From the NATIONAL ADJUTANT COMMENTARY J. MARC BURGESS A A representative for all disabled veterans service-connected disabilities, even if you can’t tell from their outward appearance. This year, we’re proud to add to that wall the portrait of National Commander “Butch” Whitehead, a Minnesota Army National Guard veteran who recently retired as a command sergeant major. As you can read on Page 10, he has served the nation proudly during multiple overseas deployments, receiving the Bronze Star with the “V” device in 2007 for his combat service in Iraq. Like so many other veterans, you might not be able to tell that he carries any service-connected disabilities. But through his own experiences and especially through his responsibility looking out for troop welfare, he is well-versed in the importance of tending to invisible wounds. In fact, he doesn’t just talk the talk—he walks the walk. Commander Whitehead has led the Department of Minnesota’s successful outdoors program, facilitating events to help local veterans overcome their perceived limitations and focus on positive activities through things like hunting and fishing. He also spent this past Memorial Day visiting with and serving meals to service members in Kuwait. I’m glad to have Commander Whitehead at my side as we head into another great year of serving veterans. I know he will do a fantastic job representing all our nation’s injured and ill veterans, spotlighting the issues most important to the men and women who served. DAVETERANS | DISABLEDVETERANS 3 t our Service and Legislative Headquarters in Washington, D.C., there is a wall dedicated to housing the portraits of DAV’s long succession of national commanders. The wall of photos stretches roughly 15 feet high and equally as wide. The same images line the walls of our national headquarters, where the eyes of some of the organization’s fiercest advocates remain constantly on the watch. There are a handful of past national commanders—Chad Colley, Dennis Joyner and Dick Marbes, to name a few—whose portraits were shot in a way that shows, in no uncertain terms, the wounds they sustained in wartime service. All of the images reflect the faces of leaders who were proud to serve their fellow veterans at our highest post. Whether this was done with intention or simply as a matter of tradition is unknown to me, and many of these portraits were captured many years ago. However, I think it makes these images increasingly relevant, as today we know that while injuries may not always be visible, they nonetheless affect the day-to-day lives of those who sacrificed in service. The men and women who lead this fine organization should—and do—represent all of DAV’s million-plus members. Whether they have physical injuries, are suffering from an illness or have battled the invisible wounds of war, they are the embodiment of the veteran’s fighting spirit. All of our fine leaders have shown what it means to overcome challenges of DAV | @DAVHQ | DAVHQ | COMPANY/DAVHQ |
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A representative for all disabled veterans
J. MARC BURGESS
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