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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Story and photo by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
The giving keeps on coming -- Members of the Disabled American Veterans bringing a load of bicycles to Operation Military Cheer. Pictured are Cindy Culver, Ken Jones, Capt. Bryan Combs, Don Sheckels, DAV Commander Danny Jones, Brenda Jones and DAV Auxiliary Commander Jeanne Sheckels.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — To paraphrase the song, all gave some, some gave all … and still others keep on giving.
The Disabled American Veterans is a unique organization. For instance, did you know that the DAV The DAV was founded in 1920 by disabled veterans returning from World War I? And that the DAV was chartered by Congress in 1932 as the official voice of the nation’s wartime disabled veterans?
Today the DAV represents more than 1.2 million disabled veterans and their families. Their relevance in the wake of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is just as powerful as it was following “the war to end all wars.”
“We are here to support our returning troops,” said Jeanne Sheckles, DAV Lexington Chapter #1 Auxiliary Commander. “That’s what we love to do. If anyone has issues with their claims or need information on filing claims for potential disabilities we have national service officers available to help them.”
Sheckles was part of a DAV team visiting the Family Assistance Center at Boone National Guard Center, dropping off bicycles and toys for Operation Military Cheer, the Kentucky National Guard Family Programs annual toy drive. It’s a holiday ritual the DAV has supported for many years.
“This is a good way to give back to the National Guard families that have been serving in Iraq and Afghanistan for the past several years,” said Sheckels. “We know what a strain these deployments can be on families, and the downturn of the economy has put an even stronger burden on the families. This is how we give back to our troops and show them that we support them and the mission they do for us all.”
The DAV also offers services to military spouses, parents and children of service members who need help.
“Sometimes our veterans need a little ‘poke’ to get their claims filed. We’re happy to help them get motivated.”
Sheckles said returning female Service Members are a concern for her. “If any females veterans need assistance and aren’t comfortable talking with our male veterans, I’m ready to help them out.”
Next January the DAV is opening an information office in Lexington that will be open five days a week. Scheckels said help isn’t limited to office hours, however.
“We’re available 24/7 if our veterans need us,” she said.
To contact the Lexington DAV Chapter #1 call 859-221-5305 or the Auxiliary at 859-333-8576.
Click here to reach the Lexington Chapter #1 DAV website.
Click here for general information on the DAV.
Click here to find a DAV chapter near you.
DWA
Kristen Arnett helps Santa sort through just a small portion of the toys collected by the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 16, 2010) — The 2010 Kentucky National Guard Christmas toy drive reached new heights with a massive effort between Guard members, Families and friends across the Commonwealth.
The toy drive is part of Operation Military Cheer, an effort by the Kentucky National Guard’s Family Assistance Center to ensure that the children of Kentucky’s military Families have a memorable Christmas.
“We support all military Families, not just the Guard,” said Cindy Culver,state youth coordinator for the Kentucky National Guard. “And there is plenty of need to go around.”
Between multiple deployments and the spiraling economy, Kentucky’s Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen have been hit particularly hard this year with an unemployment rate of more than 20 percent.
“In the Kentucky Guard alone we have more than 420 children who are asking for help and the requests keep coming in,” said Culver. “That’s up more than a hundred from last year.”
Santa gets a helping hand from Shelia Brookins, wife of Sgt. Darrell Brookins. More than 600 toys were collected by LBAR, destined for military families in need across Kentucky.
The good news is that charity is still alive. One of the most significant contributors for this year’s drive was the
Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors. This is the fourth consecutive year that LBAR has partnered with the Kentucky Guard for a toy drive. A trailer filled with everything from dolls to bicycles was collected by the association’s membership. Gift cards totaling $1,125 were also collected during the effort.
“We do this to give back to the Guard,” said Rock Daniels, who organized the LBAR toy drive. “They do so much for us, we really pushed hard to make this happen.”
Capt. Bryan Combs presents Rock Daniels with a token of appreciation for his efforts in organizing the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors toy drive.
Daniels credited Jesse Hardin of Flagstar Bank, real estate attorney Dan Miller and property inspector John Bain for making significant contributions toward the cause.
“Together these gentlemen contributed more than $900 for the drive,” said Daniels. “They were huge in making this happen.”
The Lexington chapter of the Disabled American Veterans was another driving force in the LBAR drive, contributing six of the bicycles.
“This is our third year in helping out the service members and their Families,” said Les Mulcahy, commander of the Lexington DAV chapter. “We’ve all been in their shoes and know what they’re going through. It is an honor to serve.”
Danny Jones gathers up two of the bicycles donated by the Lexington chapter of the Disabled American Veterans.
Santa and his elves: Soldiers, spouses and volunteers, all pulling together to make the holidays a time of hope and joy.
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To find out how you can become part of Operation Military Cheer contact: Cindy Culver @ cindy.culver@us.army.mil or Linda Jones @ linda.jones@us.army.mil. You can also reach them through the Family Assistance Center hotline at 1-800-372-7601.
To see more photos from Operation Military Cheer visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/kyngpao.
