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2017 Military Retiree & Veteran Awards
H O N O R I N G T H O S E W H O S E RV E D T H E I R C O U NT RY I N U N I F O R M A N D C O NT I N U E TO S E RV E H A M P TO N R OA D S
INTRODUCTION
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2017 Military Retiree & Veteran Awards
esidents of Hampton Roads know that we are fortunate in many ways. Sunny, favorable weather allows us to enjoy an abundance of recreational activities on the water and the surrounding beaches, wetlands and forests for most of the year. Our communities offer rich opportunities for cultural, historical, artistic, religious, healthful, educational and other pursuits. A diversified economy, rooted in a peerless military presence, keeps our region strong, competitive and growing. Those advantages, and others, bring us another that is equally important but may not be as readily visible: Many service members and their families choose to remain in, or move to, the Hampton Roads area after leaving military service. Veterans make up 10.4 percent of the overall population of Virginia, one of the highest in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program for 2016. Within Virginia, many of the cities and counties with the highest numbers of veterans are in Hampton Roads. With 60,088 veterans, Virginia Beach is second only to Fairfax County for the highest number of veterans, according
to the Census Bureau data. Other area cities with large number of veterans are Norfolk with 28,092, Chesapeake with 26,188 and Newport News with 20,992. Not only do these former military members and their families live in Hampton Roads, but they also contribute greatly to our quality of life here by giving back. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service’s 2015 statistics, overall 25.1 percent of veterans volunteer -- a total of 4.8 million volunteers nationwide. And in 2015, the percentage of veterans who volunteered was higher than that of the general population. Nationwide in 2015, veterans volunteered 801 million hours of service, equaling $18.9 billion of service, to religious, social/community, education/youth service and other organizations, according to the statistics. This year’s Still Serving nominees work to assist immigrant workers, church groups, Cub Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, domestic violence and sexual assault victims, other veterans and many more. So we are not only fortunate, but also grateful and blessed, that after years spent serving their country, so many veterans and military retirees now serve Hampton Roads, providing innumerable positive effects to our region. All of us at Military Newspapers of Virginia honor our 2017 Still Serving award winners and all of our veterans and military retirees by recognizing their hard work, dedication and sacrifice. To all of our deserving Hampton Roads veterans and retirees, we offer our heartfelt thank you.
L Laura Baxter B Military Newspapers of Virginia publisher
PUBLISHER:
Laura Baxter EDITOR:
Karen L. Gill DESIGNERS:
Allyson Garner Kyle Raymer PHOTOGRAPHER:
Harry Gerwien Published by Military Newspapers of Virginia 150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, VA 23510 Phone: (757) 222-3990 Fax: (757) 853-1634 EDITORIAL:
(757) 222-3970 ADVERTISING:
(757) 222-3990 CLASSIFIEDS:
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The contents of this special section are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the U.S. Government, DoD, the DoT or the U.S. Coast Guard. Opinions of the contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Military Newspapers of Virginia or The Flagship®. The availability of these newspapers and the appearance of advertising in these publications, including any inserts or supplements, do not constitute endorsement by the federal government, DoD, DoT, U.S. Coast Guard, or Military Newspapers of Virginia of products or services advertised.
2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS
“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.” — PHILIPPIANS 4:13
Walter Goodwyn U.S. Marine Corps | Master Gunnery Sergeant | Served 1969-1997 Why did you decide to stay in (or move to) Hampton Roads after your military career?
I was born and raised in Southampton County. I was stationed Security Forces Battalion in 1993, when I purchased a home in Virginia Beach. I love the atmosphere of the military, and life for me is great, so many things to get involved with. The greatest gift I believe it offers is the flexibility of serving at my home church in the country.
Why did you decide to participate in your organizations?
After retiring, I realized that I was put on this Earth to be a server, whether it be in the church, neighborhood, military, delivering food baskets for EDMARC (children with terminal illness), taking food to senior citizen homes, visiting hospitals to give
encouragement, or saying hello to a neighbor to get a smile. To see the smile on an individual’s face and the people around gives me happiness.
What are your achievements or fond memories outside the military?
