Dublin AM Rotary September 28,2018 meeting
We provide a hand up, not a hand out through the Freedom Station, a place where veteran injured warriors go to receive housing, care, and assimilation to make the critical transition from military service to civilian life.
Today’s Speaker Vic Tambone, Colonel, USAF (Ret.) is a member of the Board of Directors of the Warrior Foundation, a non-profit veteran help organization that established the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station.
Our announcements:
- Wolf has requested more volunteers to help on Saturday set up or to judge the robotics competition on this Sunday September 30th in Worthington. Please reach out to Wolf if you can help with any set up on Saturday or to judge the competition on Sunday.
- Jack Curtis reminded the club tat we serve the Dublin Food Pantry the first Monday of every month from 5:30 to 7:30.All are welcome participants.
- Dave Williamson will send out the details and logistics once finalized for the Motts Military Museum tour by ur favorite tour guide and 911 Barn.
- On 10/24 we will honor the Rotary Polio Remediation progress and global impact. Dwight will share more as we get closer to that date.
Today’s meeting hosted several guests to hear our keynote speaker, Vic Tambone, Colonel, USAF (Ret.). Vic shared the founding of the Warrior Foundation Freedom Center in San Diego and the passion and drive of the all-volunteer organization that we will pattern for the Freedom Station Ohio.
Vic is a lifetime appointed board member of the Freedom Center San Diego and with his distinguished service in Washington DC to President Bush, Henry Kissinger and to our nation with his service.
Vic shared the need they found for returning veterans and shared suggested components for future Freedom Center operations in Ohio.
Started by Sandy Lehmkuhler in 2004, the Freedom Station San Diego has touched over 5,000 lives and served 222 returning veterans with housing and support of their transition.
Started with gifts of razors and socks in the veterans hospital, the biggest challenges now have been recruiting the volunteers since all the staff are non paid and providing education to the community and the elected officials about what is useful, needed and why. To raise the quality of life for these severely injured veterans and provide 6-12 month interim housing takes resources, assets and local volunteers. Each board member hosts an annual fund raising event.
Dave Williams summarized it this way: see a seperate link in our newsletter for the full flyer
Freedom Station Ohio (FSO) is based on the model developed by a Warrior Foundation project located in San Diego, CA. The project was a leading force in assisting, honoring and supporting the military men and women who have bravely served and sacrificed for our country. This project is committed to supporting our wounded warriors with quality-of-life items, support services, and transitional housing designed to assist them and their families during recovery and preparation to return to civilian private sector living and career opportunities.
Freedom Station San Diego (and potentially FSO) was developed to assist four main groups of warriors:
- The seriously injured returning home from war with immediate medical and emotional needs;
- Those suffering from post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injury;
- Those undergoing physical or occupational therapy, and
- Transitioning warriors who have been medically retired and remain in our community.
To serve this last group, a novel approach was developed and opened – a Freedom Station - a unique transitional housing facility that provides injured warriors with the acclimation time, guidance and resources to successfully assist their transition from military service to civilian life.
Freedom Station – Ohio (FSO), in conjunction with local veteran’s organizations, businesses, professional associations, corporate donors, and local, state, and federal governmental agencies would seek to provide a similar variety of items and services that improve the quality of life,
Points of Contact
Dwight Seeley Dave Williamson
A.M. Rotary Club of Dublin A.M. Rotary Club of Dublin
Club President Veterans Affairs Committee Chair
614-506-5300 614-327-8102