NCOA Journal
Mar-Apr02
Honors Sacrifices Of America's Veterans!
By
Richard C. Schneider
Executive Director, National Defense Foundation
"The NCOA National Defense Foundation (NDF) and its national citizen partners have just concluded a superb year of service that truly Honors the Sacrifices of America's Veterans," commented NCOA President Dave Sommers.
The generosity of Foundation supporters made 2001 the second highest grant year in the program's 13-year history. Over the years, the NDF has provided hundreds of grants whose cumulative value now exceeds $1.5 million.
It's not the money in any one year that's important, Sommers noted, but the programs that made a reality to support veterans and, for that matter, all active duty, Guard and Reserve personnel and indirectly all family members. Programs that add quality of life for "veterans who have borne the brunt of battle" and provide opportunities not otherwise available in Federal and State Budgets, or other community program ventures that have no access to federal or state fiscal resources but exist through volunteers, private donations and special grants.
The NDF has distinguished itself and the Non Commissioned Officers Association by reaching far beyond the Association's presence of chapters in any veteran community to serve America's veterans. The Foundation's simple philosophy is that it will not penalize veterans by denying program initiatives because of the lack of an NCOA presence in any geographical area.
The Foundation recognizes that there are many locations where military installation closures and shifts in civilian and veteran populations have left some veterans care facilities without a local supportive environment for resident veterans. The Foundation recognizes that the collective effort and financial support of its program partners makes all elements of the Foundation a reality. It is simply impossible for anyone or any organization to do individually what is done by the collective effort of people who care about veterans and support the Foundation's outreach.
Richard C. Schneider, the NDF Executive Director, notes that many of the program partners have supported the Foundation faithfully for years and some for over a decade.
Notes are received like that of Charles McFarland, a WWII B-17 pilot who expressed, "I think you people are doing a very good job (the year round) in all your programs for veterans - the reason why I have tried to support you since December 1996 ... a Happy New Year also to the NCOA/National Defense Foundation." Involvement in the program provided such cherished enrichment for some contributors that they named the Foundation for a bequest in their Last Will and Testament. These individuals communicated their pride in being a program partner by continuing their support long after their own lives ended.
Schneider notes that many special people are committed program supporters through the Foundation's holiday card program. "They faithfully sign not only our cards but additionally send along their own letters, cards, and even personal gifts like photographs, Bibles, knitted lap blankets," Schneider said. "Truly, Americans care about the Nation's veterans."
The International Auxiliary of NCOA is also a marvelous partner supporting Foundation activities at the local level and the NDF Operation Appreciation national "America's Children for America's Heroes" program. Contacting elementary schools, scouting units, and other organizations they solicit handcrafted cards and letters for hospitalized veterans. Thousands of these cards are centrally distributed to residents in long term VA and State veteran facilities.
Elementary schools like many other organizations provide information on this program and let the teachers individually determine participation. Some schools send handcrafted material representing the teachers and students of many grade levels while only one dedicated teacher and class participates from other another school.
"We greatly value these committed teaching professionals for making veterans and their contributions to America a teaching objective for their students," Schneider said. "Recognizing that thousands of handcrafted cards are received annually is a marvelous achievement of individual classes of students and small organizations across America. The students' material is acclaimed as wonderful and especially meaningful for those veterans who receive a card or letter from these young Americans."
Recent Foundation grants awards have also included:
Maryland
Center for Veterans Employment and Training
Baltimore, MD
A Foundation Award will "Build a Chapel" through a renovation
project at this highly successful formerly homeless veteran training facility.
Renovation is underway and formal dedication of the Chapel is programmed.
VA
National Veteran Wheelchair Games for 2002
Silver Medal Sponsor
The Foundation Award will help stage a competitive sporting event providing
opportunity for Wheelchair Veterans to compete in a nationally recognized
competition. This program is a therapeutic and social extension of their
health care through the Veterans Health Care Program.
VA
National Creative Arts Festival for 2002
National Sponsor
A national competition in the Arts that starts at local VA Medical Facilities
with local winning entries forwarded for national recognition. Those veterans
whose art form is selected for National Awards are invited to attend the
Creative Arts Festival to participate in workshops and a talent showcase.
Literally thousands of veterans will participate locally in this competition.
United
States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home
Washington DC
Grant provides WhisperGlide Lawn Swings for veterans to both socialize
with family and friends as well as some personal therapeutic exercise
making the swing "go"! Women in Military Service Memorial Washington
DC A special grant award to honor the military service of all women in
the Armed Forces and United States Coast Guard. We are proud that this
grant will help ensure that the contribution to America's freedoms by
women in service is forever recognized consistent with the Foundation
Motto: Honoring the Sacrifices of all Veterans.
VA National Veteran Golden Age Games for 2002
Gold Medal Sponsor
A national olympic game event for senior veterans. Competition begins
locally at VA Medical Facilities and other designated locations with winners
moving to the national Golden Age Games.
Kentucky State Veterans Homes
The two State Veteran Homes located at Hazard and Hanson will each receive
large screen televisions and VCRs and will be able to purchase a variety
of movies for resident veterans to enjoy.
Washington
State Veterans Homes
Veterans resident at the state's resident Veterans Home in Retsil and
at the State Soldier's Home will receive a variety of equipment to include
a projector television and auditorium screen as well as specifically designed
electronic games to stimulate aged veterans afflicted with Alzheimers
disease.
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