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PUBLISHED BY SOUTHERN LAKES NEWSPAPERS 2017

Heroes

Hometown

INSIDE: • MEET SOME LOCAL HEROES • MILITARY ON TOP • VIPER RIDE RETURNS

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HOMETOWN HEROES

NOV. 2017

ALL IN THE

family

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Hometown Heroes

The Nieuwenhuis family of Walworth County has a long history of military services.

Clockwise from top: Aaron (from left), Todd and Dan Nieuwenhuis in their uniforms; Bob Nieuwenhuis; and Kathleen (Deering) Nieuwenhuis in uniform. Kathleen is married to Todd Nieuwenhuis and is a chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy. She is currently stationed at Youkousko Naval base in Japan, where she and her husband and two sons live. Aaron is Mel Nieuwenhuis’ son, Dan is Larry Nieuwenhuis’ son, and Todd is Eli and Char Nieuwenhuis’ son. Aaron and Dan are U.S. Army veterans, both served in Iran. Todd is an U.S. Army National Guard veteran, and served in Afgahanistan. Jill (Nieuwenhuis) Day (not pictured) served in the U.S. Coast Guard; she married and no longer is in the service, but her husband Drew Day is still serving in the Coast Guard. For more information about the family’s business, Nieuwenhuis Bros., Inc. see the ad on Page 12.

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HOMETOWN HEROES

NOV. 2017

Page 3

Veteran Amanda Debaere and her family are pictured here with the James R. Taylor and Sons employees, family member and volunteers who replaced the roof on Debaere’s Genoa City home in 2017.

Debaere was the fourth veteran to receive a new roof from Taylor and Sons since their Military on Top program began in 2014.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Hometown Heroes

‘Military on Top’ PUTTING THE

AREA BUILDER OFFERS GRANT FOR A NEW ROOF TO VETERANS

by Tracy Ouellette

residents and the nomination form and more information can be found at www.jrtaylorandsons.com under the “contact” tab.

“We get about 10 to 12 nominations each year, but we really want to see that snowball,” he said. “All the guys love doing this. Everybody from the company is there and other family members and we have volunteers that show up too. It’s a great day. I have T-shirts made for everyone and we have so much fun.

“It wouldn’t be what it is without this awesome team.”

EDITOR

It started from a simple social media post where a veteran had shared a photo of a broken garage door asking for help and the owners of James R. Taylor and Sons saw it.

“I turned to Stevie, my wife, and said, “What can we do?” James Taylor recalled.

So, they brainstormed ideas to help out local veterans with their resources and decided on replacing a roof for a vet.

“Once we came up with the idea, everyone was on board,” James said.

“From there, we had to decide what to call it and since it was a roof it made sense to say we were putting the Military on Top and that’s what we did,” James said.

From there the process involved setting up the legalities of the grant program and getting the word out.

“We contacted the newspapers and I took down one of our billboards and replaced it with the Military on Top,” James said. “Now we have it on all of our trucks, so it’s out there all the time, but the first year we had to do it differently.”

After that was in place, they enlisted the help of the East Troy American Legion Loomis-Martin Post 188 to assist in choosing the recipient.

“Tom Senft (post commander) has been a great help through out all of this,” James said. “They pick out who will get the roof each year and it’s always someone who is so humble and grateful.

“Every single year, without exception, when we announce who will be getting the roof, they tell us to give it to someone who’s need is greater, that they will be okay on their own. I have to tell them that’s not how this works and they will be getting the roof. It makes me smile every time.”

James said the nomination process ends April 1 each

A little history of the company

TRACY OUELLETTE Hometown Heroes

James R. Taylor and Sons owners, Stevie and James Taylor, support area veterans with their Military on Top program.

year and the recipient is announced at the Memorial Day observances at East Troy Village Square Park. The recipients are notified in advance so they can be at the park for photos of them receiving the grant.

Since its inception, four veterans have been awarded a new roof. They are: Amanda Debaere, 2017; Larry Weber, 2016; Phil Schultz, 2015; and Francis Brady, 2014. Debaere is a Genoa City resident and the other three veterans were East Troy residents.

James said the program is open to all Walworth County

James said he is the third generation to own the company and he moved it to East Troy in the early 1980s.

“My grandfather started my father in this business and now it’s me and my wife, Stevie, running it,” he said.

The Taylors employ about 20 people, including workmen and office staff.

