A Voice For Veterans: Spring Into Action

After a lengthy and monotonous winter season, not only is the meteorological winter behind us, our calendars also insist the first day of spring arrived on March 20. A good time for moving items into storage for the next several months and planning for future trips and upcoming events. It’s also an opportunity for organizing and planning for a mission. With that said, listed below is a list summarizing military organizations, veteran services and resources and general information for our military men and women and their families. You may recognize many of these—they have all been mentioned previously in the column: SUNY Empire State College (www.esc.edu), located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, is a Service members Opportunity College (SOC). SOC is an alliance of higher education facilities and participating institutions partnering with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the branches of service to help meet the needs of service members and their families. Within the college commitment to our veterans is the Director of the Office of Veterans and Military Education (OVME). The OVME not only provides information to veteran and military students, they also offer web-based material for students, staff and the public on a variety of veteran topics (www. Esc.edu/mil). For details, contact (518) 587-2100. Operation Adopt a Soldier, a long standing non-profit organization located in Wilton, forwards care packages to our troops. With the help of community volunteers and Board members, the organization offers reinforcement to military families, as well as maintains a volunteer staff for home repairs, financial planning and support group referrals. Feel free to browse their website at www.operationadoptasoldier.org for further information, to read soldier’s letters and for fundraising events and useful links. Service members once walking in stride, dressed in uniform, focused, now finding themselves homeless with no place to call their own can contact the Saratoga County Rural Preservation Company (SRPC), located in Ballston Spa at (518) 885-0091 or visit www.Saratogarpc.org. The dedicated staff of funding and volunteers will help with the needs of veterans—transition housing, long-term employment services, training assistance and life-skills programs. If you are a veteran and would enjoy the camaraderie of other veterans and families, as well as participating in one of the oldest military organizations, contact VFW Post 420 located on Excelsior Springs Avenue, in Saratoga. There are eligibility requirements for membership. Please contact www.vfrpost420.com for additional information and further details for support of veterans and their family members. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a highly common dilemma for many returning service members. Its effects are those military combat or war-related issues and are witnessed by family members, children, spouses, neighbors and co-workers. One great resource for a complete understanding and accurate description, as well as examples of this concern, can be found in the book “After the Trauma the Battle Begins: Post Trauma Healing,” written by a former Corporal and Drill Instructor of the Royal Marines Commandoes (England) and currently a priest, Reverend Nigel Mumford. The Veteran’s Business Council, a newer endeavor of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce (www.saratoga.org), assists veterans with their search for work in collaboration with the Saratoga County Veteran Service Agency (www.saratogacounty.ny.gov). With the 25 Chamber members, mostly veterans, the Council connects veterans with the business community, facilitating events and matching the veteran employee with the ideal employer in the area. For further details, contact Denise Romeo at the Saratoga County Chamber (518) 584-3255 or email directly: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Additional veteran resources are as follows: Association of the U.S. Army, Capital District of New York Chapter (www.ausacdny.com) Excelsior College, Center for Military Education Office (888) 647-2388, ext. 1352 (www.escelsior.edu) Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) (www.va.gov) A Notable Mention: On Saturday, March 29, from 1-3 p.m., a Vietnam War Commemoration and panel discussion, sponsored by the Association of the U.S. Army Capital District of New York Chapter, will be held at the NYS Military Museum on Lake Avenue in Saratoga. Second Notable Mention: A newly created website, by Mark Brockway of Fort Edward, is for all veterans who have served and have an honorable discharge and are interested in providing a service to fellow comrades. Visit www.SNCHGA.com to become a member of The Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Huard Association. You many also contact Adjutant: Al Ernst, 10 Liberty Street, Schuylerville, NY 12871 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact Mark Brockway at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Thank you as always to all of our veterans and their loved ones for all that you do. See you next month here in Saratoga TODAY.