I’m Si Cantwell. Margee Herring of the Harrelson Center has asked me to write a blog post about nonprofits that serve the veterans community (interrupting my perfectly peaceful retirement!).
I volunteer with the Southeast North Carolina Veterans Parade. I’ve organized an Information Fair and Celebration of veterans that takes place during and after the parade at The Eagles Dare, a bar at Third and Red Cross streets that is veteran owned and does a lot for the community. It’s right on the parade route. The fair is open to any nonprofit that offers services tailored specifically to veterans.
This year’s parade will start at 11 a.m. Nov. 8 and march along Third Street. The parade draws 10,000 or more spectators. All veterans are welcome to march or ride in the parade, which features marching bands, pipe & drum corps, organizations and individuals who support those who serve or have served. It’s a stirring event.
But this is about the nonprofits that come to the Information Fair and have a mission to support veterans and/or their families.
Last November, we had some 20 organizations. Some were businesses who are parade sponsors.
Some are government agencies, such as the NC Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities, or Vocational Rehab.
Others are traditional veterans groups such as American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.
The New Hanover County Veterans Council is there, an umbrella group of veteran-oriented organizations.
There’s Save a Vet Now, Tony Vivaldi’s outreach to bring veterans at risk of suicide to the Coastal Horizons, which does excellent work.
Cape Fear Veteran Resilience Project also works to prevent veterans suicide.
Canines for Service trains service dogs to assist veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, military sexual trauma and mobility limitations.
Honor Flight of the Cape Fear Area honors war veterans by taking them for visits to Washington, D.C.
The Veterans Memorial Reef preserves veterans’ remains as artificial reefs for offshore marine life.
The VA Caregiver Support Program is part of the Veterans Administration and supports families of veterans.
Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity and Lower Cape Fear LifeCare provide services for veterans and their families.
Please come out for the parade and then stop by the Information Fair afterward to meet these and other groups. My band The Clams will be playing, and there will be a food truck. For information about the Information Fair, email me at si.cantwell@gmail.com.
See you Nov. 8!
Si Cantwell is the former, now retired, community editor for the Wilmington Star News. Pictured is the Veterans Day fair that follows the parade and is held at The Eagles Dare every November.
The Undercurrent is a platform for diverse perspectives across the nonprofit sector. Views expressed in guest posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Harrelson Center, its staff, Board or Partners.
