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VETERANS DAY

VETERANS DAY

Page A2 Maryland Independent Saturday, October 31, 2015

Saturday, October 31, 2015 Maryland Independent Page A3

Veterans DayNovember 11, 2015

On Veterans Day, we honor

the brave men and women

who have sacrificed to

protect our families.

True American Heroes.

andrewsfcu.org800.487.5500 U.S.

00800.487.56267 International

We live and play in a wonderful part of the world. And in our neighborhoods, there are individuals who serve our towns, communities and country every day, not for the glory or recognition, but because they care: the veterans, fi refi ghters, police offi cers, paramedics and so on in our com-munities.

Too often their efforts go unrecognized, or we don’t show our appreciation for their sacrifi ce. Sure, from time to time, you will see posts on social media of people thank-ing one of these individuals for a specifi c event. We felt we should do more for these individuals. As we were chatting about Veterans Day and our story ideas, it be-came apparent that we wanted to enhance our spotlight on these local individuals in

a greater way than we have in the past.Today, we begin our Tributes Program.

For Veterans Day, in this special Veterans Day section, the Maryland Independent is publishing profile stories and photos of veterans who work, live or have fam-ily members in our community. A portion of sales proceeds from this section will directly benefit the Maryland Veterans Memorial Museum in Newburg. The mu-seum’s mission is to recognize and honor all U.S. military veterans.

We are excited to launch this new pro-gram and to do our part to thank these local heroes.

David FikePresident, APG of Chesapeake Media

Maryland Independent launches Tributes Program

World War II vet recalls 10-month ordeal as POW . . . 4

If you build it -- Maryland Veterans Memorial Museum . 6

Operation: Tohidu mission to help vets fi nd healing . . 8

Blessed to be back, post members continue to serve . 10

American Legion Post 82 thrives in La Plata . . . . . 14

Local veterans served country, then Charles County . . 23

Becoming veterans’ best friends . . . . . . . . . . 25

Sport Clips haircuts benefi t ‘Help a Hero’ . . . . . . 25

Celebrating veterans in Southern Maryland. . . . . . 26

Navy offered adventure, Taylor dove right in . . . . . 27

Veterans: Are you missing out on key benefi ts?. . . . 30

CONTENTS


By Jamie anfenson-Comeau

[email protected]

It’s been 70 years, but James Bryant can still clearly recall his 10-month ordeal as a prisoner of Nazi Germany during World War II.

At the age of 92, the former La Plata resident is the last WWII prisoner of war residing at the Charlotte Hall Mary-land Veterans Home.

Bryant, a native of Montrose, Va., was the youngest of seven children, the son of a farmer and fisherman.

In 1943, newly engaged, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, trained as an infantry foot soldier, and sent overseas to Italy with the 88th Infantry Division, 349th Regiment. In early 1944, he joined Lt. Gen. Mark Clark’s Fifth Army after a month-long Atlantic crossing and a stopover in northern Africa.

“We were known as the Blue Devils and the Kraut Kill-ers,” Bryant said, referring to the names given to soldiers of the 88th and 349th, respectively.

In the summer of 1944, Bryant and 18 other men were captured during an attempt to rescue prisoners.

“The Germans had 20 of our men, wounded, so we went up there and tried to rescue them. In the meantime, the Germans mounted a counterattack. There were 21 of us and 250 of them,” Bryant said, adding that two men in his unit escaped. “So I got captured in combat.”

At one point, he and the other men thought they were going to be shot.

“The Germans took all of us into a ditch, and they were going to shoot us. I heard them talking in English,” Bryant said. “but in the end, they didn’t shoot us.”

Bryant was sent to Stalag 7A near Munich, Germany, the largest German POW camp.

Bryant said he and other POWs at the camp were orga-nized into work groups, but had very little food. They were reliant on Red Cross food parcels.

“The Germans, they gave us one box for about every seven men. Split seven ways, you only got maybe a slice of bread, a little bit of butter, very little,” Bryant said.

Once, he said, a plane overhead dropped rations for a POW work group.

“An American fighter pilot fighter came over, tilted his wings to let us know he was friendly. He dropped all his rations, but the Germans took every single one of the ra-tions. We got nothing,” Bryant said.

Bryant said he sewed a pocket into his overcoat, in which he was able to hide bread stolen from the guards.

“I’d get a bit of bread, stick it in that pocket. I never was caught. They searched me close, but I never got caught. That was how I survived,” he said.

Through it all, Bryant said he didn’t lose hope.“I never did think for once that I wasn’t going to come

back and see home,” he recalled.On April 29, the camp was liberated by Gen. George S.

Patton’s Third Army as they advanced through Germany. By that point, most of the German guards had already left.

“The Germans knew ahead of time, they heard the guns going off, and the ones guarding us, they took off and left,” Bryant said. “We could’ve gotten away, but where would we go? We couldn’t speak German, we knew the war was ending, so we stayed put.”

Bryant said he met Patton when the general visited the camp two days later.

“I saw him in person, shook his hand,” Bryant said.During his 10 months in captivity, Bryant said he lost 70

pounds, one-third of his initial body weight.“When I got out of the camp, I weighed 150 [pounds],

when I went in there, I weighed 220 [pounds],” Bryant said.

Germany surrendered unconditionally May 8, 1945. Bryant said he was transported by hospital ship in June, a seven-day journey.

“On the hospital ship, they treated me real good,” Bryant said. “But my stomach had shrunk so much, I couldn’t eat a full meal. I still have problems from that.”

Bryant said he was taken to Walter Reed General Hos-pital Army Medical Center in Bethesda for six months for treatment due to the trauma of captivity.

It was while he was there that he got the news from his brother; while he’d been missing in action and a POW, his fiancée had married someone else.

“My brother called me and said, ‘Do you know what hap-pened?’ and I said, ‘No, I don’t’, and he said, ‘Your old girl-friend got married,’ ” Bryant said.

She got an annulment and the two were married in 1946, and stayed married until her death in 2013.

Bryant was awarded the Bronze Star, the Combat Infan-tryman Badge and other awards, he said.

Following the war, Bryant worked as a tugboat captain for 25 years.

“We brought up sand and gravel for the foundations of the Kennedy Center, the Pentagon, and most all of the bridges,” Bryant said.

Other than health impacts from his ordeal, Bryant has generally been healthy, something he attributes to his childhood.

