Veterans taking care of veterans

By Fermín T. Iturbide

“Veterans taking care of veterans.” It’s a phrase you hear often these days, especially among those who’ve been deployed overseas. Ask a dozen veterans what it means, and you’ll get a dozen answers. Some will be long, some short, but at their core, the meaning is the same: veterans are there for each other.

Recently, inside American Legion Post 111 in Newton, that phrase wasn’t just spoken — it was put into action.

Earlier this year, the Iowa National Guard was activated for deployment. Families across the state said emotional goodbyes, a sacrifice captured by the media and seen by nearly every Iowan. Among those watching was Post 111 Commander Jerry Nelson. Like many in his post, Nelson knows firsthand the weight of those farewells, having said them himself multiple times.

At a meeting earlier this year, Nelson raised the rumors of deployment. The post’s vice commanders and members quickly rallied, brainstorming how they could support the troops. The goal was clear: send care packages filled with reminders of home.

Two members, Kelli Hartgers Skaggs and Martha Ford, took that mission personally. Going business to business — 20 in total — they explained the cause, answered questions and ultimately raised over $1,000.

With funding secured, it was time to shop. Vice Commander Tony D’Lapico, a Navy veteran, and Vice Commander Wesley Justice, a retired Marine first sergeant, handled the haul. They’ve done it before, but this time there was more money — and more heart. They bought so much that the Walmart register actually cut them off at 100 scanned items, forcing a pause for payment.

For many Post 111 members, this effort is a way of paying it forward. Several shared stories of their own deployments, recalling how care packages — sometimes with no return address due to security — meant the world when they arrived. “We just want to show the deployed troops that we appreciate them and that we have not forgotten the sacrifices they’ve made,” Commander Nelson said. After a pause, he added, “With 2,000 Iowa troops currently deployed, we are planning on doing more.”

And then someone in the room summed it up perfectly, “Only veterans will take care of veterans.”