My children After retiring from the military, I worked for 12 years as a senior manager for Radio Shack, then I became a full-time volunteer for Employment of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and dedicated myself to being a server of the church. I deliver food to senior homes in the Tidewater area, and as a deacon of the church, I make visits to the sick in the hospital and find myself lifting up the spirit of other patients who I don’t even know. One of my greatest joys is serving others wherever needed. I Attend the Chesapeake Development Ad-
visory Committee meetings to inform companies of the advantages of hiring veterans and reservists. As vice president of the Reserve Officer Association (ROA) Tidewater Chapter, I help coordinate and inform the chapter.
Describe some of your military highlights.
Every memory of my 27 years are exciting, but my greatest moment was when I heard the words, “You are now a Marine,” at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. In serving my country, I learned what a joy it is to help somebody, and helping others made me a better person and leader. That spark gave me a love of informing service members of what I learned in my career to inspire them to be better service members and leaders.
Advice for other veterans:
My advice to veterans is to be patient and don’t let road blocks stop you from pursuing your goals in life. 12.07.17 | STILL SERVING 3
2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS
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“THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE AMOUNT OF GOOD YOU CAN DO IF YOU DON’T CARE WHO GETS THE CREDIT.” — RONALD REAGAN
Jeanne M. McDonnell Navy | Captain | Served 1981-2006 Why did you decide to stay in (or move to) Hampton Roads after your military career?
Who wouldn’t want to stay in Hampton Roads? We love it here. There is so much to do, and everything is fairly easy to get to. The ocean, the bay, Outer Banks and the Eastern Shore are all close, and it is only a few hours to the mountains. This area has great historical sites such as Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. There are plenty of museums, parks and shopping. The people in Hampton Roads are friendly and appreciate and welcome the military. There are plenty of military facilities including the NEX, MWR, and medical. What’s not to love?
Why did you decide to participate in your organizations? My children and I had done
some missionary work in Managua, Nicaragua, 4 STILL SERVING | 12.07.17
and we developed a heart for the people of Central America. My friend Sandy Grecco had also been to Nicaragua. She found out that there were many needy Hispanics in the Migrant Camps on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. We started a Migrant Ministry at our church about six years ago and have been going back into the camps each summer and at Christmas. The people are so appreciative and have such a heart for the Lord. It is very rewarding.
What are your achievements or fond memories outside the military? My children
are my greatest achievement. I am not sure how it happened, but they are kind and wonderful young adults. All but one of my grandchildren are in Norfolk, and it is great to be able to go to their sporting and other events.
I have had the privilege of volunteering with several great nonprofit organizations in Hampton Roads, including Habitat for Humanity and St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children. At St. Mary’s, I was able to take my service dog, Dakota, to visit one classroom every week. It is an amazing organization with an incredible staff. Most recently I have been teaching at Regent University in the undergraduate and MBA programs. I missed working with the young Sailors in the Navy, so I am excited to be back working with young people on campus. In the MBA program, I am able to connect with students all over the world through online teaching. I don’t know who is teaching whom – I learn so much from them! I also enjoy having so many veterans in my classes, because they bring a wealth of knowledge to the classroom.
Describe some of your military highlights.
I have loved every place I have been stationed. Each area and command had so many things that made it special. I did two tours in the Pentagon and thoroughly enjoyed the fast pace and working with other services. I also met my husband there! I loved being able to run to the Wall and Lincoln Memorial during lunch. It always reminded me of why we serve. We were always happy to return to Norfolk though. I had command of the Transient Personnel Unit at Naval Station Norfolk as well as Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads. Truly, the biggest highlight of my Navy career was having the opportunity to work with so many tremendous service members and civilians.
Advice for other veterans: I don’t know that
all veterans really appreciate how much knowledge and leadership experience they still possess. I would encourage them to get involved with in the community to share all that their military experience provided them.
2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS
“THERE ARE NO EXCUSES. LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT.”
Eric McLendon Navy | Lieutenant Commander O-4 | Served 1991-2014 Why did you decide to stay in (or move to) Hampton Roads after your military career?
Almost my entire career was spent out of Norfolk. My family had already planted roots, and we were very happy with the area. It had a great military presence and a high standard of education for our son.
Why did you decide to participate in your organizations?
The two big organizations I have chosen to work with are the Civil Air Patrol and the Food Pantry and Hope Ministry at Calvary Revival Church. The Civil Air Patrol was an organization that both my son and I could enjoy together. The mission of emergency services was one that appealed to me following in my line of public service. I was a Naval
officer, then a police officer, and this was a perfect transition to public safety. It is important that we always have a group of people who are trained to respond in a crisis and are ready to do so in a moment’s notice. Choosing the logistics officer position was a personal preference based on my time in Afghanistan. There I got my first taste of logistical work, and I wanted to further my training and service in the Civil Air Patrol.
