Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, July 23, 2021

Event highlights resources for AV veterans

by Alisha Semchuck ceived many calls from crying widows and CalVet Palmdale.
staff writer helped them with burial services for their veteran “I’m an immigrant kid. I came here in 1988 from
spouses. a communist country,”Parsamyan said.
People in leadership positions have often been “We need more things like this so veterans know “A lot of veterans have anxiety about leaving the
quoted as saying, “it takes a village to raise a where to go,” Ward said of the Resources Network- military,” Parsamyan said, also drawing from his
child,” a concept that can equally apply to veterans ing event on Thursday. personal experience. “In the infantry we know how
and their families struggling through hard times, “Maybe you just thought of getting your medals. to do our job — shooting and blowing up. Since
and a notion even more relevant for veterans liv- We’re here to help you. Maybe you’re stuck with a 2002, I’ve been bouncing around. I was going to
ing on the streets without food or shelter to protect bill. Please, don’t hesitate to call our office. We’re go to Texas. Someone said, ‘why don’t you check
them from frigid winter temperatures and stifling here to help with any federal office,” the Congress- out the AV?’ ”
summer hot spells. man’s aide noted. “Veterans can do anything. They are very re-
After returning “home” from whichever branch “You will find me at each breakfast,” Ward said, sourceful.” Still, he said, “there’s always a doubt.”
of the military they served, as a testament of their referring to veterans’ breakfasts that occur at spe- The fear of failure. To succeed, Parsamyan altered
commitment to guard their homeland and its citi- cific locations on three mornings each week. “I get his thinking and adopted the following philosophy:
zens from foreign enemies, a park bench for a bed paid to do that, but I love my job. If it’s something “Make a mistake. Learn. Don’t make that mistake
and scraps of food from a trashcan must seem like I can’t do, I can help get you to the right person.” again.”
the worst slap in the face that any veteran can re- Courtesy screenshot Woolbert said Vets4Veterans was founded by His pledge to veterans: “I will support you with
ceive. Some thoughtful and patriotic U.S. residents a group of Vietnam veterans led by the late Tom anything you do as long as you give back. A simple
realized and appreciated the efforts that men and Nayda Figueroa, Community Relations Director Hilzendeger who started the group 11 years ago, deed goes a long way.”
for Vets4Veterans gives opening remarks.
women in the armed forces have contributed, and “realizing veterans needed help. We like to provide “My wife saw me struggle in the 10 years I was
they acknowledged it’s time to pay back by provid- a safety net and an opportunity for stability for vet- bouncing around.” Parsamyan was having a grand
ing resources to fulfill veterans’ needs. Nemeth kicked off her five minutes in the spot- erans. During the pandemic, we started a monthly opening at his new business location on West Av-
Out of that sense of indebtedness, various orga- light by acknowledging the presence of Linda Wil- food distribution.” enue J-5 the next day.
nizations formed. Several of them came together lis, who works with her at Point Man, as the orga- Woolbert said volunteers provide all the elbow Friend said Northrop Grumman initiated the
July 15, 2021, to inform veterans about available nization’s secretary. The Antelope Valley chapter grease. They donate their time. No one gets paid. NG6 Program “to help vets get back on their feet.”
resources that could raise their status quo and per- of the organization is an Outpost of Point Man “If we attend a function, we pay our own way. We The aerospace firm hired 26 homeless veterans last
haps lift their spirits. International Ministries. Army veteran Mike Ber- have a scholarship program (at) Antelope Valley year. NG6 was done in conjunction with Los An-
The meeting, at the Larry Chimbole Cultural tell is the chapter president, but health reasons kept College.” geles County to assist homeless veterans with em-
Center in Palmdale, Calif., was arranged by Nayda him from attending the event. Nemeth said veterans Vets4Veterans also owns a home where a vet- ployment and funding for housing. Northrop also
Figueroa, the Community Relations Director for meet and share their stories with one another. Only eran and his or her family can stay for free from partnered with Embry Riddle University to provide
Vets4Veterans, one of the organizations that as- veterans are allowed to attend those meetings, so six months to a year while repairing the family’s education for the veterans and with Valley Oasis to
sist with information about employment, benefits, because she and Willis are not veterans, they are financial situation. The organization also sponsors reach out to the veterans.
education and various other factors intended to locked out of those sessions. Point Man tends to the an “art healing group.” Veterans can release their Friend said a homeless veteran event scheduled
improve veterans lives. spiritual, physical and emotional needs of veterans feelings, any pent-up anger or anxiety through for Saturday aimed at providing vets with haircuts.
“We’re networking and mingling right now,” and their families. Licensed Marriage and Family painting, drawing or sketching. Mumma works out of the VPAN office that
Figueroa said, as the crowd gathered in a second- therapists Dennis Anderson and Gerry Rice work “Everything we do is at no cost to veterans. Ev- opened a few weeks on Avenue M near 3rd Street
floor meeting room at 6 p.m. with the group. ery penny we raise stays in the Valley,” Woolbert East.
