James Nov-Dec 2023 web - Flipbook - Page 17
id you know that, nationwide, military veterans constitute 6.4 percent of the civilian adult
population, though the
share of veterans varies
considerably from state to state? And
did you know that in Georgia 7.3 percent of the civilian population 18 and
older have served in the military?
Of the 595,743 veterans living
in Georgia, the largest share— 26.9
percent— served in the Vietnam
era, a conflict that saw 2.2 million
Americans conscripted into service.
Additionally, 18.7 percent of veterans in our state enlisted in September 2001 or later, and only 0.6
percent of living veterans served in
the World War II era.
When I researched these statistics, it made me think that James
has never devoted a special feature
to salute Georgia’s veterans and its
wounded warriors, as well as the
services available to them. After all
there’s a sacred contract this country
has with those who wear the uniform
of our country’s armed forces. And
we should remember that service.
I started my research at the
same time James named renowned
Shepherd Center co-founder Alana
Shepherd as our “Georgian of the
Year.” The Atlanta hospital is one of
the nation’s top rehabilitation centers and in my interview with her
she emphasized the expanded care
given to veterans there.
Then I began talking with my
comrades and the commander at
the Horace Orr American Legion
Post 29 in Marietta about the various
services that the state’s largest post
(and other Legion and Veterans of
Foreign Wars posts) offer. That triggered discussions with civic-minded movers-and-shakers with the
Atlanta-based Hospitality Business
Network Foundation— CEO W.B.
Baldwin and Chairman Mark Zimmerman, among others— about a
James feature saluting our veterans.
These discussions evolved into
the HBN partnering with James to
co-sponsor a Veterans’ Salute event.
It includes a “Patriot’s Party” at the
Hilton Atlanta/Marietta Hotel &
Conference Center on November 5th.
Wounded warrior golf teams from the
Shepherd Center SHARE Initiative
and the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation are featured speakers, and they
participate the next day in an annual
“Turkey Trot Veterans Invitational
Golf Tournament” at the adjoining
City Club Marietta.
Also encouraging and assisting
with this feature is Donna Rowe,
president of the Cobb Veterans
Memorial Association and president
Kim Scofi of the Marietta-based
United Military Care. (More about
these two fine organizations later.)
And, of course, our staff made sure
to contact the all-important U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA),
the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the
Military Order of World Wars and
other veterans support groups to
provide information.
All these conversations and
research revolved around a common
theme: Many benefits and services
are available to Georgia veterans
but all too many are not aware of
them. So as an Army veteran myself, I decided to write this feature
with an eye toward sharing veteran-related information for Georgians. But where to begin?
the share military
initiative treats veterans
Since I previously mentioned
the Atlanta-based Shepherd Center,
let’s begin there. Its SHARE program
is a comprehensive rehabilitation
regimen for military veterans, service
members and first responders who
are ready to accept help and healing
for their daily struggle with traumatic brain injuries and mental health
concerns. The men and women coming in, Alana Shepherd emphasizes,
N OV EM B E R /D EC E M BER 2023
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