Time and again throughout our nation’s history, veterans have selflessly devoted their lives—and often shed their blood—protecting America from harm in times of war and peace. With help from people like you, in this new year of 2023, Veterans-In-Action will be implementing a series of programs designed to better support today’s veterans and their families in their on-going struggles to survive and thrive in these challenging times. V-I-A takes as its motto “This we do that others may live”—the credo of the legendary Air Force Jolly Greens, whose bravery and selfless dedication led to the rescue of some 3,800 downed pilots during the Vietnam War. Everything V-I-A does is based on that same precept—helping others  to live who once risked their lives in defense of ours.

Veterans in normal times face challenges as they transition back to civilian life; in the Age of covid, those challenges have intensified. Compelled by trying circumstances, V-I-A has re-imagined its vision and retooled its approach to address today’s conditions in anticipation of still more changes to come tomorrow. Our open-ended vision takes into account the dynamics of what is essentially a moving target; we dare not stand still, lest the world passes us by.

Founded in Humboldt County, California in 2006 by a decorated Jolly Green vet, having reaffirmed its mission in 2021, V-I-A begins 2022 mobilizing fresh support for veterans, using past successes as guidelines while moving forward. The demanding, grind-it-out spadework normally required to kick off initiatives such as these has been done; renewed, re-imagined, and nurtured, programs launched 15 years ago have a better chance than ever to prosper and grow in 2022 and beyond.  Past experience points the way toward a better tomorrow, as the selfless, undaunted spirit of the Jolly Greens informs V-I-A’s every move.

Both initial steps planned are based on successful programs carried out in 2006‒7.  The first involves having the month of May reaffirmed as “Veterans Appreciation Month,” with this year’s inaugural effort centered as it was before on Humboldt County and the State of California. In the first go-around, endorsements were received on every level, beginning locally in Fortuna and Eureka and extending from there upwards to Humboldt County and onward still further to Sacramento, where then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gave the effort his rousing endorsement on behalf of the state.

In conjunction with those proclamations, V-I-A launched a veterans-focused blood drive in the summer of 2007, whereby donors could specify that credits be issued to a special account set aside for veterans and their families based on their donations. Any of the latter, when the occasion arises, could apply for banked credits to be applied against the cost of blood needed for surgeries and treatments, limiting what otherwise could be a major medical expense.