“We had a good life, plenty to eat on the farm. Pigs, hogs, and all that, plenty of vegetables to eat. We caught crabs and fish. Good eating, I called it,” Bryant said. “I told my doctor I’m going to live to be 100 years old. He said go for it. At 92, I’ve got a good start.”

World War II vet recalls 10-month ordeal as POW

STAFF PHOTO By JAmie AnFenSOn-COmeAu

James Bryant in his room at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. Bryant, 92, was a prisoner of war for 10 months while serving in the U.S. Army.



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By SARA K. TAYLOR

[email protected]

The building and grounds have come a long way since 2010 when Norman Saunders led a visitor around the site of what would become the Maryland Veterans Memo-rial Museum at Patriot Park in Newburg.

It would be housed in the old Glasva School in Newburg — a building that started as a high school, before transition-ing into an elementary then getting a new life of sorts when the Charles County Sheriff’s Office set up there for a while.

After years of being empty, vandalized and neglected, the old school was going to find new life when a group of veterans charged ahead with plans for a museum that would honor their own.

The idea found footing in 2002 when a group of veter-ans, led by the late Col. Don-ald Wade, a member of the Charles County Board of Edu-cation and a Vietnam veteran, started meeting to discuss ideas and lay out their plans.

“It was really Donald Wade’s inspiration that was the rea-son for the museum getting started,” said Larry Abell, the president of the museum.

Wade once told Abell that he had a vision while in the midst of a battlefield — wouldn’t it be wonderful to find a way to honor veterans who were re-turning home?

The initial concept was to limit the exhibits to highlight Charles County veterans.

Soon though, it became clear the scope had to be broadened.

“It’s impossible not to tell the story of America,” Abell said. “The museum has evolved from what we began with. It was just going to be Charles County history, but we found we needed to tell Maryland’s history and found out we also needed to tell U.S. history.”

Building a collection

Board members donated their collections — uniforms, memorabilia, photos — to the museum with exhibits over-seen by Bill Hester, a curator

for the Veterans Administra-tion.

Some exhibits have pieces on loan, but “the vast majority is the stuff that’s been donat-ed,” Saunders said.

The Vietnam exhibit is ro-bust because “people are still

alive,” he said. “Stuff didn’t get thrown away.”

Cleaning out attics, clearing out basements — if families come across military memo-rabilia and they don’t want to keep it, the museum will find a place for it, Saunders said.

“You don’t have to give it to us,” he said. “You can just loan it to us. If you have stuff, don’t throw it away.”

The museum will take in just about anything. In a back room bookcases are brimming with heaps of

model airplanes.Organizers might not know

what they’re going to do with them right now, but they’ll think of something.

If you build it ... Some said a museum wouldn’t happen,

they didn’t know the will of veterans

Staff photo by Rob pERRy

Maryland Veterans Memorial Museum at Patriot Park is housed in the old Glasva School in Newburg. A team of dedicated volun-teers have helped make the museum what it is today.

See MuSeuM Page A12


We salute ourmen andwomen in uniformwhohave served and are currently serving

in the United StatesMilitary.

Thank you.

Happy Veterans Day

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By Jamie anfenson-Comeau

[email protected]

Tohidu is a Cherokee word meaning a peaceful state of mind, body and spirit.

It’s an appropriate name for a new program attempting to help veterans facing challenges reintegrate into civil-ian life following deployment.

Chris Lopez has spent over a decade looking for peace.He is a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Lopez

spent 19 of those years in explosive ordinance disposal, what’s typically referred to as “bomb squad.”

Lopez saw deployment in the first Gulf War. He later worked as a civilian contractor, doing the same work in Afghanistan.

“I responded to several instances of IEDs, Improvised

Explosive Devices, both stateside and overseas,” Lopez said. “It was life and death, over and over and over again. I was putting myself in a situation where at any time I could be blown up. That stays with you.”

Lopez said the experience left him with post traumatic stress, which severely impacted his personal life, leav-ing him with depression, bouts of anger, nightmares and sometimes, thoughts of suicide.

“I didn’t know what I was experiencing, I just knew that I was angry, isolated, I was having trouble with relation-ships, I was afraid to go out and do things,” Lopez said.

Lopez said that for awhile, it was difficult even to talk about what he was going through, and even harder to find treatment.

“Because of the stigma associated with self-reporting, you don’t say anything, you don’t do anything, you just suck it up and do your job,” Lopez said.

Earlier this year, he learned about Operation: Tohidu. Operation: Tohidu is overseen by Melwood, an Upper Marlboro-based nonprofit that works to improve oppor-tunities for individuals with disabilities.

“About three years ago, we made the strategic decision to stop talking about disabilities, and start talking about

differing abilities, and we saw that there was a need for these type of services for veterans,” Doria Fleischer, di-rector of experiential learning at Melwood’s Retreat and Recreation Center in Nanjemoy, said.

Melwood runs week-long Operation: Tohidu retreats at its Nanjemoy site. The retreat is free for veterans, includ-ing costs of transportation and accommodations.

“Melwood wanted to make sure that no one was pre-vented from attending,” Fleischer said.

Dr. Mary Vieten serves as program director for Opera-tion: Tohidu. She is a board-certified psychologist, as well as a veteran and commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves.

Vieten said the medical model treats anxiety and post traumatic stress as an illness or disorder, whereas Vieten argues it is the natural response to people being put in unnatural situations.

“You go to war, you become traumatized by what hap-pens there, so we deal with that trauma,” Vieten said. “We absolutely reject the idea that anyone who comes to the retreat is ill.”

She said the retreat uses a variety of methods, includ-ing nutrition, biofeedback, education, ropes challenges and equestrian therapy to help veterans find ways to un-

Operation: Tohidu mission to help vets find healingMelwood program holds

retreat to teach ways of coping with stress, anxiety

Photo courtesy of MeLWooD

Chris Lopez of Pomfret rides on a zipline during the Operation:Tohidu retreat at Melwood’s Retreat and Recreating Center in Nanjemoy held in April.


PHOTO COURTESY MELWOOD

Dr. Mary Neal Vieten speaks to fellow veterans about Post Traumatic Stress during a Sept. 23 Operation: Tohidu retreat at Melwood’s recreation center in Nanjemoy.

