Two days after I, Nolan, graduated from high school, I jumped on a bus with my buddy Pete and we went down to Parris Island, South Carolina and joined the United States Marine Corps. I often tell people I thought it would be a nice, tropical vacation after high school. In reality, I wanted the experience and knew I needed the discipline. My time in the Marines taught me a lot. Mark also spent a great deal of his life on military bases as the son of a preacher. That is in part why helping veterans has always been an important mission at our company.
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A great organization that supports active duty military overseas is www.adoptaplatoon.org. Thanks to support from our clients, friends and staffs, our office has shipped nearly 2,000 pounds of items overseas. Local residents can also help out and donate items that will be shipped out to troops overseas for the holidays by stopping by our office and donating an item. Our company will not only donate as well, we will pay 100 percent of the shipping cost to send the items overseas to an active duty military person.
Scouts are also making a difference. Both of my sons are active in Boy Scouts of America, Pack and Troop 101 in Waterville. The Scouts will be accepting worn or faded flags on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at Waterville United Methodist Church from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. located at 102 N. Fifth St., Waterville with a special flag ceremony at 7 p.m., weather permitting. Anyone with a flag that needs to be properly retired, please bring it by. Pack 101 in Waterville will also be hosting its annual Toys for Tots drive with all donations going to the local Marine Reserve location in Perrysburg. Please drop off a new and unwrapped toy before Nov. 14 to our office and a scout will personally deliver the item to Toys for Tots.
Take a moment and thank an active duty and military veterans. Current veterans are suffering from years of stress. One example is my brother, Chris. He joined The United States Air Force and was stationed at The Pentagon one month before Sept. 11. A hero on that day, he went in and helped save lives, but years later took his own life. Canada just announced it would do more to help its veterans after it was announced that more of their veterans have died as a result of suicide than in combat over the past decade. Our Congress just approved a $16.3 spending bill to help with the long wait times at healthcare facilities through the Department of Veteran Affairs. But sometimes the best medicine is just a handshake or a “thank you.”
More returning veterans than normal civilians are concerned about their financial future. Fifty-five percent of veterans feel they are not prepared for a financial emergency, according to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and Pioneer Services. Some are behind on debt and a lot of the homeless are veterans. Some veterans are in great shape, but you can help others by volunteering or donating to our local homeless shelters and food banks. They need to find civilian jobs, they need to understand their benefits, and they need a plan.
Great organizations like the National Association of American Veterans and U.S. Soldiers Foundation are helping, but together we can do more in our community. If you are a veteran, a spouse of a deceased veteran, or an active duty military person, it would be an honor to serve you. If you or a loved one needs financial guidance, a written plan, or need a review and explanation of benefits, we will provide a complimentary review and written recommendations. Simply contact our office at 419-842-0550 and set up an appointment.
I challenge you to get involved this week. Support www.adoptaplatoon.org, either online or by dropping off an item to our office. They love everything from magazines to snack packs. Stop by the Waterville United Methodist Church and bring in a worn-out flag and the Boy Scouts of America will retire it. Look around on Veterans Day this Nov. 11 and simply thank a veteran or a person who is active duty in military. Or take a few minutes and donate to one of our local food banks or homeless shelters. All of these are easy ways to get involved. We want to say “thank you” to all veterans for all you do and have done for all of us. We appreciate you.
For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 p.m. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysradio.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC. NEXT Financial Group, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537. www.retirementguysnetwork.com 419-842-0550
