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Hernando Today

First Vet Fair Gets High Marks

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TONY HOLT

Published: February 3, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - BROOKSVILLE - Patrick Rodgers knew he was at the right

place.

Everything a veteran needs – from benefits and pension

information to membership applications to local clubs –

was available Saturday at Nature Coast Technical High

School.

He has never been used to this kind of convenience, but

he would like to see it more often.

"I think it's a very good thing to have all the

services veterans don't always know about and bring

them together to one location," said Rodgers, a Spring

Hill resident and 22-year veteran of the U.S. Army.

U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite believes the same thing.

She hosted the first annual veteran benefit resource

fair at the school, which also included appearances

from local junior ROTC programs.

"We've periodically had booths at events, so why not

have them all in one place at one time?" Brown-Waite

said.

She wanted the first veterans fair to be held last

year, but the planning stages began too late. It

requires a lot of time and effort to invite 46 vendors

to one event, she said.

"People don't know all these services are available,"

Brown-Waite said. "To have it all in one place is

important."

A second fair will be held Thursday, Feb. 21, in The

Villages.

Hundreds of veterans attended the fair, which

fortuitously took place under clear skies and 75-degree

weather.

Among those who took in the sun's rays were U.S. Navy

veterans Vince Eichberger and Ray Dolman. Both men had

bags filled with brochures, applications and literature

sprawled across the table in front of them.

"I think this has been pretty informative," Eichberger

said. "For people who maybe don't know everything they

need to (know), there are people here who they can

speak to."

The men were sifting through their bags and watching

the Central High School drill team perform in the

middle of the courtyard.

The heavy JROTC presence did not go unnoticed among the

veterans, particularly Dolman.

"I have to admire what they're doing here with all

these youngsters," he said.

Among the almost four dozen vendors that attended

Saturday were James A. Haley VA Hospital, Brooksville

VA Clinic, Florida Army National Guard, Florida

National Cemetery and Florida Department of Veterans

Affairs.

Dee Mills, mother of the late Lea Mills, who was killed

in action in Iraq in 2002, also was on hand. Since

starting her charity drive for the Marines and soldiers

serving overseas, she has sent more than $40,000 worth

of supplies to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We hope to keep it going … hopefully until they come

home," she said.

In the end, the event drew large numbers and garnered

high praise from those in attendance. Brown-Waite

promises to hold at least two in the area per year –

one in Hernando County and the other in Sumter County.

"A lot of times vets are forgotten when the fighting

stops and when we come back home," said Rodgers, who

retired from the Army 11 years ago. "It's good to see

this."

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or

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