On Saturday, March 2, the Glen Lakes Veterans and Friends Association (GLVFA) met for their annual recognition and awards ceremony. The event took place at Glen Lakes Golf & Country Club. Among those in attendance were members of the F.W. Springstead High School Air Force Junior ROTC, which received a grant of $500; Polish American War Veterans League #196, receiving $1,500; Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 67, recipient of $3,000; American Legion Post #186, receiving $1,500; and Marine Corps League 708, which received $1,500. Also attending were representatives from Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home, which received a $4,595 grant; and those from two non-profit organizations–Veterans’ HEAT Factory – $2,400 and Veterans’ Depot – $2,000.
The Springstead High School Junior ROTC is made up of students in grades 9 -12. The students who attended the ceremony were Cadet Colonel Michael Cohill, Cadet Major Jane Darby, and Cadet Lt. Colonel Madison Maldonado. The students in the program earn promotions, just as in the military. All three of these cadets will be joining the military when they graduate. Cadet Major Darby received an Air Force J100 scholarship, one of only 100 given to Air Force JR0TC cadets worldwide.
The sponsor of the program, Master Sergeant Tyrone Williams, is an Air Force veteran and has been working with JROTC cadets since 2015. According to Chief Williams, the grant money will go towards purchasing replacement harnesses that are used to hold the flags that the Color Guard team bears in its Presentation of Colors for local veterans’ events.
“The goals of AFJROTC are to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship and life skills; promote community service; instill a sense of responsibility; and to develop character, leadership, and self-discipline. The program promotes the Air Force’s core values of Integrity First; Service Before Self; and Excellence In All We Do,” Williams explained.
The Polish American War Veterans League plans to donate a portion of the grant monies to Chocachatti Elementary School for its annual Veterans’ Day program. It also donates money, as well as clothing and other items, to the VA Hospital in Tampa and the Veterans Home in Land O’ Lakes. The league supports the JROTC program at Springstead with certificates, medals and monetary awards for top cadets. Members also take part in programs at the local grammar schools to help students learn about veterans.
The organization is open to all honorably discharged veterans of the US Armed Forces and, in some instances, allied forces of the United States. The local chapter has approximately forty members.
To find out more about the Polish American War Veterans League, call 352-686-7379 or 727-842-3498. You can also go to www.plav.org. Meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of every other month at the Spring Hill VFW hall (14736 Edward R. Noll Drive, Spring Hill.
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Post 67 will use its funds to continue its mission of helping veterans retrieve their entitlements from injuries or medical problems they incurred while serving in the military. The local chapter has approximately 1,400 members. In order to become a member of the DAV, one needs to have become injured or incurred an illness during their time in the military. It doesn’t have to be combat-related.
Mary Ann Keckler, the post commander and a Navy veteran who served from 1959 to 1962 during the Vietnam War era, comments, “My mission is to continue helping those that served and gave all.”
The post, which is located at 15229 Cortez Blvd. in Brooksville, has two service officers to assist veterans with their VA claims. They are available by appointment on Mondays and Thursdays. For more information, contact Mary Ann Keckler at 813 468 0361.
The American Legion Post 186 will use its grant towards repairing the roof of its headquarters located at 12091 Cortez Blvd. The post has more than 900 members, including an active Women’s Auxiliary and an affiliated Sons of the Legion. The organization has a full social calendar for its members who are either honorably discharged veterans or close relatives of those veterans. For more information, call 352-597-9995.
The Marine Corps League will be using its grant to purchase additional items for the honor guard, along with belts and shoes for new members of the guard. Currently, there are 1,200 members, including the Auxiliary. The organization is open to any honorably discharged veteran−not necessarily just Marine Corps veterans.
Post-Commander Jim Bravico states, “Our purpose is to help all veterans in times of need and hopefully give them a better life.”
However, this is not the only thing the League does. Among the many activities open to the public are Bingo twice a week, the Halloween Haunted Trail, and Toys for Tots at Christmas time.
Its headquarters is at 8405 Sunshine Grove Road in Brooksville. For more information, call 352-263-7017. You can follow the League on Facebook – Mcl708oorah to keep up with their activities.
Daryl Lynn Cox and Gus Guadagnino with the Veterans’ HEAT Factory (VHF) were there to accept the $2,400 grant. VHF is an organization that works with Veterans and First Responders who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress. VHF will utilize its funds to help pay for the free monthly dinners that it holds for the veterans. These are important parts of socialization that clients need in order to overcome some of their issues.
VHF’s short-term goals include obtaining additional social work interns from the local colleges so they can provide more counseling sessions and further their outreach to the fire department and the sheriff’s office. Long-term goals include increasing their programs to five days a week and eventually expanding to seven days a week. The VHF also wants to set up satellite offices in neighboring counties.
Representing the Veterans’ Depot was its president, Mary McColgan. The Veterans’ Depot receives referrals from the VA and helps veterans in a number of ways, providing non-perishable food items and clothing as well as gently used furniture and small appliances. The organization serves veterans in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Polk counties. The grant money will be used for its food pantry. Right now, the organization spends $2,200 to pack 100 boxes for its recipients, and the costs are constantly rising.
For more information, call 727-404-6051 or email [email protected]. The webpage is www.veteransdept.org.
Microsoft, through the efforts of Bob Henry, a long-time Microsoft employee and GLVA member, also gave a grant. “The corporation matches 100 percent of my donations (up to $15k/year) to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. In addition, they will match volunteer time with a $25/hour donation−essentially paying the nonprofit for me to work with them!” remarks Bob.
Henry served in the Army for seventeen years−starting out as an E-1 (Private) in the 82nd Airborne Division. After nine years, he attended flight school and became a helicopter pilot.
The organization also presented certificates to some of the outstanding members who have gone above and beyond in serving the veterans. These included Denny Blum, Wayne Millington, Mike Cummings, Dicky Keane, Cori Lombardo, and Mike Fulford.
Gus Bilirakis, District congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives, was an honored guest at the event. He’s been a strong advocate for veterans since he began representing this district in 2013 and it’s not just lip service. Bilirakis has sponsored several bills on behalf of veterans and makes it a point to visit as many veteran-related events as he can.
In addressing the members of Glen Lakes Veterans and Friends, Bilirakis commented, “You did your service and now you’re continuing to serve your community. My service [in congress] pales in comparison to yours.”
Organizations such as the Glen Lakes Veterans and Friends perform a vital service to our community. They make it a better place in which to live for everyone, not just the people they serve.
