, Linda Boudy and Earnest Dubose. Back row (from left): Ronald L. Holiday, Eddie L. Thomas, Alvin Floyd and Arthur Smith.

DAV Chapter 10 in Fairfax, Va., received a Group Volunteer Award from the National Mall and Memorial Parks, a division of the National Park Service. In 2018, Chapter 10 cleaned the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial seven times with more than 80 volunteers and nearly 90 volunteer hours. Below (from left): Chapter 10 members Donald Judd, Gary Salpini, Tanya Culbert and Shane Liermann.

Above (from left): National Park Service Ranger and DAV member James Pierce, Chapter 10 Adjutant Shane Liermann, National Park Service Ranger Jason Cangelosi, National Park Service Ranger Patricia Trap and Projects Coordinator for the Trust for the National Mall John Whilden.

National Voluntary Services Director John Kleindienst (right) contributed coins on behalf of DAV and National Commander Dennis Nixon to be melted down as part of The Spirit of Minnesota Tribute Bell. Sponsored by Wells Fargo, the Verdin Co. in Cincinnati cast the 255-pound bronze bell as part of a special tribute to past, present and future veterans. Metal veterans memorabilia were melted down to create the bell. The Spirit of Minnesota Tribute Bell will mount on a small trailer so it can travel across its namesake state, creating outreach and awareness opportunities for veterans and their families. The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans partnered to create and dedicate the monument.

Share Your News! Send photos of your DAV or Auxiliary news to production@dav.org.