More informationFor more information about Operation: Tohidu, including upcoming retreats, go to www.melwood.org/operationtohidu and www.operationtohidu.org/.For more information on Melwood, go to www.melwood.org.

The Staff at CHEVYSwishes to thank all Veterans

past and present for their servicein the defense of our country.

derstand, accept and control their physiological respons-es to trauma.

Vieten said the program also focuses on team building and veterans supporting each other.

“We create a community, a community of warriors to-gether, that can support each warrior,” she said. “They fi nd that incredibly healing.”

Lopez said one of the big benefi ts of the program is the ability to speak with other veterans about his experience.

“They have people who have been there, people who get you, people who understand,” he said.

The program also runs family weekend events.“What I love about Tohidu is that they’re training the

family; the family is affected just as much as the veteran,” Lopez said.

Lopez attended the Operation: Tohidu retreat last April. He said his participation in the program helped him learn to cope with the anger and anxiety he feels.

“I have tools available to me because of Operation: To-hidu that I didn’t have before,” Lopez said. “Because of Operation: Tohidu I have full understanding of what I’m going through, that place I don’t need to be in, I can walk away, to understand and to fall back on my past training to help me.”

Lopez has now become involved in setting up a peer-to-peer program for veterans following their participation in the retreat.

“One of the things for me that has been most remark-able, is the way that people who have been through the program want to give back, and help others,” Vieten said. “They just have a deep sense of wanting to pay it forward.”

Lopez said he’d recommend the program to any veteran facing challenges.

“It’s free, it’s benefi cial,” he said. “And it can save your life.”


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[email protected]

The Ralph Gonza Wade American Legion Post 170 was originally approved for a charter on Jan. 28, 1946, under the leadership of Commanders Joseph A. Conteel and Martin F. Iver-son, according to the post’s website.

Having never served in the armed forces or been a member of the American Legion, it was a remarkable honor for Wade to have the post named after him.

But unlike Wade, Ran-dolph Furey was a retired U.S. Navy chief who had served his country for 20 years. He was elected as commander of Post 170, a position he held from 1951 to 1955.

In 1961, just one year after Furey’s passing, Post 170 was re-chartered under the name of Randolph Furey Post 170.

“This post has a very rich history of making contribu-tions to the community as well as assisting the veter-ans,” said Frank R. Kahan, who was recently elected as commander of Post 170 in June. “It has existed actively from its original charter in ’46 to this date. It has several members who have served for 50 plus years and had one member … who went on to be the national vice commander of The Ameri-can Legion itself.”

As of 1974, the post was relocated from Pomonkey to Indian Head. Membership slowly started to decline and was in jeopardy of losing its charter; therefore, Post 170 had to combine with Jack R. Cross Memorial Post 233 in order to maintain its charter.

Now, 41 years later, mem-bership is at an all-time high for Post 170.

“It has over 200 members,”

Kahan said. “It [also] has an auxiliary component [which is comprised of] over 40 plus something [members].”

The post and auxiliary sponsor many activities dur-ing the course of a year and believe in serving the sur-rounding communities by hosting weddings, repasts, birthday celebrations, youth gatherings and fundraising functions. Members have the option of participating in parades, memorials, dedica-tions and special clubs for motorcycle riders.

“One of the annual things that [we] have every Thanksgiving is free din-ners in conjunction with an organization called the Heavy Hitters’ [Car Club of Southern Maryland],” Kahan said. “We are trying to put ourselves in a posi-tion where we can assist the community … by provid-ing for the community and the veterans [through out-reach].”

Kahan said outreach is a key component of the post’s

operations, which is why certain services from coun-seling to VA assistance are provided, especially for vet-erans.

“Whatever their concerns, whatever their problems are … we’re able to open the door for them and point them in the right direction to get [the] assistance or benefi ts they deserve,” Ka-han said.

For Kahan, receiving a blessing requires being a blessing to others. He not only hopes to be a beacon of light in the community, but continue the American Legion’s legacy of serving God, the country and the community as well.

“Anyone who has served in combat, you are blessed to be back, to be alive, peri-od,” Kahan said. “So it’s not about me anymore. When you get a certain age, it’s what you can do for your fel-low man … to make life eas-ier because you are blessed to be in a position to do that or at least to try to do that.”

Blessed to be back, post members continue to serve

STAFF PHOTOS BY JOHNATHON CLINKSCALES

A black-and-white photo of former Post 170 Commander Ran-dolph Furey, top center, is displayed inside on a wall near the bar. Below Furey’s photo is Frank R. Kahan, Jr., the current commander who was elected earlier this year in June. Kahan is a retired Army veteran who served tours in Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan.

A glass case stores signed documents from June 2, 1961 and March 28, 1962, validating the Randolph Furey American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary of Post 170 in Pomonkey.


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Norman Saunders, a Vietnam veteran and member of the board of directors of the Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park, talks about Maryland’s contribution to the Revolutionary War and how it got its nickname, the Old Line State.

Matthew Rohde, an Eagle Scout with Boy Scout Troop 1321, donated a diorama depicting a scene from the Revolutionary War.

Pieces of uniforms hang on the walls — “We have a lot of uniforms,” Saunders said. “People tend to keep those.”

Each room is dedicated to a different war or confl ict. There are displays outlining the contributions women and minorities have made to the military over the years — even during times when they weren’t allowed to.

Abell said the board of directors is keen to include the contributions of those whose service may have not been highlighted in the past.

“People who didn’t necessarily put on a uniform but who have served their county just as well,” he said. “Some gave their lives.”

The museum doesn’t just want “stuff,” the members want the stories too.

“Not just Maryland stories, if we have an interesting story, we share it,” Abell said. “We want to reach out to people and en-courage them to share their stories.”

One of Abell’s favorite so far is the his-tory of William Cathay, a Buffalo soldier who served in the Civil War for two years. When Cathay was hospitalized, a doctor discovered Cathay was a woman — Ca-thay Williams.

The tales are captivating a younger audience too. School groups take tours and some students like those at Walter

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By SARA K. TAYLOR

[email protected]

Veterans, and the organizations that serve them, often rely on the kindness, time and dedication of volunteers — including those supported by Harry White Wilmer Ameri-can Legion Post 82 in La Plata.

At the startThe American Legion was founded on a national level in

1919 after meetings in Paris, France, and St. Louis; the U.S. Congress incorporated the organization later that year.

