ADVOCACY DAY
McKees Rocks VFW reaches out to help connect veterans with services
They came, they feasted, they shared war stories, and they learned about benefits they might receive. But mostly the 100 or so military veterans who attended the region’s first Veterans Advocacy Day Sunday found out there are people who care about them and want to help.
The advocacy day, hosted by VFW Post 418 of McKees Rocks, was designed to bring veterans together in a friendly setting to expose them to the government benefits they are entitled to through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as well as services available through veterans’ organizations.
The free event was put together by the VFW and American Legion Post 618 of McKees Rocks and paid for by the organizations, the Capt. Sean M. Ruane Memorial Foundation and private donations.
Ed Zamanski, 73, of Moon, was impressed. From a meal of hot sausage, meatballs, pulled pork and macaroni and cheese to a talk by Rocky Bleier, the former Pittsburgh Steelers running back and Army veteran, and guidance on services for veterans, the event was a home run, he said.
“There’s a lot of really good information here,” Mr. Zamanski said. “I took all of the information they have because I don’t know if there is anything I’m not aware of.”
He has been a member of the McKees Rocks VFW since he left the Army in 1970 after being deployed in Vietnam. Between dwindling membership and COVID-19 restrictions, the VFW hall is only open a couple of days a week.
“We need more of this kind of thing where we can get together,” he said. “Hopefully, we get to do this more often. It helps everybody.”
Roy, an Army veteran who served in Bosnia and Iraq, didn’t want to give his last name. He said events for veterans are especially important during the pandemic, when some veterans can feel even more isolated than normal.
“I’m happy they took the initiative to put this together,” he said. “Nothing has been going on for veterans with COVID. It’s important. There are a lot of things veterans aren’t aware of.”
The advocacy day was the brainchild of Ed Carter III, a 10-year Navy veteran who served in the Middle East in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
Mr. Carter, who is trained as a
service officer to help veterans navigate government benefits, comes by volunteer service naturally. As an 11-year-old, he played taps at the McKees Rocks VFW, where his father was commander, and recently returned to this area after being away for 37 years, most of that time as a Chicago police officer.
Almost immediately, he returned to the McKees Rocks post to help increase outreach to veterans. From his involvement in military funerals as a child to seeing others struggle through the years, he has known the importance of reaching out to veterans.
“I don’t want to see guys sitting alone in their basement,” he said. “I lost three close brothers to suicide. I don’t want to see that again. Never on my watch.”
Mr. Carter said he understands that with COVID and older members dying off that it is a tough time for organizations such as the VFW. That just make him work harder.
“If we’re going to go out, we’re going to go out helping veterans,” he said. “It takes a village to help veterans. We’re that village.”