Along with roofing, Taylor and Sons offers remodeling services, with a showroom in East Troy, window replacement, siding, kitchens and baths, and even new construction.

“That’s something rather new for us,” James said.

“We do a few new houses a year, but remodeling is the majority of our business.

The company is on the East Troy Village Square, at 2115 Division St., and James said when they built their new showroom/offices two years ago, they chose to stay on the square to bolster economic development in East Troy’s downtown district.

“We’re a blessed company and if there’s something we can do for community, we will do it,” James said. “We’re a business that cares for people and the community and we want to give back as much as we can.

For more information, visit the company’s website or give them a call at 262-642-7970.

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HOMETOWN HEROES

NOV. 2017

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Meet our hero Area man honored for his service to the country

Terry Gorton joined the U.S. Navy in October of 1963. He went aboard the USS Valley Forge LPH8 in 1964. He was in Vietnam in 1964-65.

In 1965 he went aboard the Assault Craft Div. II and was in Vietnam 196567 and went up the Mekong Delta River several times. He was exposed to Agent Orange. He was first diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2001, which was caused

by Agent Orange. Then he was diagnosed with lung cancer and just a few years ago, brain cancer.

He did many tours of duty in Vietnam and he got out of the Navy in 1967. He

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Above: Terry Gorton served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Because of exposure to Agent Orange, he has been battling cancer for the last four years. At right: Terry and his grandson, Devin Gorton, celebrate graduation day.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Hometown Heroes

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feels “very lucky he got to come back home because a lot of his buddy’s did not.”

“My fiancé, Eric, and I are nominating my dad because he is an inspiration,” said Katie Smosarski of Master Services Inc. “Four years ago he was given only a few months to live. He has fought through these cancers because of the love of his family. We love him very much and are very proud of this man who served our country. We are all proud to call him dad, father-in-law, and Papa. He is and always will be our hero.”

For more information on Master Services, see the ad on Page 8.

HOMETOWN HEROES

NOV. 2017

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VIPER Ride “pilots” bring their “tailgunners” to the East Troy Village Hall for the lunch celebration in 2016. Community members are encouraged to attend the lunch break at Village Hall again this year.

Rolling into town

ERIC KRAMER Hometown Heroes

Second annual VIPER Ride makes halfway stop in East Troy

by Meghan Griffin CORRESPONDENT

The second annual VIPER Ride once again stopped at the East Troy Village Hall for lunch and a rest on Aug. 20. The ride allows blind and visually impaired veterans to experience more than 100 miles of road via motorcycle.

VIPER stands for Visually Impaired Patriots Experiencing the Road and the riders, known as “tailgunners” and their drivers, known as “pilots.” The ride started at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center and made a rest stop in East Troy for a meal and a chance to visit before heading back.

Nearly 100 motorcycles participated in the ride, escorted by 15 motorcyclemounted members of law enforcement.

East Troy’s LD’s BBQ, Gus’s Drive-In,

Ivan’s on the Square and the American Legion all helped feed the hungry riders.

The public was encouraged to join the veterans and their pilots during the stop to get to know them. Music was also featured.

“If people don’t come out and talk to these guys, they’re missing some amazing stories,” VIPER Ride co-founder T.J. Oman said before the ride.

He described the veterans as “living history” and encouraged people to spend time talking with them at the event.

Oman, a retired U.S. Naval officer, founded the event with his friend, John Carter, a blind, former Marine. It all started over lunch in the summer of 2015. Oman, a long-time motorcycle enthusiast who had

See VIPER, Page 15

MEGHAN GRIFFIN Hometown Heroes

VIPER Ride founders John Carter (left) and T.J. Oman take a short break together at last year’s stop in East Troy.

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HOMETOWN HEROES

NOV. 2017

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Delavan man takes trip to D.C. 67 years after serving country HOMETOWN HEROES

NOV. 2017

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89-year-old is one of 97 veterans aboard 39th Stars and Stripes Honor Flight

by Vicky Wedig STAFF WRITER

ands and bag pipers played, hundreds of well-wishers lined up to show their gratitude and family members were there to surprise him when Frank Bunnell arrived at Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee on May 21.

“That was the most emotional part of the whole thing,” said the 89-year-old veteran from Delavan who took the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. “The people were just so gracious. They wanted to shake my hand.”

Bunnell and Art Romani, 90, of Delavan, were among 97 veterans aboard the 39th Honor Flight from Milwaukee.