The seeds of Post 82 were planted on March 20, 1920, when a group of veterans got together at the courthouse — where they would continue to meet for a while. The 15 charter members paid $1.75 each a year in dues.

But about two years later, the records drop off.According to information provided by Post 82’s current

Commander Buddy Hindle, the returning veterans most likely started getting back into the swing of their civilian lives, began careers or started families. The post was es-sentially dormant from 1922 to 1936.

Interest started to grow in reviving the post and by April 1936, when new officers were elected at a fish fry in Chapel Point, the La Plata organization started to show signs of life, according to information in the post’s history.

While World War II loomed on the horizon, Post 82’s membership grew from 19 members to more than 50.

By 1939, legion members — and the country — were fo-cused on the events taking place in Europe and when Pearl Harbor was bombed, the Post’s membership swelled to 82.

Members started leaving Charles County and headed to

induction stations in Baltimore. Members were involved in the African campaign, they were taken as prisoners of war in the Battle of the Bulge, and reported for duty at an Air Force Base in Munich.

In Charles County, those at home passed a motion to pur-chase land so a proper home could be built for American Legion Post 82.

The first veterans started coming home in 1945 and by November 1946, the ladies auxiliary took hold at Post 82.

Auxiliary helpFormed in 1946, Post 82’s auxiliary — nationwide such

legion groups are no longer called ladies auxiliaries — con-tinues the mission it had when it was formed.

“To support the veterans,” said Becky Evans, a member of the auxiliary’s executive committee. She joined the aux-iliary in 1993. Her mother was a U.S. Army veteran, her father served in the U.S. Navy.

Some of her friends were in the auxiliary and it sounded like a good way to give back to veterans as well as partici-pate in community projects.

Far from only holding fundraising dinners and bingo

nights — which the group does do — it runs several out-reach programs.

“Girls State — that’s a biggie,” said Rita Sexton, an auxil-iary member for about 10 years.

Held at Salisbury University for a week in June, the pro-gram introduces teen girls — who have completed their junior year in high school — to the legislative process, said Sexton, who was a teacher in Charles County and serves as a Girls State counselor.

“You see young ladies who are going to be future lead-ers,” she said of the appeal of the program.

Sexton also spearheaded a new project this fall with a Trick-or-Treat for Veterans, a collection of comfort items for veterans living at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. Com-munity members were asked to donate things like diabetic socks, large print puzzle books, flashlights — anything that someone might need to make life a bit more enjoyable.

The veterans at Charlotte Hall are dear to Post 82 mem-bers. Each month, Sexton gets a list of birthdays being celebrated by the home’s residents and sends them each a card. Come the holidays, Jane Patterson, a dual member of the legion and the auxiliary, said Sexton is busy writing Christmas cards to all the veterans at the home.

The auxiliary holds a Tribute to Youth essay program for children in grades 3 to 8, it sells faux poppies in May for the national Poppy Program and “adopts” a veteran to help out during the year.

During the holidays, the auxiliary will put together Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for needy families, if members hear about a family who has a parent or par-ents deployed or away from the family due to service com-mitments, it will try to help out where it’s needed. The

American Legion Post 82 thrives in La PlataStaff photo by SaRa K. tayLoR

Harry White Wilmer American Legion Post 82 in La Plata was founded in 1920. It continues to support veterans and the community.

If you goHarry White Wilmer American Legion Post 82 will hold a Veteran’s Day program 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the post, 6330 Crain Highway, La Plata. The public is welcome to attend.For more information about the American Legion, go to www.ALAforVeterans.org or drop by a legion post.


File photo

Earlier this year, Angel Hindle, current president of the Harry White Wilmer American Legion Auxiliary Unit 82, center, presented a check to Patti Brandy, board member of Three Oaks Center, left, and Rachel Pingitore, Three Oaks case worker.

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auxiliary participates in a “carnival” for veterans held at the Charlotte Hall home and they support the activities of other groups in the legion family including the Sons of the Ameri-can Legion and the Legion Riders.

“We’re one legion family,” said Patterson, a veteran of the Navy. “Everyone works together.”

“We’re tickled to have them,” Hindle said, mentioning that from time to time there are “dissenting voices,” within the groups, but everyone is focused on supporting veter-ans. It’s the bottom line.

The legion will participate in La Plata’s Veteran’s Day with a parade on Nov. 8 and it will hold a remembrance program 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the post.

Patterson and Sexton are in charge of getting monthly newsletters out — email and traditionally mailed — to about 700 members. There are about 250 auxiliary members.

Of that, Sexton estimates 20 or 30 are usually counted on to actively participate in events. It doesn’t stop members from trying to drum up new members.

Evans carries around application forms.“Do you know about the American Legion,” she’ll ask.

“Was anyone in your family in the military?”Patterson talks about the legion with friends and if she’s

out and about — during a recent meeting, she and Sexton were fresh from lunch with their Red Hat group — and sees someone who looks like they may have been in the mili-tary, she has no problem approaching them and asking if they want to know more about the American Legion.

“We are always looking for new members,” said Mary Hancock, the auxiliary’s historian.

Sticking with the auxiliary is easy — Evans looked at her membership card, not believing it’s been more than 20 years since she joined.

“You become embroiled in the organization,” Hancock said, laughing.

“You meet new friends,” Evans added.“We’re a fun bunch,” Sexton puts in.The auxiliary — along with other legion groups — pro-

vide aid and bolster programs that are needed.“Everybody needs to support veterans and the commu-

See POST Page A18


be a part ofsomething greater

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File photo

Harry White Wilmer American Legion Auxiliary Unit 82 held its annual Tribute to Youth program in April. Pictured in the front row are Chloe Bautista, left, Colton Moffitt, Faith Rothell, Raegan Perry, Sarah Thacker and Joi Campbell. In the back row are Debbie Bridge, left, Carol Karpiak, Raina DeLaCruz, commissioners’ President Peter Murphy, and Anna Mae Sackie.

nity they live in,” Evans said.

What’s in a namesake?Harry White Wilmer American Legion

Post 82 is named for a man who gradu-ated from the University of Maryland in 1913.

Born in La Plata in 1890, Harry White Wilmer was working in a New York in-vestment company in 1914 when he trav-eled to Canada to enlist in the 21st Bat-talion in Kingston, Ontario.