What are your achievements or fond memories outside the military?
My fondest memories are those spent with my family. One in particular was on vacation. We were taking our second cruise with our son, and I saw him starting to take responsibility for himself. He was able to go off with friends and act in a manner
that we hoped he would when we were not there. This was definitely a proud moment and I saw and realized he is truly growing up.
Describe some of your military highlights.
The best duty station and most impactful one for me was my yearlong deployment to Afghanistan. I was given a job that was out of my scope of knowledge, but with a good team and dedication, it felt like I really contributed to the mission. Some of my best friends were found in Afghanistan, and a lot of eye-opening stories were added to my library.
Advice for other veterans:
There will be good times and bad times. Some of your best commands could be in the places you don’t want to go to at first. Give every assignment a chance. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what is right and take care of your men and women because you need them to take care of you. One Team One Fight!! 12.07.17 | STILL SERVING 5
2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS complete. When I help a veteran apply for Veterans Administration (VA) healthcare or arrange for them to obtain furniture when they are recently housed or to help them polish a resume that needs updating, I go home that day tired but fulfilled. Mission United is a service to the Hampton Roads community, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
What are your achievements or fond memories outside the military?
Michelle R. Story, MSW Navy | E-6 | Served 1985-2000 Why did you decide to stay in (or move to) Hampton Roads after your military career?
I was never stationed in Hampton Roads during my time in the military. I moved here when I separated, because I had always heard it was a military friendly place to live and there were opportunities for work and a reasonable cost of living. The rumors were true! I have been happily residing in Virginia Beach for 17 years and consider it my home.
Why did you decide to participate in your organizations? For over 125 years The United Way has been at the forefront of bringing people, organizations and communities together around a common cause, a common vision and a common path forward. The United Way is engaged in nearly 1,800 communities 6 STILL SERVING | 12.07.17
across the country and more than 40 countries and territories. When I became aware that The United Way of South Hampton Roads was kicking off a collective community impact initiative helping veterans find the services they need without all the red tape and dead ends, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Mission United connects veterans and their families with the services they need – from securing a roof over their heads to finding a stable job to getting the health treatment they need. Veterans return home with valuable skills and experience, yet many struggle to transition back to civilian life. Since Mission United launched in November of 2016, we have assisted almost 800 veterans, active-duty members and retirees. I derive a great deal of satisfaction when I can be of assistance to a veteran who is struggling. When I can advocate for a veteran and push though barriers that can result in huge gains for them, I feel
My daughter was born on Okinawa, Japan, so she is an awesome souvenir from my military time. Being her mom has been the greatest joy in my life. She is a smart, capable, well educated young woman who reminds me each day what loyalty and commitment mean. She is one of the bravest people I know, and she and I have been through so much together. Having her by side my entire adult life has kept me grounded and reminds me that life is about more than myself but rather about my legacy. As she has grown up she has shown herself to be an outstanding example of what resilience looks like, and I believe her first 13 years of life as a military child had something to do with that. In addition to my daughter, the achievement I am most proud of is my education. I had a GED until my mid-40s, when I decided I wanted to learn more about people. I attended Tidewater Community College, which I loved and still do. I graduated and matriculated to Old Dominion University and graduated with a degree in sociology. I then applied and was accepted to graduate school at Saint Leo University, where I obtained my Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis in services for veterans. I still don’t fully understand people, but I don’t think we can completely understand others, and I strive mostly to understand myself. However, I do have a slightly better understanding of why people react in certain ways and how to help them think about things in more productive ways.
Describe some of your military highlights.
I was a military police officer and working in that capacity allowed me to interact with active-duty members, retirees, spouses and military children, as well as local nationals. I use many of the skills I learned then in my work now. I loved being in uniform, and I so valued the sense of being a part of something so much bigger than myself. I thoroughly enjoyed being stationed in Okinawa, because the people there were so gentle and kind. I adored being stationed in Puerto Rico, because the neighborhood people where my daughter lived took us under their wing, and there was food and music and singing all the time. I wouldn’t trade my time as American active-duty service member for anything. Even with its challenges, it’s still the most rewarding job in the world.
