SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio is home to more than 160,000 veterans and 80,000 active duty members. More than anywhere else, here in Military City USA, we need resources to support these men and women who serve our country. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is one source.

Members of DAV Alamo Chapter 5 help veterans in many ways including with filling out their disability claims, which can be a complicated process.

Larry Whatley, a 28 year Navy veteran, says, “It allows veterans face to face time with chapter service officers who are accredited to assist with the claims.”

The DAV has been a place of support and fellowship for Artie McNeal, an Army veteran who served eight years and recently moved to San Antonio from California.

“It means everything to me,” McNeal said. “I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for the military and the DAV has a lot of people who I can relate to. I relate to veterans more than I do civilians.”

It’s also been life saving for McNeal , who is battling cancer. He qualified for the DAV’s VG Clark Cancer Relief Fund.

“The cancer fund has helped me buy food to get through the month for my family,” McNeal said.

The DAV offers other services including:

Financial support for shelter and foodVeteran burial benefitsWomen veteran’s advocacy service

“We’re all about being there for veterans,” Whatley said. “We are veterans ourselves and we understand the sacrifice that many people make.”

The DAV helped McNeal with his disability claims and now he’s giving back. He’s training to be a service officer with the DAV to help his fellow vets with their claims.

“When I start talking about helping other veterans, I feel like, I don’t know how to explain it, like this volcano coming, but it’s a a good thing,” McNeal described. “It’s a good thing like I want to reach around and help all the veterans. I want to help everybody.”

DAV Alamo 5 is the largest chapter in Texas with 5,800 members. They are five other DAV chapters in the San Antonio area as well. They can’t help veterans without volunteers and financial support.

You can help by joining us on Saturday, April 4th for Sinclair Cares DAV Community Impact Day. Sign up for a community service project or donate.