He sailed to England and was made a lance corporal in 1915. He arrived in France and in 1916 was promoted to cor-poral following the death of a man killed in action. In June, Wilmer was wounded in the shoulder and head, underwent surgery and was transferred to England. It appears he was discharged from Ca-nadian service. At some point are being discharged, Wilmer joined the Army as a lieutenant and was sent to France with the 20th Aero Squadron where he served as an observer.

On Oct. 18, when Wilmer was 28, his air-craft — flown by Lt. William Potter — was hit by German guns and while it tried to glide toward the American trenches, Ger-man pilots shot it down, killing Potter and Wilmer. Both are buried at the Suresnes American Cemetery in France.

POSTFrom

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StaFF photo by SaRa K. tayloR

Harry White Wilmer American Legion Post 82 in La Plata holds events that are open to the public, including dinners and bingo.


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J. Mitchell Elementary School in La Plata and Chesapeake Public Charter School in St. Mary’s County have embarked on service learning projects at the museum.

“Kids want to get involved to help create ex-hibits,” Abell said. “We’re hoping to grow and expand and reach out to the children in the education system.”

“This is where you fi nd out what your neigh-bors and relatives have contributed to the country,” said Jim Aanestad, a U.S. Navy vet-eran who started attending meetings at the museum about a year ago.

By visiting the museum, students are adding a layer to what they may learn in textbooks.

“They can actually see and feel the history,” Abell said.

Building a home

The building was in such rough shape that some doubted the museum was going to be more than just a dream of a few.

“There were bets that it would never occur,” said Abell, an architect who became involved around 2008, helping out with designing a new roof and other projects.

But the naysayers didn’t know that the veterans backing the project adopted the motto of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II — “The diffi cult we do immediately. The impossible takes a little longer.”

Five years ago, the grounds were overgrown, shielding the building from view. Saunders, a Viet-nam veteran, brought his tractor up and mowed down the fi elds, including one in the back that members can envision hosting reenactments.

The renovations and work is through the ef-

STAFF PHOTO BY ROB PERRY

Larry Abell, the president of Maryland Veterans Memorial Museum, loaned a tea set made from mortar shells that his company gave him when he was preparing to leave Vietnam. It is on display at the museum.

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forts of veterans, Abell said. Some can be counted on to put in 40, 60 hours a week if they are needed.

“It’s a labor of love but more … it’s a sense of responsibility for those of us that returned in one piece,” said Abell, a U.S. Navy veteran in the civil engineer corps who served in Vietnam. “We have a responsibility to tell the story of those who weren’t so lucky.”

Held on the second Wednes-day each month, the gatherings include a business meeting and a guest speaker, both portions of the meeting are open to the public.

“The museum is ascending rapidly,” Abell said. By next year, it will have exhibits for each war from Revolutionary to modern day.

“It’s pretty phenomenal what these veterans who have worked there have been able to do,” he said.

Abell, a Maryland repre-sentative on the Washington Rochambeau Trail, recently at-tended a national conference in Yorktown, Va. The trail is one that George Washington took from Maine to Yorktown to win the Revolutionary War. French troops went right by the site where the museum sits today.

The museum will be included in the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail put together by the U.S. Parks Service. The trail highlights the more than 680 miles of land and water Wash-ington and Rochambeau used to get to and from the Siege of Yorktown, a pivotal event in the Revolutionary War.

Abell and the museum’s board of directors are working on ways — at a state and national level — to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I and are gearing up for a Nov. 21 fund-raiser, Night at the Museum.

“Exciting, isn’t it,” Abell asked.

Staff photo by Rob pERRy

The museum has displays honoring women who served their country. The Chappelear triplets of Benedict were nurses during World War II.

If you go Southern Charles County Memorial VFW Post 10081 and auxiliary will hold a Veterans Day memorial service open house 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park, 11000 Crain Highway, Newburg.The museum and Swan Point Yacht & Country Club will hold a Night at the Museum 7-10 p.m. Nov. 21 at the museum. Tickets are $30 in advance. Band of Gold will perform, appetizers, beer and wine. Guided tours. Go to www.swanpointgolf.com/nightatthemuseum.html.The museum’s board of directors meets 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. A guest speaker’s program starts at 7 p.m. Go to http://mdvets.webs.com/.For more information or to donate, contact Larry Abell, the museum’s president at 301-932-1900, [email protected] or [email protected].


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By CHRISTOPHER ULLERY

[email protected]

After serving their country abroad for several years in the U.S. Army, two Charles County residents continued their service to the local community after leaving the military.

Julie Muster Bryson, an Ohio born veteran, served from 1987 to 1998 in the Army, primarily stationed in Germany. She moved to Charles County about 2½ years ago and has been the executive offi ce manager for the Charles County commis-sioners for seven months.

Sgt. Paul Gregory of the Charles County Sheriff’s Offi ce is a Desert Storm vet-eran and left the military not long after that war to pursue a career in law enforcement in the county. He is cur-rently in the Offi ce of Pro-fessional Responsibility, or essentially “internal affairs,” Gregory said.

The two veterans had very different reasons for enlist-ing and for continuing to serve in a local capacity.

Bryson is originally from Akron and there were “no job opportunities to speak of,” and little options for col-lege, she said.

She joined the Army as a way to get the higher educa-tion she wanted. Over the course of her career, and some after she left, Bryson was able to earn her mas-ter’s in criminal justice.

Offi cially, Bryson was a unit supply specialist while in Germany, but she was really more of a “jack of all trades.”

Bryson listed being a property book manager, an instructor and several other positions in training centers and schools in the Army. Bryson also was stationed in several other locations from Alabama to Korea, before being stationed in Germany.

Rather than working in the public sector, Bryson said the rules and regula-tions found in government work are more comfortable for her.

“You don’t always fi nd that in the civilian sector,” she added.

Gregory, whose father spent about 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, said a sense to serve was instilled in him at a very young age.

After graduating high school, Gregory attended

Local veterans served country, then Charles County

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL GREGORY

U.S. Army Sgt. Paul Gregory, right, is pictured with another soldier in Iraq.See LOCAL VETSPage A24


Frostburg State University in the ROTC program. He graduated in 1985 and enlist-ed in the Army soon after.

Also stationed in Germa-ny, Gregory was part of the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment and was on the border when the Berlin Wall was torn down.