2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS
Union Mission Ministries serving poor, homeless in the Hampton Roads area for 125 years By Linda C. Jones Public relations director Union Mission Ministries
In 2016 The Union Mission provided food, clothing, shelter and job and life skills training to 2,214 men, women and children in its shelters, including 1,351 veterans, and provided additional assistance to 3,660 individuals in the community. Sylvester Artis, age 74, was raised in Southampton County, Virginia, in a Christian family. He dropped out of school in the 10th grade and enlisted in the Army in the 82nd Airborne Division B Company, where he served in Germany, Panama and Vietnam. He started doing drugs and drinking while he was in the
military and was addicted for several years, but has been clean for more than 30 years. He got married at 22 and has a daughter now 45 and a son who died when he was 50. Artis’ wife passed away in 1969, and he never remarried. After he retired from the military, he drove a truck and then did auto body repair. Last January he was renting a room in a woman’s home, and it caught fire. With nowhere else to turn, he came to The Union Mission. “I didn’t know what to expect at first. I’d never been in a shelter before, but the staff was really friendly, and I joined the Damascus Destination Program (workforce development program for older men). They took care of me. We had
In 2016 The Union Mission provided food, clothing, shelter and job and life skills training to 2,214 men, women and children in its shelters, including 1,351 veterans, and provided additional assistance to 3,660 individuals in the community. classes every morning, afternoon and night, and I attended Chapel services every day. “I was in church as a kid but didn’t think it was that important then. At the Mission I found out you need to have God in your life.“ Artis’ case manager helped him apply for veterans Social Security benefits. They also helped him get housing through a Veterans Affairs program, and he was very excited when he moved into his new place in July. “If it wasn’t for the Mission I don’t know where I’d be. It’s a wonderful place. The staff is great. Everybody goes out of their way to help you. I thank God for that.”
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2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS
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2011
Veterans Throughout The Years 2012
A. Doyle Quisenberry
Gene Crabtree
Navy | Commander Served 1947-1976
Navy | Master Chief Served 1952-1983
Work/volunteer efforts in the community in when honored in 2011:
“There is not another organization, either military or civilian, that provides the range and scope of information to retirees provided by the RAO volunteers. Gene’s leadership and dedication, and his tireless management of the complex, multifaceted RAO program have made an enormous, positive difference in the lives of thousands of retirees. Combining his active service years with volunteer years, Gene Crabtree proudly ‘Still Serves’ after 56 years!”
2011 Veteran of the Year
A. Doyle Quisenberry worked with the ESGR (Employer Supports the Guard Reserve). He obtained more than 1,200 signed statements of support from employers as large as Norfolk Southern and Sentara – more than any other in the state of Virginia. “ As a very active volunteer for the ESGR program, his volunteer work has been extensive. He has been a driving force in the Hampton Roads area, visiting employers and eliciting their support for ESGR.”
– Frances Quisenberry, Spouse of Doyle Quisenberry 8 STILL SERVING | 12.07.17
2012 Veteran of the Year
– Kathy Nelson, Director, NMCRS Norfolk and Marguerite Tackett, FFSC Regional Program Manager
2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS
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2013
Veterans Throughout The Years 2014
Jason Redman
Timothy “Frosty” Pentecost
2013 Veteran of the Year
2014 Veteran of the Year
Navy | Lieutenant Served 1992-2013
Army | Sergeant Major Served 1975-1995
“In Jason’s spare time, he speaks across the country spreading his message of life, inspiration, and sheds light on the sacrifices that enable the freedoms of our country. I work with many military organizations in Virginia and North Carolina. I am never more uplifted and inspired than I am at a Wounded Wear event. The sacrifices given to our country – those who benefit from this charity – are obvious. Even more obvious is the sense of inclusion and empowerment they get from participating with Jason and Wounded Wear. I’m very proud to be able to call Jason Redman a friend.”
