‘You Served Your Country and Your Country Owes You’

ERMA – The first annual Veterans Resource and Information Fair was held Nov. 14 at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum located at the Cape May County Airport. Within the first hour the event hosted over 100 visitors.
Organized by the Citizens-Veterans Advisory Committee (CVAC), the fair offered free flu shots, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, legal advice and more. Representatives from local hospitals, home health agencies, and the Veterans Administration were available to assist veterans and answer questions.
Johnnie Walker, commander of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 44 Del Haven, started CVAC in February after a homeless veteran contacted him last December. With the help of American Red Cross Executive Director Carol Cohen, CVAC began to hold monthly meetings to determine what could be done to help other area veterans in need.
“We needed a little bit more help than just the Veterans Administration,” said Walker. “We can get the help from them, but you have to get in the system and that takes time, and sometimes things happen and guys can’t wait three and six months.”
CVAC is 100 percent volunteer-driven and Walker said he intends to file for 501(c), non-profit status soon.
“We just try to pull our resources together on a volunteer basis to help veterans,” said Walker. “We’ve done things like build ramps for people who didn’t have the money to put a ramp in for their home. We’ve helped people that needed an electric bill paid, or a gas bill or rent bill paid.”
The booths, which were scattered throughout the museum, had representatives from Cape Regional Medical Center, AtlantiCare, Synergy, Volunteers in Medicine, Catholic Social Services, and various veterans affairs groups.
Cohen emphasized the importance of community involvement and outreach. “We have a myriad of community resources that come together and each one brings a different strength to the table, and it isn’t about one group being the answer,” Cohen said.
“It’s about collectively saying how can we join forces to meet the needs of the community, how do we best serve those people who have served us for all those years.”
During the fair, guest speaker Lou Green encouraged veterans to enter the Veterans Administration System for benefits and support. Green, a Disabled American Veterans advocate, runs an information table at the Hamilton Mall the first Wednesday of every month.
“I don’t care if you played ping pong at Fort Dix, you made yourself available to your country,” said Green. “Be proud. You served your country and your country owes you.”
Green, who has been navigating veterans’ affairs issues for 20 years, wants veterans to be aware of their rights. He explained that eyeglasses, hearing aids, and other medically necessary devices are available to veterans at no cost, they just need to know where to look.
“Every man and woman that’s served in the military deserves two things,” said Green. “One is to know what the benefits are. Two, to use them, whether they need it now or someday in the future.”
The fair continued until 2 p.m. and also included food and refreshments. Plans are already underway for next year’s event. For more information about CVAC or how to get involved, contact American Red Cross, Cape May County Chapter, or the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 44, Del Haven.
To contact Kirby Reed, email kreed@cmcherald.com.