Community support for veterans

Service & Honor Organizations support area veterans BY » Renee Roberson Welcome Home photos courtesy of Cotton Ketchie Soul to Soles photos courtesy of Facebook

While there’s a special day Shop, the location also showcases The service programs and are encouraged designated to honor veterans Welcome Home Veterans Living Military to participate. ALA Unit 321 president in our country in November, Museum, an impressive collection of Julie Hogan says this particular unit it’s important to remember donated memorabilia, and visitors can works closely with the W.G. (Bill) they deserve community now view a collection of donated items Hefner VA Medical Center at the support and recognition all and relics through carefully curated Salisbury VA Hospital. They provide year long. After all, veterans have fought displays. Though closed during the multiple donations throughout the for our country and the freedoms we so pandemic, the shop is normally a hub year, including the Briefs for the Brave often take for granted. for residents and veterans alike, with program (collecting underwear for the

Currently, there are approximately free coffee offered on Thursdays and Salisbury VA), Bingo games for patients, 90,000 military veterans living in the bluegrass jam sessions on Saturdays. cards during military holidays, and four counties surrounding the Lake To learn more, or to learn how you there are twice-a-year meals with other Norman area, according to the website can support Richard and Pat Warren’s area legion posts and auxiliary units. lknvetsandpatriots.com. The website commitment to honoring veterans, ALA Unit 321 has joint members in is a comprehensive resource that visit www.welcomevets.com. the unit and the Charlotte USO that helps connect local veterans, active duty members and military spouses in the LKN community. It can also help enhance the in-person networking of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 321 in Huntersville volunteer in the USO in the Charlotte airport, and they also volunteer at holiday events for families of deployed soldiers at the local armories. For veteran organizations and events. The American Legion Auxiliary Veteran’s Day, the group will be

Below are just a few organizations is the world’s largest women’s creating and sending cards to the VA in our area that are dedicated patriotic service organization. hospital as part of their November to serving veterans year round After the formation of The American service project. To learn more that we wanted to spotlight. Legion, a number of women’s about the organization, visit www. Richard’s Coffee Shop and the Welcome Home Veterans Living Military Museum organizations wanted to become the official affiliation of The American Legion. The women who had served so faithfully during the trying days of the war wanted to continue to serve. facebook.com/ALAHuntersvilleNC. Willow Equine Katie Stankiewicz, Equine Specialist, Certified Leadership Coach and Owner

A downtown Mooresville institution, After careful consideration, the of Willow Equine in Mooresville is Richard Warren, a Vietnam War committee agreed that a new passionate about supporting veterans veteran, opened up the shop in 1995. organization should be made up of through specialized programs on Willow He named it “Pat’s Gourmet Coffee the women most closely associated Equine’s 300-acre farm. Soul to Soles Shop,” in honor of his wife, but it quickly with the men of the Legion, and that Connection is dedicated to the mental grew to become much more. Warren these women would serve with the health of military and their families. became accustomed to greeting every Legion, in peace as they had in war. While being supported by the horses veteran who came through the doors In the spirit of Service Not Self, and professional facilitators, participants with a hearty “Welcome Home.” Warren the mission of the American Legion are offered the time they need to heal passed away in 2009, but his legacy of Auxiliary is to support The American and overcome challenges. Their team supporting fellow veterans carries on. Legion and honor the sacrifice of those of specialists offer an Eagala Military Following his death, Pat’s Gourmet who serve by enhancing the lives of our Service Program, with specialized Coffee Shop temporarily closed down. veterans, military, and their families, training and experience with the But with the persistence of a number both at home and abroad. “For God military community. The experiential of regular patrons who missed the and country, the ALA advocates for nature of working with horses engages camaraderie of the shop, a new location veterans, educate our citizens, mentor active and retired military in their opened just down the street from the youth, and promote patriotism, good own healing process, with solutions original Pat’s in 2009. The non-profit citizenship, peace, and security.” that meet them squarely on their board Welcome Home Veterans, While there are eligibility requirements own terms. Services are offered at no Inc. helped underwrite the cost. to become a member of the ALA, anyone cost to veterans. Learn more at www.

Now christened Richard’s Coffee can be a part of the organization’s willow-equine.com/veterans.