“Those were exciting times, to say the least,” he said.

Not long after, Gregory’s tank division was deployed to Iraq where he would stay for about nine months. Gregory was involved in the Battle of 73 Easting, one of the most famous tank battles of the war which al-lowed the military to reach Iraqi defenses in Kuwait.

“It is, without a doubt, to this day the greatest tank battle,” Gregory said.

After the war, Gregory worked at Fort Hood in Texas for about two years before getting a position at the sheriff’s office.

While he had applied with the Federal Bureau of Inves-tigation, Gregory said his only other law enforcement application was in Charles County.

“I never applied with Tex-as, where I was stationed at the time, I never I applied to the Maryland State Po-

lice; I applied to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office be-cause that’s where I grew up and that’s where I wanted to serve,” he said.

Both the veterans said the skills they learned while serving help them everyday in their current positions.

For Bryson, it’s her atten-tion to detail and persever-ance that allow her to work “until the job gets done,” and gets done right.

For Gregory, his leader-ship roles and time as a scout naturally fit the qualities needed in law enforcement.

Adding that the benefits of service have affected her immensely, Bryson believes everyone should serve at least some time in the mili-tary.

“I recommend military service for everyone,” she said. “If they can serve, then they should serve.”

While their time in the military was an overall posi-tive experience in their lives, both veterans said everyone should be aware of the chal-lenges a new generation of veterans face when coming home.

Bryson has played about every different role possible in the life of a deployed sol-dier.

She’s been deployed, been the spouse of a deployed sol-dier and has been the parent of a deployed soldier.

Her oldest son returned from Okinawa, Japan, in June.

“There are certain things you can’t teach, you can only experience,” she said.

When it comes to family members returning home from war, an important thing to remember, Bryson said, is that the person who went over will not be the same one who returns.

Soldiers returning from combat need time to read-just to civilian society.

One thing soldiers tend to look for in combat, Bryson said, is a sense of control.

Letting a veteran “take control” of the household for a while is one way mili-tary families can help them cope, Bryson said.

A fortunate side effect of an area with several military bases is living near many veterans and active service members, she added.

When in combat, soldiers rely on the community and camaraderie between them. Having a community of people who know what the enlisted, and families of the enlisted, go through is something Bryson is grate-ful for.

“There is a sense of relief that a vet is there and you know all you have to do is call … you know they have your back no matter what,” she said.

Not all veterans cope with their experiences well.

As an officer, Gregory said he has seen young veterans turn to drug abuse as a way

to deal with “what they’ve seen and what they’ve done.”

Gregory shared a story about an arrest he made in Waldorf a couple of years ago. The perpetrator, a young veteran, was caught with marijuana behind a dumpster.

“It broke my heart, what happened to this kid,” Greg-ory said.

The arrest filled Gregory with so much anger and frustration that he had to take the rest of the day off.

He wasn’t angry with the veteran, however, but with a system that he said has failed to take care of the mental health of returning veterans from Iraq and Af-ghanistan.

After the arrest, Gregory

said he tried to do what he could for the man. He even looked into drug abuse pro-grams for veterans.

“There’s no programs lo-cal, I can tell you that right now. I had to go all the way to Baltimore to find some-thing,” he said. “That’s the problem.”

Gregory doesn’t know how everything turned out for the young man, but the look of irritation on his face as he told the story made one thing clear: to him, this happened yesterday.

The problem is not an easy fix by any means, Gregory said. The biggest change he would like to see nationally is a major change in how the Department of Veteran’s Af-fairs operates, but that was

just one of many issues that would need to be addressed.

“I don’t know,” he added. “I don’t know what the an-swer is but it’s definitely not what we’re doing now.”

Bryson pointed out that there are many services for veterans in Charles County, but Gregory said that drug abuse and mental health is-sues still don’t get the atten-tion they deserve.

“I would really like to see, with the amount of veter-ans that are here … that the county maybe even do something,” Gregory said.

A search for Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Centers for veterans in Maryland lists the closest center 61 miles away in Bal-timore.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRISTOPHER ULLERy

Julie Muster Bryson is the executive office manager for the Charles County commissioners. Bryson, an Ohio native, joined the U.S. Army in 1987.

LocaL VetsFrom

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SUBmITTEd PHOTO

U.S. Army veteran Paul Gregory, right, now works for the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.


1928

879

By KAREN TANG

Capital News Service

The dogs at Warrior Canine Connection are veterans’ best friends.

Trained by service mem-bers, a group of the dogs graduated Saturday, Oct. 17, and became permanent four-legged aides to disabled veter-ans or veterans in need.

WCC’s third graduating class of 14 dogs was celebrat-ed at Montgomery College’s Globe Hall in Germantown.

Among those celebrating was Marshall Peters, one of the group’s dog instructors.

A former veteran who served in the U.S. Navy for 6½ years as a hospital corpsman, Peters had a hard time transi-tioning back into civilian life after his deployment in 2009 and 2010 at the Role 3 Multi-National Medical Unit in Kan-dahar, Afghanistan.

“The dogs were a big part of my recovery,” Peters said.

Working at WCC has changed Peters’ life. He likes to work with other service members and give back to the veterans.

“It’s more than a job,” Peters said. “It’s a calling and another mission to be a part of.”

Warrior Canine Connec-tion is a nonprofit organiza-

tion based in Brookeville. The group breeds golden and Labrador retrievers. Training starts when the puppies are three weeks old. The group’s primary focus is to socialize the dogs with different people and noises so they are used to everyday situations.

The puppies in training are taught commands and a va-riety of other things that will help a fellow disabled veteran, such as retrieving objects, providing balance, wheelchair pulling, opening and closing doors, and turning lights on and off.

The animal-assisted therapy at Warrior Canine Connection is a unique form of treatment for current and former service members who have had trou-ble adjusting to their daily lives after military service. They are given the opportunity to train service dogs that, once fully trained, go home with fel-low veterans.

Training with the dogs helps address a lot of the issues that occur with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and combat trauma, Peters said.

“Being able to train the dog requires that [the veteran is] practicing sounding happy, practicing being assertive and practicing being patient,” said

Rick Yount, the organization’s executive director.

The dogs are trained until they are 2½ to 3 years old be-fore being assigned to a vet-eran with a disability, Peters said.

