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Gen. Mike Minihan, Commander of Air Mobility Command, visits the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station June 8, 2024.

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Veterans reach out through display

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Andrew Caya
  • 914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. --  A walled presentation showing the struggle of numerous combat veterans was on display at the Community Activity Center here over the September 7-8 unit training assembly.

The temporary wall, set up by the Vietnam Veterans of America, told of the stories and highlighted the photos and other memorabilia of Vietnam Veterans as an outreach to current combat veterans at NFARS.

Jack Michel, of the Vietnam Veterans of America, spearheaded the effort to bring this display here.

"What is on the display are actual stories of how our lives fell apart," said Michel, a combat Marine who fought in Vietnam.

914th Airlift Wing Airman and Family Readiness Director Megan Calero stated,"The stories on the display are such a powerful and intimate look in to the lives of veterans, who needed to reach out. It is courageous of them to share their story with us."

Michel challenges veterans who suffer from any problems from combat to reach out as there are plenty of others who can help.  There is also a dire need for veterans to help each other and he advises other veterans to share their time and money to assist their comrades in need.

Michel said he was assisting a younger veteran who said Michel didn't understand what the younger veteran was going through.  Michel replied, "The only thing about war that changes is the time and the place. My father told me about Okinawa, I was in Khe San, the veterans now speak of Fallujah--it's all the same."

While all war is the same, the benefits that veterans earn for their service has changed drastically over the years, said Michel.

"This outreach is important to current veterans, as veterans of all conflicts go through the same struggles," said Calero.  "Vietnam Veterans laid the ground work for so many of the benefits veterans receive today. Without their vision and push for each other and veterans, many of the programs designed to assist veterans would not be a reality."