Bunnell served in the U.S. Army as part of post-World War II occupation forces in Germany while the Korean War was under way. Romani served in World War II. The May 21 Honor Flight had six World War II veterans, one Vietnam veteran and 90 Korean War veterans on board, Bunnell said.

Each veteran was accompanied by a guardian. Mike Janzen, a former U.S. Air Force pilot from Burlington, was Bunnell’s guardian. The pair met by chance 14 years ago.

Chance friendship

Bunnell was born and raised in Lake Nebagamon 30 miles from Superior and worked at the Johns Manville plant in Waukegan, Ill., manufacturing asbestos products before moving to Delavan about 65 years ago. In 1959, he married his wife, Margaret, who died in 2009, and they had three children.

He had a variety of jobs over the years including driving truck, working in lumber yards and delivering farm products.

“I’ve done a lot of things in my life,” he said. “I would do it again – including getting married.”

After retiring, Bunnell spent many mornings having coffee at the Delavan fire station, then on Seventh Street, with police chief, and now fire chief, Tim O’Neill.

One morning in 2003 after leaving the fire house, Bunnell saw the car wash – another occupation he’d experienced – operating at Seventh and Wisconsin streets and stood at the railroad tracks to watch for awhile.

Bunnell said Janzen, who owns Jet Wash, came over to ask Bunnell if something was wrong, extended his hand and introduced himself.

“We’ve been the best of friends ever since,” he said.

Janzen showed Bunnell around the car wash and offered the then-74-year-old a part-time job, which he accepted. The Honor Flight, Bunnell said, was Janzen’s idea, and he made the arrangements. Bunnell recalls the emotion of sailing away from the coast of his country 67 years ago but had never been to his country’s capital.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Hometown Heroes

U.S. Army veteran Frank Bunnell stops outside the memorial amphitheater at the Arlington National Cemetery on his first trip to Washington, D.C. Inset: Bunnell finds the name of Maj. Richard Bong, a World War II ace from Wisconsin, on the wall at the U.S. Air Force Memorial.

‘Impressive’ sights

The day of the Honor Flight began at 3 a.m. for Bunnell to board a plane in Milwaukee at 7 a.m. for the hour-and-35minute flight to D.C. Buses were ready for veterans and their guardians to board at the airport in Washington for their first stop – the World War II memorial.

“That’s huge,” he said. “There’s over 400,000 Americans buried there.”

The memorial encompasses 635 acres on different sites, Bunnell said.

Veterans saw the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

“Very impressive,” Bunnell said.

He said school children were allowed to come and place wreaths on the tomb, and Taps was played.

“The bugler played Taps twice,” he said.

“I never heard a clink. Just perfect.”

Bunnell said the Korean War Veterans Memorial, dedicated in 1995, was “very, very impressive.”

It includes a mural wall with 2,500 photographs of troops sandblasted into a 164-foot granite wall and 19 stainless steel statues that stand 7 feet tall and represent soldiers in Korea.

The group also visited the Iwo Jima Memorial – a sculpture of the iconic 1945 photograph of six Marines raising a flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. “That’s quite impressive,” Bunnell said.

The group also visited the Vietnam Wall, but Bunnell said he wasn’t able to find the names of three Delavan veterans

etched into the wall.

“We didn’t have time,” he said. “It’s so big, it’s so long, it tapers both ways down to nothing, all made of granite.”

Bunnell did, however, find the name of Maj. Richard Bong, a World War II ace from Wisconsin.

Janzen also pushed Bunnell’s wheelchair to give him a view of the White House and the Capitol.

He also saw the Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln monuments well as a memorial to Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was president when Bunnell was 17 years old.

He said the FDR memorial was the biggest one there, had his famous quotes engraved in different areas and contained water features throughout the 7 ½-acre site.

“There must be a dozen waterfalls,” he said.

War in the ‘50s

As a 17-year-old, Bunnell recalls when FDR died in 1945 and Harry Truman became president. Truman remained at the helm when Bunnell was called to serve in Germany in 1950 – five years after World War II ended and as the Korean War began.

Bunnell was in the second platoon of the second battalion of the 16th regiment of the first division – a platoon known as “Big Bloody One,” he said.

Bunnell was one of three men assigned to the border as look-outs to watch the Russians. Outfitted with machine guns and radios, the men’s instructions were – if they saw a cloud of dust – to get on the radio and

say, “Mayday!”