“Under Frosty’s leadership, the DAV York County Victory Chapter 13 of Yorktown is now open five days a week, meeting the needs of veterans as they come to complete and submit Veterans Affairs claims.” -“Terry” Bohlinger, friend and comrade at DAV 13
– Steven Ludwig, friend 12.07.17 | STILL SERVING 9
2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS
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2015
Veterans Throughout The Years 2016
Larry Banks
Rob Allen
Navy | Personnel Special First Class Served 1977-1999
Army | E4-Specialist Served 1991-1994
Work/volunteer efforts in the community in when honored in 2015:
Work/volunteer efforts in the community in when honored in 2016:
2015 Veteran of the Year
When I reported on board Center for Information Dominance Unit Hampton Roads in 1999, I was asked to do a volunteer event. I was inspired by that event, and how well the coordinator had organized it. From that moment I knew I was destined to become a person who would volunteer. When the coordinator left the command in 2003, I became the community service outreach coordinator. She also served on the Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission (VBCC). I was offered her volunteer position with the commission and I accepted. I currently serve as the vice chairman of that committee. 10 STILL SERVING | 12.07.17
2016 Veteran of the Year
I’m a philanthropist by nature. I believe that serving the most honorable and vulnerable among us is a duty and commitment – not unlike service in the military. I volunteer for some wonderful organizations who really “get it.” To name a few: Combat Wounded Coalition, Home of Wounded Wear; The Tribute Flight Foundation; Virginia Patriot Guard Riders; End 22; Bridges for the Fallen (BFTF); Khedive Shriner; American Heart Association; CHKD Butterfly Promises and LifeNet Volunteer.
2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS
2011 Nominees
2012 Nominees
2013 Nominees
JACK ROHRER | NAVY
GENE CRABTREE | NAVY
JASON REDMAN | NAVY
MARGARET MCGUINNESS | NAVY
DIANE BEAVERS | ARMY
BARBARA GERAGHTY | NAVY
MARK NEVILLE | NAVY
BRUCE LALONDE | NAVY
FRANCIS CUBILLO | MARINE CORPS
A. DOYLE QUISENBERRY | NAVY
DONALD HODGE | NAVY
LEON HILL | MARINE CORPS
PAIGE CHERRY | ARMY
BETTY MILLER | NAVY
FRED ARCHER | NAVY
ARNOLD LOREA | AIR FORCE
JEFF OSTER | MARINE CORPS
MIKE HOFFPAUIR | ARMY
DAVID KNAPP | ARMY
JERI PROPHET | NAVY
DON PHILLIPS | ARMY
FREDDA BRYAN | NAVY
ROGER HUGHES | NAVY
SUE FITZGERALD | NAVY
ANDRE SMITH | NAVY
MELINDA ZIMMERMAN | NAVY
WILLIAM HAYDEN | NAVY
RAYMOND DREW | NAVY
CHRISTINE SCHWEISS | ARMY
LES PAGE | MARINE CORPS
WESLEY WERLING | AIR FORCE
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2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS
2014 Nominees
2015 Nominees
2016 Nominees
DAN BAXTER | NAVY
LARRY BANKS | NAVY
ROB ALLEN | ARMY
TANISHA A. BOWN | NAVY
RON BAUMAN | NAVY
NORM AULAND | NAVY
STACEY CUMMINGS | AIR FORCE
CHUCK BEERS | NAVY
ROBERT BYRNE, SR. | NAVY RESERVE
TED DIGGES | NAVY
FREDDIE CANO | NAVY
TANYA CANTY | NAVY
GEORGE A. GALLO | ARMY
ANDREW DAMIANI | ARMY
JIM DONOVAN | NAVY
RONALD HYMAN | NAVY
BETTY HAND | NAVY
RICHARD S. ERIE | NAVY
REBECCA LANDICK | NAVY
GEORGE HOLSCHER | NAVY
ANTOINE HINES | NAVY
LYREN A. MORRIS | ARMY
BETTY MILLER | NAVY
JOSEPH HOLYFIELD | NAVY
TIMOTHY PENTECOST | ARMY
JOE SCHNURBUSCH | NAVY
BRUCE LALONDE | NAVY
ROSS VIERRA | NAVY
FRAN WILSON | MARINE CORPS
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2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS
2017 Nominees TERESA ARNOLD | NAVY WALTER GOODWYN | MARINE CORPS MATTHEW KLYM | NAVY JOHN MALFITANO | NAVY JEANNE M. MCDONNELL | NAVY ERIC MCLENDON | NAVY JASON REDMAN | NAVY MICHELLE R. STORY | NAVY
We THANK YOU For Your Service
Kirsten Fogel 757-785-3506 • kirsten_fogel@daveandbusters.com *PROMOTIONAL. OFFER EXPIRES: 12/7/17. This offer must be referenced at the time of booking. Offer valid ONLY with events held between 11/27/17 - 12/7/17. 20% discount requires a buffet and $1,000 minimum spend prior to tax, gratuity and outside vendors. 20% discount applied on food, non-alcoholic beverages, Power Cards and Rental Fees only and excludes all other charges including alcohol, outside vendors, tax and gratuity. Not valid with any other offer. Promotion excludes the following buffet packages: Ultimate Happy Hour Buffet, Ultimate Party Package Buffet, Playoff Buffet & Field Trip Buffet. Should event need to be rescheduled outside of valid dates, the 20% discount will not apply. Revenue minimums apply and vary by location. Subject to availability. Valid at participating locations only and prices may vary by location. Minor policies vary by location. See store for details. **PROMOTIONAL. EXPIRES 2/4/18. This offer must be referenced at the time of booking. Offer valid ONLY with events held between now and 2/4/18. Promotion requires a buffet and $1,000 minimum spend prior to tax, gratuity and outside vendors. Not valid with any other offers including Eat & Play Combo. Power Card will be accumulated based on final event sales prior to tax, gratuity and outside vendor rental and will be gifted to the event host upon conclusion of event. Maximum value on free Power Card not to exceed $1,000. Power Card value may not be divided into multiple cards. Other restrictions may apply. Subject to availability. Valid at participating locations only and prices may vary by location. Minor policies vary by location. See store for details.
