Leon “Skip” Johnson
The Korean War Veterans is an organization made up of veterans of the Korean War and others who have an interest in helping the causes of the many who are in need of help for themselves and family members who require support and assistance. It is not a requirement to be a Korean War veteran to become a member of our organization, and veterans from all branches of the services are always welcome to join us at our meetings. We all are aware that we’re still in phase 1 of the coronavirus disaster that put most of the local clubs and community activities on a temporary hold, but indications appear that some relaxing of restrictions is slowly taking place. It is expected that as we approach the end of the heat of the summer, things may be able to begin to start up again, although there may still be spacing limitations which, at present, are being controlled here by our state government.
One of the key benefits being provided by this organization to many locally consists of supplying, on an as-needed basis, an assortment of medical equipment to the veterans or their families in need. This includes such things as crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, canes, braces, and more. The motto for the club currently is “Freedom Is Not Free,” and many man hours are dedicated to ensure that anything that is made available through our organization has been checked over well and is safe at the time it is turned over to the person or family in need.
Typically, the Korean War Veterans meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 11 a.m. Meetings are held at the SunBird Community Center in the Lakeview Room on the main floor. Within the Community Center, on the upper level, there is a restaurant that is currently open in a limited capacity because of restrictions placed by the governor’s office. It is a nice way to start off the day with an early breakfast or perhaps a late lunch.
If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding any of the above, please feel free to call the chapter commander. It’s not all work and no play, as several of the group meet weekly socially and, also, enjoying lunch following the monthly scheduled meetings is an option and a great way to meet new friends, but more importantly, have some really interesting conversations with some people you may have a lot in common with. Due to the uncertainty of the virus, as changes are monitored daily, the outlook is somewhat positive that things will continue to open up in the not-too-distant future. Keep informed, stay safe, stay healthy, and give Chapter Commander Leon Johnson a call at 970-481-3005. He’d love to hear from you.