“World War III was about to start,” he said.

Fortunately, Bunnell said, they never had to do that.

“The Russians behaved,” he said.

Emotional homecoming

Nearly seven decades later, Bunnell said, the most emotional parts of his first trip to Washington, D.C., were the surprises in store for the veterans – a mail call on the flight home and the celebratory welcome at the airport.

When veterans boarded the plane to return to Milwaukee, mail call was announced and Bunnell was handed a package – he didn’t open it until he got home – that contained letters from O’Neill, City Hall, his kids, the American Legion, Gov. Scott Walker, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan and U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.

Bunnell said every aspect of the trip ran smoothly with volunteers on hand to ensure veterans had cold bottles of water and lunches.

“They took good care of us,” he said.

Police escorts ensured a speedy route from one monument to the next, and veterans were passed right through security at the airport.

“It was a well-executed experience,” he said. “It was just awesome.”

Bunnell said he was privileged to have Janzen take him on the trip.

“I told him what an honor it was, and he said, ‘No, it’s the other way around,’” Bunnell said. “I just feel so humble.”

Page 8

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NOV. 2017

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Page 9

East Troy man spends a week on aircraft carrier

by Tracy Ouellette

D EDITOR

aniel Donegan, of East Troy, had the opportunity to spend a week aboard the USS Makin Island, a U.S. Navy LHD-8 aircraft carrier in spring 2017. Donegan’s son is U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Oscar Donegan, who was stationed on the carrier at the time Daniel participated in the Tiger Cruise.

“It was probably one of the most incredible experiences of my life,” Daniel said. “When you have a child who goes to college or tech school you can visit them, but when you have a child in the military, you don’t really know what their life is like.”

At the time of Daniel’s Tiger Cruise, the Makin Island was part of the threeship Amphibious Ready Group that included the USS Somerset and USS Comstock. The ships served in the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit for a seven-month deployment to the Pacific, Middle East and Horn of Africa.

Daniel boarded the aircraft carrier in Honolulu and stayed aboard on its journey home to San Diego.

“They allowed us to see just about everything on the boat,” Daniel said.

“It gave me a whole new perspective on what these incredible people deal with on a day-to-day basis.

“My son told me that 90 percent of what we saw on that cruise, he had never seen. With the Tiger Cruise badge, I could go just about anywhere and he could follow.”

Daniel said what impressed him the most during the cruise was the service men and women he spent time with.

“I got to talk to them and ask them questions and they were so articulate and bright,” he said. “To find that many young people who were that well spoken, that well mannered, really renews my faith in the future of our country.”

Daniel did say, one of the things that was troubling for him was seeing how much the cuts in the military over recent years has affected the people who serve. He talked about how difficult it was to keep things like all the toilets in operating order and how most of the repairs to the ship and its equipment is now done by outside contractors instead of military personnel to save money.

“It’s been very detrimental to the operations on ships like the Makin Island,” he said. “But these young people just make the best of it.”

Daniel also said it amazed him how different the lives of the service men and women on the ship compared to the civilian world.

“There are no chairs anywhere,” he said. “They can’t sit down – they’re not allowed to. The only places with chairs so they can rest are in the mess hall and small section in the berthing area that has about 20 chairs, for about 250 people in that berth.

“They work, eat and sleep, that’s about it.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO Hometown Heroes

Daniel Donegan (left), of East Troy, and his son, U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Oscar Donegan, spend time on the flight deck of the USS Makin Island.

A very special request Before he left for the Tiger Cruise, Daniel asked the Village of East Troy if he could “borrow” one of the flags that fly on the downtown village square to take with him.

His request was granted and during the cruise, the ship’s crew hoisted the flag.

“The captain of the Makin Island, Mark Melson, was most gracious in making this happen,” Daniel said. “The day it occurred was a day I’ll never forget. Winds were about 40 mph with heavy rain and to see my son raising the flag was really moving.

“He was up there with another crewmember and they were really struggling to raise it as it is so large and winds were really causing trouble. But then something exceptional occurred.

Marines and Navy sailors saw what was going on came running to assist. It was a really somber moment and the crew was most courteous to let us all reflect upon the moment. It really hit home as the boat saw Navy Seal William Owens give the ultimate sacrifice during a raid on Yemen which originated from the Makin

Island.” he continued.

