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Veterans Connection | Veteran Book Sale, a local citizen shares a documentary about his father's WWII service, horse therapy for veterans, and more.
If you have any local veteran related stories, please submit them to MCVSC. |
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2026 Used/Vintage Book Sale | Brought to you by Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 97. In partnership with the Miami Valley Veterans Museum.
MOST BOOKS $2-3
MIAMI VALLEY VETERANS MUSEUM
2245 S. County Rd. 25 A Troy, Ohio 45373 | | Ohio’s Miami Valley Chapter 97 of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is holding an annual book sale to raise funds for local projects. Miami Valley residents are invited to come browse through thousands of used and vintage books of all types...for reading, collecting, sharing with family & friends. Categories include hardbacks, paperbacks, coffee table books on numerous subjects, children’s books, military history, Ohio history, cookbooks, etc.
100% of funds raised support college and trade school scholarships and other Veteran causes. |
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Local Veteran Celebrates 107th Birthday at Dayton VA Medical Center | Less than 0.5% of the 16 million veterans who served in World War II are still alive today. Dayton's John Dorsey, who just celebrated his 107th birthday at the Dayton VA Medical Center, is among them.
The celebration included family and friends, as well as letters and tokens of appreciation presented by Congressman Mike Turner and Dayton Mayor Shenise Turner-Sloss.
Dorsey entered the U.S. Army in 1942 at the age of 21, serving three years at Fort Dix and Camp Kilmer. He was discharged in 1946 after the war came to a close.
"I just wanted to be one of God's children. Let him brought everything. I don't suppose to run nothing," Dorsey replied when asked how he reached this age by Dayton247.
According to Dorsey's family, he's dedicated much of his life to the church, singing in two choirs and regularly attending Corinthian Baptist Church for over 65 years.
When asked by Spectrum News if he had a message for younger generations, Dorsey said he wanted "them to know how to live a better life and a cleaner life." | | | | Dayton Dragons Salute Local Veteran John Webb | | CareSource Military & Veterans and the Dayton Dragons held their Veteran Salute honors on Sunday, recognizing John Webb of Dayton. John was drafted into the Army 1965 and attended Radio School at Fort Knox after completing basic training.
In 1966 Webb was deployed to Vietnam as a communications specialist with the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Webb was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for carrying an injured soldier to safety despite being injured himself, among other acts of heroism.
After his military service concluded, John worked for Wright Patterson Air Force Base until retirement.
Click the link below to read John's full story in more detail. You can also nominate a veteran for teh Veteran Salute Program. | | |
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| New Lebanon Man Publishes Documentary Detailing Father's WWII Service | The Kirsch family, like many others, have a history shaped by their father's service in World War II. The sacrifices of the over 16 million Americans who served in World War II had an outsized influence on the following generations. For the Kirsch family, their father, Clarence, didn't talk about his service often, but his time in the Navy would mold him into the hardworking man who built a business to send five children through college.
Clarence served on the USS Natoma Bay in the Pacific theatre. While in his 90s, Clarence spoke to Dr. Patrick Fletcher from Purdue University, who sought to archive stories from World War II soldiers, about his experiences in the war. The USS Natoma Bay, a Casablanca-class escort carrier, took part in 13 operations during World War II, making it one of the most widely traveled ships during the war. Clarence helped to neutralize a kamikaze attack and would later survive a successful strike on the ship.
Using Clarence's recordings with Dr. Fletcher, the Kirsch family developed a documentary about their father's service and the impact it had on their lives. One of the children, David Kirsch, lives in New Lebanon and works at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center.
Use the link below to check out the full documentary on YouTube. It runs just under an hour. | | | |
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| Free Horse Therapy Helps Local Veterans | 2 News recently ran a story about a free horse therapy for veterans in nearby Spring Valley at the Therapeutic Riding Institute. The Warriors in Step with Horses (WISH) program meets every Wednesday so veterans and first responders can rely on horses to provide unique mental health support. The program is completely umounted, so veterans heal through connections and meditations made alongside the horses and walking through pastures.
The WISH program is facilitated by a highly credentialed team consisting of:
Gretchen Brocwell, LPCC, Eagala Mental Health Specialist, Star Behavioral Healthcare Provider
Tim Spradlin, Veteran and Retired First Responder, Ohio Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Eagala Equine Specialist with Military Designation
"Being at ease and peace with yourself, that's a lot of what the horses teach us," one veteran told 2 News.
Thanks to donor support, the WISH program is free. If you would like to participate, donate, or volunteer for the WISH program please visit their site using the link below. | | | |
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Nominate a Veteran for the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame | The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame honors individuals who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and who, after their military careers, have demonstrated exceptional commitment to public service, volunteerism, advocacy, professional excellence, or philanthropy. Each year, up to 20 veterans are selected for induction based on recommendations from an Executive Committee of veterans from across the state and with final approval from the Governor.
The nomination deadline for the Class of 2026 is June 1, 2026.
We encourage early submissions to support timely processing and to allow for a complete and thorough review of all eligible nominations.
Many Ohioans know a veteran who continues to serve selflessly, someone whose dedication to others did not end when their military service concluded. Nominations are also accepted posthumously to honor veterans whose legacies continue to inspire.
To be eligible, nominees must:
- Be a past or current Ohio resident
- Have received an honorable discharge
- Be of good moral character
With Wright-Patt next door and the Dayton VA Medical Center, Montgomery county attracts and outsized share of Ohio veterans. Nominate someone deserving so we're properly represented in the Hall of Fame. | | | |
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| Veteran Deals: Save on Wireless Services | | | Verizon offers deals on cell phones and service plans for veterans and Gold Star Families. The discounts vary according to plans, but you can save between $10–20 and 10–25% off eligible accessories.
Check with your local Verizon store to see which discounts you might be eligible for.
Receiving the military discount requires verification with ID.me. |
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Upcoming Events & Important Dates |
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| | | 9:00 a.m., May 2, 2025. Veterans breakfast. First Saturday of every month. Come join local veterans for a delicious breakfast!
6418 Miller Lane, Dayton, OH | | | |
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| | | 10:00 a.m., May 6, 2025. MCVSC meeting
Meeting moved from original time. | | | |
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Help Fellow Veterans Sign Up |
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The work of the Montgomery County Veterans Service Commission is only possible if we're able to reach the veterans that need our help. Do your part and forward it to your veteran friends. Ask them to go subscribe: https://mcvsc.org/subscribe |
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