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On the evening of July 27, 2013, MarieAnn Raguso, 33, was traveling in a truck near Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan when a 200-pound improvised explosive device tore the vehicle apart. “I can’t remember much of it,” she said of the explosion. Among other injuries, Raguso suffered a concussion and traumatic brain injury. She was med...
Before making his way to Tucson, Arizona, Ely Esparza served four years in the Air Force. “I joined because of my family’s long military history and because it was a great opportunity for me to serve my country,” he said. Following active duty, Esparza searched online for academic resources and found the VFW “Sport Clips Hel...
When VFW member-at-large Sam Beinstein, 28, graduated from high school, he tried college but realized it was not right for him at the time. Instead, he chose to enlist. “Hearing my grandparents talk about their time in the service used to be my favorite thing as a little kid,” he said. “I joined the Guard so I could also serve my ...
After losing her son to suicide, Carol Salveson of Casper, Wyoming, set out on a mission. Her son, a decorated Green Beret, struggled with Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). Salveson was determined to ensure his comrades do not suffer in the same way. Realizing the positive impact of companionship, Salveson began training service dogs for veterans with P...
Alyssa Parker, 34, enlisted because she wanted to serve her country. She spent nearly five years in the Army, including deployments to Kuwait and Jordan. After she left the military, Parker searched online for veteran tuition assistance and found the VFW’s "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship." “Thank you for the support and for making ...
Jeff Snyder’s father was a World War I fighter pilot. And his uncle helped head the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor of the CIA. “They pretty much badgered me into becoming an officer in the armed forces,” he said. Snyder served in the Army Reserve for 18 years. He held different command positions and enjoyed the expe...
Jonathan Williams lives in Hope Mills, North Carolina, with his service dog, Tank, who helps calm him when he experiences anxiety and is in large crowds. Together, the pair are #StillServing by traveling the country with Soldier Solutions to raise money for Train a Dog, Save a Warrior (TADSAW). The program provides service dogs to veterans at no ch...
Cynthia Blake’s husband, Jim, served in the Air Force for 22 years. During that time, they traveled extensively and lived overseas. Blake cherished the opportunity to learn about different cultures, see the world and meet new people. After Jim retired, the couple settled in the United States, and Blake turned her attention to an old passion. ...
Veteran Lee Otto lives in Watertown, Wisconsin. After the VA recommended that he get a service dog to help with his Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), he received Sayge from Sierra Delta, a nonprofit in nearby Madison. Sierra Delta also provided training, and today, Sayge is equipped to help comfort Otto in different ways. For instance, when he has a nig...
WASHINGTON – During the last week of September, two VFW teams were simultaneously overseas, on different continents, engaging with regional U.S. commands, service members and military families, and delivering the message that they have the VFW’s support. On Sept. 26, VFW National Commander-in-Chief Duane Sarmiento, Senior Vice Commander...
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