Veterans build for the future

Veterans from across the state convened in Fallon on Saturday to learn about issues facing current and former servicemen and women and to honor state youth winners in the Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen essay contests.

Fallon’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1002 and its Ladies Auxiliary hosted the mid-winter conference at the convention center.

John A. Biedrzycki Jr., senior vice commander-in-chief for the VFW, commended the attendees and their work in resolving issues for veterans.

“We are here for a specific reason, and that’s to be together to learn and exchange information and put it into action when you go back to your districts and posts,” said Biedrzycki, who spent 35 years as a teacher in the Pittsburgh, Pa., area.

Biedrzycki served in the U.S. Army in the Republic of Korea in the late 1960s for three years. He said veteran issues and problems are different now than when many of the state’s veterans served in World War II, Korea or Vietnam.

“We need to watch which window we’re looking through when helping our veterans,” he said, adding that each generation of veterans serves as mentors to the newest veterans, specifically those men and women who served in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We’ll take the information we learn today and put it into practices.”

Kat Miller, a retired Army colonel who heads up the Nevada Office of Veterans Service, said veterans and civilians have specific roles. She related a story of a civilian who never served in the military thanking Miller in 2010 for her service. On the contrary, Miller said she also thanked the man for the role he plays.

“Our job in the military is creating that tradition of safety and hold that line to make sure people live and those countries exist,” she said.

Miller pointed out the military creates a condition of safety and security so that professionals such as teachers and scientists can perform their jobs.

“We all play a role, and the role our military plays is critical,” she added.

Additionally, Miller said her department is offering free online courses for individuals who would like to be Nevada Service officers and assist veterans with information on topics such as veterans programs, housing loans, forms and education.

Miller introduced Wendy Simons, who has been working on the need for a Northern Nevada Veterans Home in Reno. So far, Veterans Administration has designated $36 million to the project, and the state legislature has to approve $14 million for the facility, which would be located north of the Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services.

Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City currently serves the state but doesn’t have enough beds.

“We have a 370-bed shortage in Northern Nevada for veterans,” Simons said.

She added that many veterans are sent out of state to Sacramento and Fresno, Calif., and to Idaho.

Mayor Ken Tedford Jr. thanked the veterans for their service and told of his father serving in World War II and how the Fallon community supports the local VFW post and Ladies Auxiliary.

Wanda Wilson of Fallon, president of the state’s VFW Ladies Auxiliary, said nationally, the auxiliary has raised almost $12 million for veterans and family support, hospital projects and items and cancer aid and research. She said $175,000 was awarded to scholarship winners.

“We promote our programs and what we do,” said Wilson, who has been a member for 15 years.

David Sousa, state VFW commander, also touted the generosity and work put in by VFW members. He said the VFW and ladies auxiliary have completed the first six months of the national program year.

“I would like to provide you an update about our community service programs as compiled by the national community service department,” he said.

The information was obtained from department reports that indicated post and ladies auxiliary activities that were completed between May 1 and Oct. 31, 2014.

Sousa said Nevada donated $166,704.71, 43,503 volunteer hours and total miles driven in dollar amount of more than $980,000. He said the total amounted to $1.1 million given to veterans from their community projects for the Veterans of Foreign Wars of United States

Sousa, though, said another major goal of VFW — both nationally and in Nevada — is to increase its membership because of the declining population of older veterans.

“The newer vets are taking their time coming in,” Sousa said. “Some don’t feel a sense of belonging, so we need to bridge the gap.” It’s a matter of time. We’re starting to see a change in the mentality of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.”

Sousa said age difference, however, seems to be a major division because many VFW members are in their 60s and 70s, while the younger vets in their 20s and 30s.

“The general difference is also a culture dynamic with the younger and older vets, but we are trying to entice the younger vets in,” Sousa said.

The VFW annually recognizes top classroom elementary, junior high and high school teachers who teach citizenship education topics and promote America’s history, traditions and institutions. The three state winners are Denise Hoy, K-5, Grant Bowler Elementary School, Overton; Kami Ahlin, grades 6-8, Spring Creek Middle School; and Kelly Frost, a high school teacher from Fallon.

The Patriots Pen state winner attends Eureka Junior/Senior High School. Alia Minoletti represented District 2, Post 8194. Besides winning a cash prize, she will also attend a ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C.

MacKenzie Lehman of Elko won the state competition in the VFW’s Voice of Democracy speech contest and will also travel to Washington, D.C. Other contestants included Amber Spinuzzi, Yerington; Olivia Faselt, Faith Lutheran, Las Vegas; Meggan Rowley, Damonte Ranch, Reno; Jordanne Pena, Mineral County High School, Hawthorne and Jonathon Reid, home school, Las Vegas.

A copy of MacKenzie Lehman’s Voice of Democracy speech can be found with this story on the LVN website.