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2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS
“Our members of the military don’t get to choose whether or not to come to work, so why should I?” Larry Kearney, VersAbility switchboard operator at Joint Base Langley Eustis
Versability Employee Goes Extra Mile To Provide Essential Services At Joint Base Langley Eustis By Sarah Bowman Director of marketing and development VersAbility Resources
Most people hear “snow day” and start thinking about hot chocolate, sledding, and relaxing at home. When Larry Kearney hears snow day, he immediately thinks, “How am I going to get to work?” Kearney is a switchboard operator
at VersAbility’s contract at Joint Base Langley Eustis, the East Coast Telephone Operations Consolidated Call Center (TOCCC). He and the rest of the team handle calls for military bases east of the Mississippi and connect calls to planes in flight. He proudly served in the military and decided to stay in Hampton Roads after his retirement. Kearney’s disability made
it possible for him to get a job working with VersAbility Resources, formerly known as The Arc of the Virginia Peninsula. He loves his job and takes great pride in providing excellent customer service. “We get calls from Iraq and Afghanistan, men and women in the military wanting to speak to their families,” Kearney said. “It is an honor to talk to them and make sure they are connected to their loved ones.” The Switchboard team is missionessential and must report to work. During severe snowstorms, the buses stopped running, and Kearney couldn’t get from his home in the Phoebus area of Hampton to Langley Air Force Base, so he walked two and a half hours in the snow. “Our members of the military don’t get to choose whether or not to come to work, so why should I?” he said. VersAbility Resources has been supporting people with disabilities for more than 60 years. They serve more than 1,500 people with disabilities in early
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8 A R E A L O C AT I O N S T O S E R V E Y O U 14 STILL SERVING | 12.07.17
2017 STILL SERVING MILITARY VETERAN AWARDS childhood, day support, community living, and four different work programs. VersAbility serves the entire Hampton Roads region, as well as the 10 counties on the Middle Peninsula. If you work on a military base in Hampton Roads, you’ve most likely run into a VersAbility employee and you may even work alongside them. In addition to operating the Switchboard at JBLE, VersAbility’s employees with disabilities also deliver military mail on the base. At Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, VersAbility employees manufacture eyeglasses at the NOSTRA Lens Lab, provide food services at the Galley, perform grounds maintenance at the high-visibility areas, provide custodial services for Yorktown and Cheatham Annex, and perform hospital housekeeping at the Yorktown Clinic. VersAbility employees operate the Switchboard and assist with food service at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center and load items onto ships of all sizes at Naval Station Norfolk. VersAbility also supports our youngest military family members through its Early Prevention and Intervention for Children (EPIC) program, which helps children with disabilities and delays from
birth to 3 years of age. VersAbility works with Exceptional Family Member programs (EFPs) on military bases to provide supports for families relocating to the area or those in need of services. VersAbility gives parents the resources they need to help their child succeed in school, work and life. They serve more than 800 infants and toddlers each year, and more than half are from military families. If you have a loved one with a disability or would like more information on VersAbility, please contact 757-896-6461 or visit versability.org.
Photo by SourceAmerica
Larry Kearney attended a training in Washington D.C. to learn how to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities. He also met with legislators to share how their decisions affect individuals across the country.
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