To the Pine Belt Community and beyond, we the Hattiesburg DAV Chapter #62 want to thank you for your support of our Veterans. This month our Hattiesburg DAV Chapter #62 will recognize our organization’s 103rd Anniversary of the creation of the DAV on September 25, 1920.
“The Disabled American Veterans of the World War (now DAV—Disabled American Veterans) was founded by former Cincinnati Judge Robert S. Marx in 1920. Marx, a U.S. Army captain who received the Distinguished Service Cross during the First World War, recognized that the nation was ill-equipped to provide the medical care and services the more than 200,000 injured and ill returning war veterans needed—and had earned.
Since the time of our founding, we have stood as an organization of veterans serving veterans as they make the critical transition from military service to civilian life. Today, with a century of service and support under our belts and more than 1 million members in our ranks, DAV continues the fight to make medical care, employment, education, and other earned benefits accessible to America’s 4 million disabled veterans.
Veterans need our help today, as much as they did 100 years ago. They have earned the right to participate in the American Dream they helped to defend, and we will continue our work to help make that promise possible well into the future.” (Centennial - DAV)
Hattiesburg’s DAV Chapter is a 501(c)(4) organization. It was chartered at the National DAV Headquarters on September 21, 2020. Our Chapter officers were installed by the state DAV leadership on October 20, 2020. Over the past two-plus years, our Chapter has grown from 14 members to 113 Comrades who work hard to meet the needs of Veterans in our community by:
■ Assisting them with their benefits application process
■ Conducting Forget-Me-Not drives
■ Assisting in Veterans homes’ repairs or demolition
■ Providing gift cards for those impacted by food insecurity
■ Hosting a “Lest We Forget Luncheon” for Veterans at the Collins State Veterans Home
■ Participating in the “A Night Out with the Homeless”
■ Participating in the National DAV and Golden Corral Military Appreciation Nights (Hattiesburg and McComb)
■ Assisting the Hattiesburg Army JROTC Program,
■ Promoting Women Veteran Programs, and
■ Hosting two Veteran Festivals (VetFest) on Armed Forces Day.
The support of our local civilian and military leaders, community supporters and donors, and our great Hattiesburg DAV Chapter #62 Executive Committee and fellow Comrades is invaluable and greatly appreciated. We will continue to provide service and support for America’s injured and ill veterans and their families.
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Frederick E. Varnado is a retiredLieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army. He currently serves as commander of the Hattiesburg chapter of the Disabled American Veterans organization.