WCC operates at four loca-tions: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, The National In-trepid Center of Excellence in Bethesda, Fort Belvoir War-rior Transition Battalion in Virginia, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Menlo Park, Calif.

Working with the dogs can help improve a veteran’s sense of patience and the ability to control his or her emotions, Peters said.

Trainers are encouraged to use positive, high-pitched voic-es to praise the dogs for doing well, Yount said.

“From what we’ve seen from the past seven years, it’s an amazing opportunity to have a veteran challenge their automatic distorted thought,” Yount said.

Not only are the veterans teaching themselves the world is a safe place, but they also are doing it for the dog, Yount said.

“We are completing [the WCC’s] mission when we see those dogs make huge differ-ences in the veterans,” he said.

Becoming veterans’ best friends

You can “help a hero” take their next career step when you get a haircut at one of the more than 1,400 Sport Clips Haircuts locations across the U.S. now through Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

Sport Clips will share the overall goal of raising $750,000 for the company’s annual fundraising program, Help A Hero, that provides scholarships to active-duty military and veterans. Sport Clips has partnered with the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States since 2007, creating the VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholar-ship” program (www.sport-clips.com/hero) in 2013 to help service members and veterans in the next chapter of their lives.

Each scholarship provides up to $5,000 of assistance to qualified individuals who have served in the military, are in need of financial as-sistance, and are pursuing an education at post-secondary institutions, including trade schools.

Donations to Help A Hero will be collected by Sport Clips stylists and other team members in-store and at lo-

cal fundraising events. Sport Clips will also hold “The Big-gest Haircut Day of the Year” on Veterans Day, when each store will donate $1 from every haircut service to the VFW-administered scholar-ship program.

“Sport Clips and the VFW have awarded almost $1.2 million in Help A Hero scholarships to our nation’s heroes who are going to school to further their civil-ian careers,” said Sport Clips founder and CEO Gordon Logan, who is a U.S. Air Force veteran and lifetime member of the VFW. “Their time in the service was a sacrifice we can never re-ally repay, but our gratitude and support through these scholarships is one way we can say ‘thank you.’ We ap-preciate the Sport Clips team members across the country who work hard every year

to honor our military. And, we are grateful to our clients who make donations during their haircut service.”

U.S. Army Soldier Syno-via Fairell said of her Sport Clips Help A Hero scholar-ship, “As I transition into the civilian world, it is greatly appreciated to know that my sacrifices for the betterment of our country have not gone unrecognized. Being select-ed to receive this scholarship has encouraged me to dili-gently strive to complete my goals. Thanks to Sport Clips Haircuts and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, my load has just become a bit lighter.”

Sport Clips is the official haircutter of the VFW, and its Help A Hero program is just one of the many ways it supports active-duty military and veterans. To find out more, visit your local Sport Clips or SportClips.com.

Sport Clips haircuts can benefit ‘Help a Hero’ scholarships


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The Town of La Plata will host the annual Salute to Veterans Parade at 1 p.m. Nov. 8. The parade will make its way to Town Hall along Charles Street and La Grange Avenue. For more information, visit www.townoflaplata.org.

Calvert Library Prince Frederick will host an evening to celebrate mili-tary families from 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 10. Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary George W. Owings III will bring greetings and representa-tives from military organi-zations will be distribute information and answer questions about resourc-es available to veterans. Librarians who are veter-ans themselves will share online resources. Service-oriented entertainment will be provided by Vince and Vincent Turner, also known as “Spam and Bub-ba.” For more informa-tion, call Joan Kilmon at 410-257-2411.

Veterans are thanked for their service with a special presentation of “D-Day: Normandy 1944” at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 11 in the Digital Dome Theater/Planetar-ium at the James E. Rich-

mond Science Center. The event is open to the public, and veterans are free. The center is located at 5305 Piney Church Road, Wal-dorf. For tickets or more information, call 301-934-7464 or visit www.ccboe.com/sciencecenter.

The Town of Indian Head and American Legion Post 233 will host a free com-munity event to honor our local military with a Vet-erans Day ceremony and buffet luncheon at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 indoors at the In-dian Head Village Green Pavilion. The public is wel-come. For more informa-tion, call 240-375-4061 or email [email protected].

The American Legion Stallings-Williams Post 206 will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony at 1 p.m. Nov. 11 at Veter-ans Park in Chesapeake Beach. Attend to thank a veteran for their cour-age and dedication and to honor the veterans in our communities. All are wel-come to attend an open house with refreshments immediately after the ceremony at the Legion Post at 3330 Chesapeake

Beach Road, Chesapeake Beach. For more infor-mation, visit alpost206.org.

Leonardtown will host its annual Veterans Day Pa-rade from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 11. Enjoy marching bands, military units, bag-pipers, dancers, horses, scouts and antique cars and participate in a wreath-laying ceremony honoring our military. Spectators may park at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds or the St. Mary’s Govern-mental Center. For more information, call 301-475-9791 or visit leonardtown.somd.com/events/index.htm.

The Southern Charles County Memorial VFW Post 10081 & Auxiliary will host a Veterans Day Memorial Service Open House in honor of all vet-erans and their families at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Maryland Veterans Me-morial Museum at Patriot Park, 11000 Crain High-way, Newburg. The public is welcome to attend. Re-freshments will be served following the ceremony. For more information, vis-it mdvets.webs.com.

Celebrating veterans in Southern Maryland


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ThankYou Veterans For Our Freedom

By JOHNATHON CLINKSCALES

[email protected]

Charles County is a place where Joel P. Taylor has called home all of his life.

But when he was 18, Taylor got bit by the adventure bug and left home to explore what military life would be like, longing to be on a submarine. So he dove headfirst into the recruiting office, ready to seek an opportunity with the U.S. Navy.

“Years ago when I was young, I got adventurous and said well, let me see what life is like on a submarine,” Taylor said, as he laughed. “That was quite an adventure and just a lot of traveling. Back in those days [during] the Cold War, we spent a lot of time out at sea.”

As a U.S. sailor out at sea, Taylor represented the fight-ing spirit of the Navy by defending freedom and democ-racy around the world with honor, courage and commit-ment.

“Back then, we didn’t judge on whether we felt it was right or wrong,” Taylor said. “It was our obligation to do it. From a serviceman’s point of view, that’s the way I look at it.”

