Quite a bit has changed in the last 101 years that Disabled American Veterans has been around. The country has persevered through wars, economic crises and pandemics, though through it all, the nonprofit’s vocation has held true: serve those who’ve served for you.

In 1920, disabled war hero Judge Robert Marx formed a group called Disabled American Veterans of the World War, which, according to assistant national communications director M. Todd Hunter, was a way to give a voice to those who were forever changed by warfare.

Upon returning from the bloodying battlefields, soldiers came home to limited resources, a struggling economy and, essentially, a government that was nescient and ill-equipped to provide what these servicemen were in dire need of.

“The brave men and women of our military travel around the world to de- fend the freedom we enjoy at home—so it’s only right that when they return, we provide them with the services and support they need,” says Hunter.

“Since its founding, DAV has remained focused on serving and advocating for all generations of veterans,” he adds. “And, despite the unforeseen challenges ... our organization continues to step up to the plate as it has throughout the past century.”

Locally, the first chapter was chartered in 1945. Then, in 1951, the state department of Hawai‘i was established, making 2021 its 70th year in service.

Today, DAV claims six chapters throughout the state and serves more than 6,000 members and their ‘ohana. In the last year, the nonprofit took over 27,000 actions to advocate for military personnel, including representation at benefit hearings and appeals, reviewing and developing records, providing professional advice and more.

It also continues to offer transportation to and from medical appointments, hosts virtual and in-person job fairs and provides resources “to ensure they have the opportunity to participate in the American dream their sacrifices have made possible,” to hear Hunter tell it.

“The challenges presented by geography ... can make it hard to assist veterans dispersed on the many different islands,” he shares. “We have a lot of great members in the state who care a lot about what we do and are very welcoming for veterans transitioning out of uniform and those new to the islands. They really take care of one another.

“Our information seminars give veterans the help they need to file and receive VA claims, as well as everyday support as they take back normal life,” he continues. “And, for some veterans, the situation is more urgent. DAV’s outreach to homeless veterans and our disaster relief grants lend a helping hand to those veterans who face additional hurdles in their return to life at home.”

To that end, the coronavirus pandemic has altered operations slightly, as all DAV offices are currently closed to the public. Its services, however, continue to prosper.

In April 2020, for example, DAV established a COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Fund, which financially sustained veterans who lost their employment and/or income. In the time since, roughly $2 million—which was made possible through donations from the public and corporate sponsors—has been distributed to assist with bills, trips to the grocery store and other necessities.

Those who would like to get involved locally can visit dav.org/ help-dav/volunteer to learn about the ample opportunities available. Options include volunteering at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, nursing home or clinic, or participating in the Local Veterans Assistance Program to run errands, help with yard work and other everyday tasks.

“Hawai‘i has a rich history of supporting our heroes. We just lost a DAV life member who was among the first to fire upon an enemy submarine in advance of the attacks on Pearl Harbor,” says Hunter. “We encourage veterans and folks interested in helping us to visit our website or attend a local chapter meeting when we’re back open. We anticipate needing a lot of help to get our transportation network and other volunteer initiatives back up and running to serve some unmet needs that have probably been lingering since the pandemic started. It feels good to give back, and most people who work with veterans say they get as much out of it as the veterans they help.”

For more on DAV, go to dav.org..