Northeast Area FMCA Veteran's Outreach Program

[diplomatman2002]

The Northeast Motorhome Association (the Northeast Area of FMCA) has established a Veterans Outreach Service. The purpose of the service will be to assist veterans who for one reason or another have needs that are not being met by the Veterans Administration or other sources.

A fund has been established for donations that will be used to assist veterans with emergency needs. (Checks may be made payable to Northeast Motorhome Association, with “Veterans Fund†indicated on the memo line, and may be mailed to Northeast Motorhome Association, PO Box 136, Tribes Hill, NY 12177. Credit card donations may be made by contacting FMCA headquarters at 1-800-543-3622. Ask for Shannon.)

NMA is currently working with a New York State Capital District automobile dealer to furnish Marine Sgt. Eddie Ryan from Ellenville, NY with a handicapped-accessible van. Sgt Ryan, a veteran of the Iraq war, sustained gunshot wounds to the head and consequently lost the use of his legs. In October of this year, FMCA assisted Sgt Ryan by helping to transport him to Washington, DC for the Marine Marathon. There, former Marine Staff Sgt. Bryan Purcell helped Sgt Ryan to fulfill his dream of participating in this event by pushing him in a special racing wheelchair throughout the entire 26 mile course.

In addition, the Northeast Area service is assisting Sgt. Joe Wilkinson of Lansingburg, NY, also a disabled Iraq veteran, who suffers from what doctors call a “mystery disease†that has caused him to lose the use of his legs. The Veterans Outreach Service has arranged for the donation of a Tour Bus by Hunter Motor Coach on Saturday, December 18th, to transport Sgt Wilkinson to New York City where he will attend a fund-raising Christmas show designed to benefit both Sgt Wilkinson and Army Specialist Brendon Marrocco from Staten Island, NY, who lost his arms and legs to a road side bomb. The show has been arranged by Rolling Thunder and the Steven Siler Children’s Fund. (Anyone interested in attending this benefit performance may contact Paul DuBois at the address given below.)

The Northeast Area has partnered with Blue Water Navy Veterans, a national organization that works to assist veterans in dealing with chemical injury issues, such as those resulting from exposure to Agent Orange. We are also working with Veterans For Change, another nation-wide veterans’ organization that addresses various needs. By partnering with these organizations, we can better help the veterans.

Contact information for the three groups discussed above is as follows:

For Blue Water Navy Veterans: FMCA member Sue Bellinger at susieq7921@verizon.net.

For Veterans For Change: Jim Davis at jdavis92840@sbcglobal.net

For Northeast Area Veterans Outreach Service: NMA President Paul DuBois at diplomatman2002@yahoo.com