Georgia Veterans Give Back to Dobbins

by Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten, 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Members of the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance presented Col. Timothy Tarchick, 94th Airlift Wing commander, and Angela Pedersen, 94th AW Airman and Family Readiness Office director, with 40 gift cards to a local grocery store.

The gift cards will be used to help, not only Airmen, but also Marines, Soldiers and Sailors around Dobbins Air Reserve Base in need during the holiday season who, through no fault of their own, have entered into a financial crisis.

"We are very grateful for Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance," said Tarchick. "John Bevich and Bob Humphries have come here to donate these gifts to our military members who need assistance during the holidays."

This is the tenth year the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance has donated gift cards to Dobbins service members. These veterans work at the Alliance's store selling goods, work at local festivals and accept donations from the community to raise money to purchase the gift cards each year.

"Like the Purple Heart Foundation, the Georgia Vietnam Veterans Alliance has shown us, again, that the generations who served before us have not forgotten about those currently serving," said Tarchick. "This is something to remember for when we retire or leave the service - we need to take care of those that take our places within these ranks. We are extremely grateful for what our veterans have done for us, and what they continue to do."