Alachua County VFW supports Army Reserve Unit at send-off picnic
Press release from Alachua County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2811
BY MICHAEL P. MAUER
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A Gainesville veterans service organization provided some hot hamburgers and hotdogs to help an Army Reserve unit on Saturday, June 14, at Cynthia Chestnut Park.
Three members of Alachua County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2811 participated in a send-off picnic for more than 50 soldiers and family members of the 257th Transportation Battalion, 399th Movement Control Team. The veterans provided refreshments and camaraderie to the unit, which is on orders for deployment to the Middle East.
“Deployments can be stressful,” said VFW Post 2811 Quartermaster Avery Owen, a retired master sergeant with the 3rd Bn, 20th Special Forces Group of the Florida Army National Guard. “Local reserve units tend to be made from communities and often families that you know. This gives our VFW post a chance to show its grassroots support for those who are sacrificing for our freedoms. Anything we can do to make things easier for the soldiers and families involved, we’re happy to do.”
Owen, who manned the grill and transported the post’s tables, chairs, and refreshments to the event, said that this is the type of function that the VFW promotes. He added that grant funds available through the VFW’s Military Assistance Program can help offset his post’s costs.
“The prime mission of the VFW is to honor veterans by directly helping them and their families,” said the quartermaster. “When our post took the position of helping sponsor the 257th Transportation Battalion, it did so knowing we have the full backing of every VFW member in the organization.”
Specifically designed by the VFW to help members of the local military community, the MAP grant program can help the Alachua County post recoup up to $5,000 annually for events such as the send-off picnic. The money is specifically earmarked for basic food items and nonalcoholic beverages for currently serving military and their family members.
“The program is a great fit for active posts like ours who want to spend more time helping and less time fundraising,” said Owen. “That way, we can spend more time at the grill and less time worrying about the bill.”
Those interested in VFW Post 2811 and its activities can call 352-376-7660.
Michael P. Mauer is a life member of VFW Post 2811. He served as an Army photojournalist during Operation Desert Storm, and was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal by Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf for his actions during the war. This past year, Mauer won the Silver Award for top feature article in the VFW National Publications Contest.