Donations help buy new DAV transportation

Veterans seeking medical care and the volunteers who drive them will be riding in style thanks to the fundraising efforts of Disabled American Veterans Fort Sherman Chapter 9.

Field Marshall Charles Till, the DAV chapter commander, and Lew Allert, the chapter Energizer Bunny, recently handed the keys to a new Ford 12-passenger van over to Bret Bowers, the public affairs officer at Spokane VA Medical Center.

“Charles Till is the only field marshall in the 1.3 million-member DAV, and Lew Allert is the only Energizer Bunny in the DAV,” said Robert Hunt, the DAV chapter adjutant.

The $32,401.45 cost of the van came from the people of Kootenai County through donations of a dollar in front of area stores and donations from groups ranging from the Hayden Lake Eagles, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Hauser Gun Club, St. Vincent de Paul, the Marine Corps League and many others.

The van will be used to transport veterans daily to and from the VA Medical Center in Spokane for free. Local volunteer drivers start their rounds at 6 a.m.

This is a DAV nationwide initiative with 1,700 vans stationed at 170 medical facilities.

“The support of the local populace is what makes this donation possible and the members of DAV 9 and its Auxiliary thank everyone,” Hunt said.