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Our History

OVP was born out of happenstance. While touring the city with a fellow Veteran he and I discovered a young Veteran standing on the street corner asking assistance from passersby. Almost all passed him as if he were non-existent. We observed for a while, when we could watch no longer we intervened. We did what we could to implement an immediate impact. We were able to provide him with a few dollars to meet some immediate need; we took him to a local restaurant and provided him with a warm meal then we saw him to a local shelter and registered him for two weeks. This was the financial limit of what we could do at the spur of the moment. This was not a hand out or charity but a hand up. During this time we discussed his path to his current situation. A seasoned soldier returned home to virtual obscurity with no family support structure and limited resources from the government and its subordinate agencies he swore and vowed to protect and defend. He quickly explained he was not alone. We wanted to do more but what could just the two of us do?

 

We mobilized and in traditional military fashion reached out to several other former military members. OVP’s collective range of experience spans the eras from Viet Nam to the current war on terrorism. Our oldest member nears seventy while our youngest is just twenty-six. We come from a variety of backgrounds in the Infantry, Airborne, Artillery, Engineers, Transportation, Logistics, and Intelligence. The Army, Navy, Marines and National Guard are all represented in our ranks and the door is still open to others who wish to collaborate in support of our Nation’s Veterans. There was a time when it was fashionable to refer to service members as “Treasure” it’s about time we revisit the definition and identify those who believe in its application is returned to fashion to reflect our Nation’s true appreciation for the service and sacrifices.

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