Disabled American Veterans Chapter #63 Commander James Stanzak (center) assists residents of the Southern Ohio Veterans Home with their bingo cards. Nine (9) members of the DAV Chapter and DAV Auxiliary Unit assisted twenty-eight (28) veterans during the bingo session. “Coming here and helping these veterans is our greatest joy,” said Stanzak. “After the bingo games are over, our members like to stick around and just talk to these veterans and listen to their stories!” Photo courtesy DAVA Unit #63 Unit Commander Shirley Plahovinsak.
Disabled American Veterans Chapter #63 Commander James Stanzak (seated) gives Bill Graybill (standing) a check for $400.00 to start the Brown County Veterans Service Commission (V.S.C) Thanksgiving Distribution program for Brown County veterans. Mr. Graybill serves as the Chaplain for Chapter #63 and one of the five members of the Brown County Commission. Photo courtesy DAVA Unit #63 Unit Commander Shirley Plahovinsak.
Nine (9) Clermont County members of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter and Unit #63 spread comradery among the veterans at the Ohio Veterans Home while sponsoring their bingo games recently.
Every two months the members host the games and bring different candy bars to use for bingo prizes for the lucky residents. “This month we brought a box of 3 Musketeers candy bars for the bingo winners,” said the DAV Chapter #63 Commander James Stanzak. “They really like these!”
“Of course, the Veterans Home has a prize cart, which contains snacks and other items, for the residents to choose from,” explained Commander Stanzak.
A total of twenty-eight (28) residents participated in the bingo games. “We hosted eight (8) bingo games in our allotted time,” noted Stanzak, “and we had thirty-six (36) bingo winners that day.”
The nine (9) Chapter and Unit members helped the residents with placing chips on their squares of their bingo cards and cheered on the winners while encouraging all the participants.
“Ironically, the best part of our visit to the Veterans Home was at the conclusion, when we sat down and just talked to the veterans and heard their stories that they wanted to share with our members,” stated Stanzak.
The nine (9) DAV Chapter and Auxiliary members participating were: Logan Bixler; Samatha Bixler; Bill Graybill; Ray Hutchinson; John Plahovinsak; Shirley Plahovinsak; Keith Potts; James Stanzak; and David Wessel.
Another added benefit of the visit dealt with a pending project by the Brown County Veterans Service Commission (V.S.C.). During a prior visit with the Executive Director of the V.S.C. Tyler Crank in January, Commander Stanzak learned of plans for the Thanksgiving program for veterans.
DAV Chapter #63 was briefed of this program and voted to donate $400 to make this program a success for the Brown County veterans. The $400 check was presented by Chapter Commander Stanzak to Bill Graybill, one of the five members of the Commission.
“Our Chapter has worked in close harmony with Brown County disabled veterans,” stated Stanzak. “We have donated to Brown County veterans-related programs in the past, such as sponsorship of the two (2) Women Veterans Luncheons; programs at the Ohio Veterans Home; and the Korean War Veterans Association 1953 Truce Observance.”
“In fact, we are working with Executive Director on having another Women Veterans only Luncheon in Brown County in 2025,” concluded Stanzak.