“We’re looking forward to having a great ses- Point Man also houses and maintains the Mobile said. “Veterans need the help. They deserve it, they “We help veterans with all kinds of services,”
sion,” said Juan Blanco, president of Coffee4Vets, Vietnam Memorial Wall, a duplicate of the Wall in earned it.” Mumma said. “The most dominant thing I’ve seen
a weekly Tuesday morning breakfast gathering Washington, D.C., but half the size. Nemeth said Tortolano, a Marine vet, joined Parsamyan, an so far is homelessness. They’re looking for a place
for veterans, organized by Blanco and his wife when she began working at Point Man she was Army Infantry vet, at the podium. to live. We actually go out to the desert and find the
Atherine. told she would love it. She had her doubts. Before Tortolano, the Coffee4Vets vice president, men- encampments. We find the homeless and connect
Once the socializing wound down, Figueroa ad- long before she was sold. The experience touched tioned that after he suffered a work-related injury,
dressed the crowd of roughly 75 attendees. her heart. Ward was able to get all the military records he them (with) permanent housing and their benefits.
“We are gathered here today, as a community, Marquez said the Military Resource Center pro- needed to prove his eligibility for benefits. His situ- We also connect them with jobs.”
Homeless veterans who receive assistance from
to learn, support and develop relationships with gram at Mental Health America is relatively new. ation demonstrated how the various veteran support VPAN learn how to write a resume that a prospec-
organizations that can assist our veterans in the An- Often a veteran needs documents and that program entities, whether nonprofit organizations, private
telope Valley. Today is about you. It is about our can help. In addition, the program assists veterans industry or governmental bodies, work together to tive employer will read and they also receive train-
veterans that do not have voices easily heard, and and their families with food — “healthy food,” fix what’s broke. ing for the job. Types of work vary from positions
it’s about community — the AV,” Figueroa said. Marquez said. “We help veterans with anything to Then Tortolano turned his attention to Parsamy- in the engineering field to employment at a college
“It is about growth, as we grow together to sup- do with their health. We have Outreach Services. an, informing event participants that the Army vet- or in a restaurant.
port those who have already given so much and If you’re a veteran in need of housing, please give eran started a training program for people return- “The job field is opening up,” Mumma said.
their families. It is also about supporting those just us a call.” ing to civilian life. He trains them to become auto Other help veterans receive deals with confronting
transitioning into civilian life and giving them the Marquez said she began working with veterans mechanics at his shop, Armed Services Autobody. issues like substance abuse and alcoholism, anger
encouragement and opportunity to help them flour- after 2011.She loves “being able to make a differ- The training teaches them life skills and ensures management and suicidal thoughts.
ish — strength in numbers.” ence for someone who had doors shut on them.” their success in the future, according to Parsamyan, Figueroa said she helps veterans with healthcare
Figueroa concluded her welcoming comments Castillo recalled being in the situation so many named Veteran of the Year in 2020 for the city of plans through Humana and Medicare which can
by asking attendees to sit with someone new, rather other veterans face, wanting home ownership and be complex and difficult to understand. “I listen
than their usual friends. thinking that was impossible, until Homes4Familes first, ask some questions, then listen again.” She
The Antelope Valley Young Marines presented stepped in. The program is intended for lower in- assists veterans with securing benefits that they are
the colors for the crowd to recite the Pledge of Al- come families that are first-time property buyers, eligible to receive.
legiance. who can demonstrate the ability to pay the mort- Asked why Humana, Figueroa said, “we are a
Designated speakers included Stacia Nemeth, gage and are willing to take classes about budget national sponsor” with the U.S. Veterans Admin-
treasurer for Point Man Antelope Valley; Donniel planning. They must also pay with sweat equity by istration.
Marquez, Mental Health America of Los Angeles, working on the construction of another veteran’s Figueroa said serving veterans became her pas-
Military Resource Center; Alejandro Castillo, on home. sion, largely because she is surrounded by family
behalf of Homes4Families; Anthony Rodriguez, a “Now that I’m part of Homes4Families, I spread members who are veterans.
Local Interagency Network Coordinator, LINC at the word,” Castillo said. “We are currently building Her son, Erik Garcia, 29, is an Air Force veteran.
CalVet; Christine Ward, an aide for U.S. Rep. Mike 56 homes here in Palmdale.” “My son always knew, since he was little, that he
Garcia, R-25th Congressional District; Jack Wool- Rodriguez served as a captain in the Marine wanted to be in the military. He always wanted to
bert, President of Vets4Veterans; Tony Tortolano, Corps. He said he had worked in various positions work for NASA. He hasn’t done that yet.”
a Marine (semper fi) and Vice President of Coffee- at different places, but his “best job” is at CalVet. Her fiancé, 51-year-old Edward Harrison Fugee,
4Vets; John Parsamyan, an Army Infantry veteran, There he is responsible for a few thousand veterans. III, is an Air Force veteran that had been stationed
Vice President of Vets4Veterans and named Veter- CalVet has a mission of providing services at the in Japan.
an of the Year in 2020 by the city of Palmdale; Ken state level. “We augment the Veterans Adminis- Her younger brother, Gene Figueroa, 51, is a
Friend, a Talent Acquisition Manager at Northrop tration.” Gulf War veteran who served in the Army in the
Grumman; James Mumma, a “Battle Buddy” and “We’re involved in a lot of things behind the early 1990s. “Part of my passion for what I do was
Peer Support Specialist at a new Lancaster office scenes,” Rodriguez said. “We control all the GI influenced by what I saw my brother go through.
for the Veteran Peer Access Network, aka VPAN; money that comes to California.” CalVet provides He saw a lot of things that affected him. When he
and Figueroa, who wears multiple hats including scholarship funds for veterans’ children to attend came back, he wasn’t the same man.”
a position on the board of U.S. Veteran Business schools and earn degrees. Nonetheless, he never lost his chivalry. Figueroa
Alliance. During the pandemic, Rodriguez said, he re- Courtesy screenshot said he still opens doors for her.
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