After the flag was lowered, Daniel was presented with a certificate of the date, time and location the flag was flown on the ship.

“I presented the flag, which I had embroidered with the time, date and location, to Village Board President Scott Seager and we flew it on the square Memorial Day.” Daniel said the flag is going to be preserved by the village and be used for special holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and when special events call for it, such as losing a local service man or woman. He said he was very honored people were connecting with the flag and it’s history.

“They want to make it part of East Troy’s history now and that’s just an incredible credit to our military. It’s something we need to do for them and something they don’t get enough of.

“I don’t care if you’re liberal, conservative, gay, straight, or whatever, the military is the one thing that keeps the right for all of that. The rights to be who we are is protected by these young men and women and no matter where you stand, they deserve our respect and support.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Hometown Heroes

The Village of East Troy loaned one of their flags for the village square (seen here) to Daniel Donegan so it could be flown on the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier the USS Makin Island when Donegan participated in a recent Tiger Cruise aboard the ship.

HOMETOWN HEROES

NOV. 2017

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HOMETOWN HEROES

NOV. 2017

Page 11

When veterans’ caregivers are left behind Dave Riley doesn’t take a step without his wife, literally.

“In the morning, he needs help putting on his shirt and his prosthetics – both his legs and arms. Then, I brush his teeth and shave him,” said Yvonne Riley, who serves as her husband’s primary caregiver. At night, Yvonne reverses that routine to get Dave into bed.

Dave is an Army and Coast Guard veteran; he served as a helicopter rescue swimmer. He is also a quadruple amputee.

In 1997, he contracted a rare bacterial infection when swimming – septic shock pneumococcus sepsis. The infection essentially stopped the blood flow inside his body. As a result, doctors advised Yvonne that they would need to have all four of his limbs amputated and several internal organs removed. It was the only thing that could be done to save Dave’s life.

“As I lay in the hospital bed recovering, I was devastated to find both my arms and legs had been amputated. All I could feel was despair,” Dave recalled. “I couldn’t imagine how the rest of my life would have any value or happiness.”

But thanks to his wife’s continuous care and support from the Department of Veterans Affairs and others, Dave was able to rebuild his life and start a new career in IT. Over the years, he has learned to ski and golf, he has competed in cycling races, and he has honed his skills as a woodworker.

Dave has also risen through the ranks to become the National Commander of the 1.3 million–member veteran service organization DAV (Disabled American Veterans).

Yvonne – like many other caregivers of veterans severely injured while serving their country – has made a lifetime of personal sacrifices to help manage her husband’s care.

These sacrifices not only benefit Dave, but serve the country as well.

Statistics show that family caregivers save

the federal government significant dollars, when compared to treating disabled veterans through institutions. For example, veterans with catastrophic injuries such as Dave’s, who are eligible for nursing home care, could cost taxpayers upward of $300,000 per year.

However, by providing support to the family member caregiver through VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, the average cost per veteran is under $30,000 annually. And the care is generally better for the veteran’s health and quality of life. It’s shown that family caregivers help reduce overall health care costs through care that minimizes medical complications and lowers the number of hospital admissions for veteran patients.

Yet Yvonne and Dave do not qualify for all of VA’s caregiver benefits.

Surprisingly, only veterans injured after Sept. 11, 2001, are eligible for the complete comprehensive caregiver benefit package through the VA – which includes education and training, respite care and mental health services, and, perhaps most importantly, monthly stipends and health care coverage for the caregiver.

Organizations such as DAV, veterans such as Dave Riley, and Veterans Service Organization partners and caregiver advocacy groups are working hard to change these laws and correct this inequity. Many Americans, concerned about fair treatment for every veteran who needs a caregiver, are calling (202) 224-3121 to ask their legislators where they stand on the issue.

“Caregivers are really America’s unsung heroes,” said Dave. “It’s only right that we ensure they are honored with the support they earned and deserve.”

For more information about support and resources for veterans’ caregivers, visit www.

DAV.org/veterans/resources.

(NAPS)

FILE PHOTO Hometown Heroes

Disabled veteran Dave Riley and his wife, Yvonne. Dave is a U.S. Army and Coast Guard veteran, serving as a helicopter rescue swimmer.

HELP SUPPORT MILITARY FAMILIES A new way to honor America’s veterans and military families can be at your fingertips. That’s because Fujitsu General America launched a Facebook campaign to help military families.

