A letter from David Miller re the VA Stand Down this past weekend

General News

To All:

     Just would like to update about all the great work all of the American Legion volunteers did at the stand down. There were several posts, Post #273 and auxiliary and Post #252 and auxiliary involved as well as our Deputy Hospital Representative, Tony Rizzo and myself, David Miller, American Legion Hospital Representative Bay Pines VAMC. I am happy to inform everyone that thanks to our Department VA & R Chairman, Alan Cohen, getting us an extra 300 phone cards for Cell Phones for Soldiers, we were able to provide about 345 veterans with these tremendous phone cards that can be used on landline, cell phones or pay phones. Also thanks to the help of several legionnaires, Randal McNabb and Tony Rizzo and myself for getting free breakfast items donated from local restaurants for the great breakfast provided.  I would also like to thank SAL squadron #252 from Seminole post for cooking the great lunch for all the veterans and volunteers. Between 400/450 veterans were signed in for the stand-down but some of them didn’t need phone cards. Tony and I had plenty of time to meet and speak with a lot of these veterans as we arrived at 7:00 am and worked the event till around 12:30/1:00. I would also like to thank our Department Commander Joe Magee and Central Area Commander Sid Damsgard for supporting this great event and showing to meet and greet with the veterans and the VA staff. Each time we work a stand-down I realize how much it can change a homeless veterans life. We as Legionnaires should be proud of our commitment to helping our veterans and to God and Country. Once again my salute to all who came out and supported this event.  Keep up the great work.

Yours in service for ALL veterans,

David C Miller

USMC

Disabled Combat Veteran

National American Legion Hospital Representative Bay Pines VAMC

National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Council for Florida

 

    

 

About Jeff Cavanagh

Jeff Cavanagh spent his freshman year at St. Petersburg Junior College back in the early 70s before enlisting in the United States Navy. Soon after, he attended Jacksonville University on a Navy ROTC scholarship. After college, he was commissioned and became a qualified Surface Warfare Officer spending the next 22 years honing his skills as a ship-handler and expert recruiter before retiring in 1994. Jeff expresses a deep sense of pride in St. Petersburg College due to connections that go back many years. His father, Tom Cavanagh, was a career Air Force fighter pilot and combat veteran who taught Geography and Western Civilization at St. Petersburg Junior College in the 60’s and 70’s.