New program provides transportation for local disabled veterans

Mara Wegner, Oshkosh Northwestern
·3 min read
The Disabled American Veterans Ray H Fuller Winnebago County Chapter 17 and the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to provide a dedicated transportation program for disabled veterans residing in Oshkosh, Omro, and Winneconne.
The Disabled American Veterans Ray H Fuller Winnebago County Chapter 17 and the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to provide a dedicated transportation program for disabled veterans residing in Oshkosh, Omro, and Winneconne.

The Disabled American Veterans Ray H Fuller Winnebago County Chapter 17, along with the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, have announced the launch of a dedicated transportation program for disabled veterans residing in Oshkosh, Omro and Winneconne.

The program begins Jan. 2, offering transportation to veterans for medical appointments at VA facilities in Appleton and Green Bay. The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce will host the vehicles volunteers will use to pick up veterans directly from their homes.

Volunteer drivers will be needed. Anyone interested should contact Kyle Newkirk at 920-431-2639.

Additional services provided by the DAV Chapter 17 include assistance with veteran’s benefit claims, transportation to VA medical appointments, aid in transitioning military to civilian employment, raising public awareness of DAV legislative priorities, and fostering camaraderie among local veterans and their families.

For more information, visit dav17.org or call 920-345-6789.

Welcome to your weekly dose.Here is more news from throughout Winnebago County.

Blood donors have chance to win Super Bowl tickets

The holidays make it difficult for donors to have time to give blood or platelets, but donors are always needed. As an incentive to give, donors who give at an American Red Cross blood drive between Jan. 1 and 31, will be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For more information, visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.

To donate, individuals must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification will be required at check-in.

Upcoming local blood drives include:

  • Jan. 11: 2 to 6 p.m., Calvary Lutheran Church, 2580 W. Ninth Ave., Oshkosh.

  • Jan. 12: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Omro High School, 455 Fox Trail

  • Jan. 15: 1 to 6 p.m., Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1140 Tullar Road, Neenah.

To schedule an appointment, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 800-733-2767.

EAA announces first half of Speaker Series schedule

The first six speakers have been confirmed for the 2024 EAA Aviation Adventure Speaker Series. Presentations take place at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at the EAA Aviation Museum.

The 2024 schedule includes:

  • Jan. 18: Archaeology and MIA Recovery Missions: Innovations and Challenges. Dr. Brett Hoffman will review the history of the University of Wisconsin MIA Recovery and Identification Project, including the breakthroughs and difficulties along the way.

  • Feb. 15: The Magic of Air Show Flying. Air show pilot Matt Younkin will detail what it is like to perform in front of crowds all across the country.

  • March 21: Flying the A-1 Skyraider. Vietnam War veteran John Larrison will discuss conducting some of the first A-1 Skyraider missions over Vietnam.

  • April 18: Tomcats Over the Gulf. Herman C. Cook III will recount his experience flying one of two American F-14 Tomcats that engaged two Libyan MiG-23s over the Gulf of Sidra on Jan. 4, 1989.

  • May 16: Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue. Tom Cooper will explain what life is like for a United States Coast Guard helicopter pilot, including personal stories of flying lifesaving missions.

  • June 20: Bazooka Charlie. Researching One Hero’s Adventure of Taking a Cub to War: Jim Busha takes a deep dive into the story of Major Charles Carpenter, who made headlines during World War II when he affixed six bazookas to his Piper L-4 airplane in order to attack German tanks.

The monthly speaker series is open to the public, with free admission for EAA members and $5 for nonmembers. For more information, visit EAA.org/SpeakerSeries.

Contact Mara Wegner at mwegner@gannett.com or 920-996-7241.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: DAV Chapter 17, Oshkosh Chamber provide transport to disabled veterans