A leading provider of energyefficient heating and cooling systems for residential and commercial use will donate $1 to Operation Homefront for every “like” it receives on its Fujitsu General USA Heating & Cooling Facebook page.

Operation Homefront is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to build strong, stable and secure military families so they can thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they’ve worked so hard to protect. For over 15 years, the organization has provided programs that offer: • Relief – through critical financial assistance and transitional housing programs • Resiliency – through permanent housing and caregiver support services • Recurring Family Support – through programs and services that help military families overcome short-term bumps in the road so they don’t become long-term chronic problems.

Recognized for superior performance

by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year.

“We hope everyone will join us in our quest to raise as much money as possible to enhance the lives of our most deserving American heroes,” Said Andy Armstrong, vice president of sales and marketing for Fujitsu General America.

“This is an exciting campaign because anyone can get involved through social media to support military families,” added Jill EskinSmith, senior director of corporate and foundation partnerships for Operation Homefront. “Many Americans care about our men and women in uniform but they may not know how to show their appreciation. Fujitsu General America is making it easy for everyone to participate, and we are grateful for their partnership.”

For more information on Fujitsu General America, go to www. fujitsugeneral.com. For facts on and to donate to Operation Homefront, visit www.operationhomefront.org.

(NAPS)

FILE PHOTO Hometown Heroes

America’s military and their families can benefit from a new social media campaign.

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HOMETOWN HEROES

NOV. 2017

Thank You to All Veterans!

A Salute to Our Vets!

Chico’s LLC

Your On-Call

Since 1982 “IT” Department Mike Ciecko Owner

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• Log Splitters • Chain Saws Virus Removal • System Optimization • Snowplows • Leaf Blowers Remote Computer Support Upgrades • Diagnostics/Troubleshooting • Salters • Trimmers Servicing Home & Business Client Remote Computer Support • Snowblowers Servicing Home & Business Client

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Residential • Commercial • CONSTRUCTION Garbage & Recycling Pickup • Dumpster Rental 4 Yard - 30 Yard Containers Mon. - Thurs. 7:30 - 4:00 • Fri. 7:30 - 2:30 Locally Owned & Operated by Eli, Pete & Bob Nieuwenhuis

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HOMETOWN HEROES

Making a difference AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 10 YEARS WITH RENEWED COMMITMENT TO VETERANS

At top: For the next decade, the ALA Foundation’s focus will be on raising a million dollars to fund the American Legion Auxiliary’s continued support of future generations of veterans. The work has just begun, and you, too, can support the ALA Foundation by donating to help veterans, military and their families.

FILE PHOTO Hometown Heroes

or many U.S. veterans, the drumbeat of daily life is hard to overcome.

After tours in combatheavy environments, some veterans struggle to find their way after they return home.

Many do not know where to turn to or who will be a true advocate for care. Deb Becker is making sure that veterans under her care are being heard loud and clear.

Becker is an activity supervisor at the Norfolk Veterans Home in Norfolk, Neb., and her fight for veterans’ rights is a passion and full-time job. When members of the facility where she works needed extra support, she turned to the American Legion Auxiliary for help.

“Our facility needed new equipment for physical therapy for members who served in wars from World War II to Vietnam, and we were unsure where to start,” said Becker, who helps nearly 140 veteran members in the Nebraska facility. “It wasn’t until I met the Auxiliary president of Nebraska and heard about the ALA Foundation that I knew they could help us achieve our goals. Through their donation, our veterans were able to get the additional equipment we needed to support their therapy.”

The ALA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that acts as a lifeline for many facilities and individuals across the U.S., providing services, equipment and support to veterans. The organization was created to support the ALA, a 501(c) (19) veterans service organization, in order to secure external funding to ensure the Auxiliary’s mission of service endures. The

NOV. 2017

Page 13

ALA Foundation’s purpose is to enhance charitable and educational programs for the military community through endowed gifts, grants and sponsorships.

Since its founding in 2007, the ALA Foundation has supported many local organizations and activities nationwide that directly improve veterans’ lives.

ALA units and departments have secured grants through the ALA Foundation that have funded everything from mental and physical therapy equipment for facilities to computers and educational materials for veterans who are returning to school or are job searching.

As the ALA Foundation celebrates its 10th anniversary, the focus, now more than ever, is on working with local ALA units to identify the right projects for the ALA Foundation to support.