Speaking of right or wrong, Taylor said the lack of gun control in today’s society is making it too easy for people to obtain a firearm, something he didn’t have to worry about during his time in the Navy.

“I personally think that we should have more gun con-trol,” Taylor said. “At the time when I was in [the mili-tary], we were trained with small arms and would only use them for one purpose. … There’s so much going on out here and it seems to me that it’s so easy for people to get a hold of weapons and things like that.”

Despite how people may feel about those types of issues, Taylor said he would still encourage people, especially young individuals, to join the military because of the good that comes from it.

“I think [the military has] made a lot of changes, most of it for the good,” he said. “I think every young person should try it; … I would encourage them [to join the mili-tary]. … It made a lot of changes out of me for the good, yes it did and I learned a lot.”

For Taylor, serving in the military changed his life in three unique ways.

“Dedication, obligation and pride for my country,” Taylor said. “It makes me feel proud to really be an American.”

When Taylor retired from the Navy in 1997, his desire to serve didn’t go away. He continued that obligation by joining the Randolph Furey American Legion Post 170 in Indian Head.

“I really didn’t have a home post so I went to that post and [started] volunteering for different things that was going on,” Taylor said. “Some of the other [veterans] that been around for years suggested that I go ahead and run for 2nd vice commander since I was always there and would do everything. For the last three years, I [kept] get-ting re-elected.”

Having worked his way up through the ranks, Taylor said he is paying it forward and returning the gesture for other veterans and the community at large.

“I don’t mind, it’s all for a good thing,” he said. “Back [when I was in the Navy], I was doing something for a pur-pose. It does feel good when you do things and you can help somebody or have done something for the community.”

In addition to serving as a vice commander, Taylor is also chairman of the entertainment committee at Post 170.

“I do everything from bartending and managing the bar [to planning] activities,” Taylor said. “Just about every-thing entertainment wise with the post, I take care of that.”

Post 170 has now become a place where Taylor calls home. He said he cherishes being around other service-men with whom he can relate.

“It kind of felt more like at home because after all that time in the Navy, I was used to being around certain [types] of people,” Taylor said. “I could relate more to them. Since then, I felt like we can do things for other veterans … just anything to help out.”

Navy offered adventure, he dove right in The military taught lessons of dedication, obligation, pride

for the country

Submitted photo by JoeL p. tAyLoR

Charles County resident Joel P. Taylor is the 2nd vice commander of Randolph Furey American Legion Post 170 in Indian Head. Taylor retired from the U.S. Navy in 1997 after 20 years of service.


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STAFF PHOTOS BY ROB PERRY

Norman Saunders, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam, points out a display he created for the Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park.

The Maryland Veterans Museum board of directors meets once a month. After a business meet-ing, a guest speaker holds a lecture. The public are welcome to both.

Larry Abell, president of the Maryland Veterans Memorial Museum, said the inspiration for the museum came from the late Col. Donald Wade, a Vietnam veteran, who wanted a place that would honor veterans.


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The American Legion Randolph Furey Post 170, wishingto thank all Veterans past and present for your

service in defending our nation.

There are currently 19.6 million veterans in the United States. These hard working men and women have access to a variety of programs and ben-efi ts through the U.S. Depart-ment of Veterans Affairs dur-ing active duty and retirement — yet many are not taking full advantage. Why?

One reason is that the VA system can be diffi cult to navi-gate. That’s where the Mili-tary Order of the Purple Heart National Service Offi cers can help. NSOs are accredited vet-eran representatives located at VA regional offi ces, medical centers or clinics, and military bases throughout the country. Guidance from these experts can make all the difference for veterans of all ages.

In 2014, National Service Of-fi cers helped over 19,000 veter-ans get over 300 million dollars in lifetime benefi ts from the VA.

“My job is to get them [vet-erans] the most compensation I possibly can within the guide-lines, but I also want to take care of them,” said Sandra Ripe of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Program. “I always encourage them to go to the VA and get enrolled.”

Ripe says a main piece of her job is making veterans comfort-able so they can start talking about their experiences. “We

talk and fi gure out what’s go-ing on. Often they don’t think of certain things or don’t realize issues they may be having are combat related, such as tinni-tus,” she said.

While veterans can fi le claims on their own, Ripe doesn’t rec-ommend it. NSOs are experts who not only have ongoing training in the legislation, regu-lations and precedents, they have relationships within the veteran community they can leverage.

“If I get a really tough case, I can go to appeals at the VA and ask how to put it in, and they will help me, because wording is very important,” Ripe said.

Her primary goal is to put the fully developed claim in correctly the fi rst time with all the proper documentation and evidence to back it up. If submitted incorrectly and a claim has to go into the appeals system, it can take 2-3 years to be resolved opposed to the 4.5 month average a fi rst-time claim takes to make its way through the system.

This complex and time-con-suming process is why many veterans miss out on important benefi ts. The Military Order of the Purple Heart National Ser-vice Program, which is funded by the Purple Heart Founda-tion, assists all veterans who

are trying to navigate programs and obtain benefi ts through the U.S. Department of Veteran Af-fairs. In addition to health and wellness programs, these ben-efi ts include:

• Compensation and pension• Veteran’s preference hous-

ing• Education• Employment services• Job training• Death and burial benefi tsAnother function of the pro-

gram is the National Appeals Offi ce in Washington, D.C., where expert professional rep-resentation is provided to vet-erans whose claims have been denied at the regional offi ce. This program is one of the few Veteran Service Organizations eligible to take selected cases to the Court of Appeals for Vet-erans Claims.

This Veterans Day, celebrate the service men and women in your life by ensuring they are getting the benefi ts they deserve. NSOs are available to be advisers and confi dants to veterans who struggle to speak openly to friends and family about their time in the service as well as current struggles. They help veterans get the care they need and the benefi ts they deserve. For more information, go to www.purpleheartfounda-tion.org.

Veterans: Are you missing out on key benefi ts?


for those whostand watch over our nationON VETERANS DAY, WE HONOR AND REMEMBER THE DEDICATION

AND SERVICE OF ALL U.S. MILITARY VETERANS.

NO GREATER APPRECIATION CAN BE RENDERED TO THESE GREAT

AMERICANS THAN BY PROVIDING THEM WITH OUR VERY BEST TECHNICAL

AND ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS.

we have counted on their sacrifice and they can count on ourcommitment to deliver on our promise.

honoring veterans day


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