“In the first few years after we established the ALA Foundation to support the ALA’s mission outreach, we really worked hard to demonstrate how it could extend and expand the positive impact the ALA has on the lives of U.S. veterans and their family members,” said Linda Boone, president of the ALA Foundation Board of Directors. “Now we have the opportunity to look back at even the smallest grants we have been able to provide to ALA programs and show people how the ALA Foundation can make a difference. This is why we continue to work so hard to find new opportunities to make our ALA community and veterans aware of our mission.”

To learn more about how to get involved or give back, visit www.

ALAFoundation.org.

(BTP)

Page 14

HOMETOWN HEROES

NOV. 2017

This Veteran’s Day Remember to Thank a Vet for Your Freedom Your Hometown Funeral Home Since 1923

Mealy Mealy Funeral Mealy Home Funeral Home Your Hometown Funeral Home Since 1923 Your Hometown Funeral Home Since 1923

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Cremation with Memorial Services Pre-Need Specialists

With Respect, Honor and Gratitude,

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Thank You Veterans!

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Celebrating 11 years of serving the Waterford community!

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EXPERIENCED SENIOR CARE Each office is independently owned and operated.

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Home Helpers provides non-medical and personal care in homes, retirement communities, nursing facilities – wherever we’re needed!

Our flexible care plans are tailored to fit your needs and budget.

Caregivers are bonded and insured.

Wisconsin Fish Fry

Invite a Vet for a Friday Fish Fry!

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298222

NOV. 2017

Page 15

(Continued from page 5)

experience riding with blind riders was trying to convince Carter to attend a cycling event with him. Cater had recently taken a position with the Blinded Veterans Association of Wisconsin, and thought that a cycling event might be just the thing members of the organization needed.

The duo pitched their idea to the board of the association, then to the American Legion Riders, and finally consulted Operation HighGround for advice on becoming a registered nonprofit.

With Carter acting as the conduit to visually impaired veterans, and Oman organizing the motorcycles and the social aspects of the event, the VIPER Ride was born.

Now in its second year, the VIPER Ride aims to help visually impaired veterans by giving them a chance to connect and socialize with other veterans who understand the challenges of being blind in a sighted world.

“Their world gets really small, really fast,” said Oman as he described the social and emotional impact of losing sight.

The government estimates that 22 veterans commit suicide every day, and the VIPER Ride is trying to do their part to make a positive change.

“What we are trying to do is to throw in something to break that spiral by getting them out into a social environment with other veterans who have gone through

the same thing,” Oman said.

As part of the continuing effort to allow blind and visually impaired veterans to socialize with each other, there was a ham radio setup at the East Troy stop.

Two participants in last year’s ride were involved with ham radio, which sparked the idea that it could be used as part of this year’s event.

Ham radio was used as a means of communication during the ride, as well as a means to connect the tailgunners to Blind Veterans UK’s Amateur Radio Club, and as an experience for the Boy Scouts who help with the event and have a ham radio merit badge.

VIPER Ride organizers are hoping to host more rides across the state of Wisconsin and throughout the region. A VIPER Ride in St. Paul, Minn. is being organized for next summer.

Any U.S. Military veteran who qualifies for vision-related benefits through the VA may apply to be a tailgunner. Anyone who owns and is licensed to drive a qualifying motorcycle may apply to be a pilot. Those who want to be a part of the ride off the road should apply to be a member of the groundcrew. Applications for the 2018 VIPER Ride will close in mid-July of 2018.

The VIPER Ride is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. To make a donation, or for more information on the ride, visit www. theviperride.org.

Thank you for serving

SUBMITTED PHOTO Hometown Heroes

The Rauland Agency Inc. salutes and honors Admiral Frank Harness (from left), Chief Petty Officer Frank Ontl, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Peter Kahl, all from Walworth. For more information about the Rauland Agency, see their ad on Page 10.

Integrity Funeral Services would like to thank...

Funerals, Cremation and Monuments

the brave men and women who have served and are currently serving in the military and armed forces.

262.514.4600 We would also like to thank Fox River Middle School staff and students for hosting the Veterans Day program and touching each of our hearts.

Pre-Need

•

At-Need

•

After Care

•

Memorial

298132

• VIPER

HOMETOWN HEROES

Page 16

HOMETOWN HEROES

NOV. 2017

and Sons INC. 3 Generations of Quality Work!

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We cater to all your home improvement needs!

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