The National Association of American Veterans, Inc. (NAAV) and Summertime Adventures welcome you to share in the journey we’ve been having. NAAV has been blessed with an abundance of responses from many of our veterans and their family members as a reminder and testimony of what warm hands and hearts can achieve when paying it forward.
Following are a few of the June and July Testimonial selections NAAV has documented as confirmation to many of our caring sponsors, supporters, and friends who have over the years committed their time, talent, and resources to help and honor our nation’s Veterans and family members. And for those of you still unsure about what NAAV does and how we offer assistance to those veterans in need from every level, please soak in these testimonies and let them reach the undecided spaces in hopes of lifting you enough to share and give back to those who made great sacrifices for our nation.
Let’s continue to cast our cares upon the Lord our God as we begin our summer journey in June and July. (1 Peter 5:7)
NAAV Gives Back:
A thank you letter received from Sandersville, GA, Veteran Mr. & Mrs. Miller in response to NAAV securing funds towards their mortgage and receipt of additional funds from our Partner at Heroes Care in Missouri in order to prevent this family from falling into a homeless status.
From the Millers:
Dear Ms. Burns,
“My wife and I thank you and the National Association of American Veterans, Inc. (NAAV) for helping us with our mortgage. We have had such roller-coaster like situation with our mortgage, since refinancing our mortgage in 2001. My wife and I both being disabled had to retire. My Department of Transportation State job had a freeze on promotions and pay raises. Having to deal with all of this my decision to file for bankruptcy was helpful, at first. With God’s blessing, we persevered and continued to press onward. Along with our family and cherished family prayers, we kept moving forward. Then in 2016, when my back started giving me a hard time, I decided to retire. I found out about you (Ms. Burns) and NAAV from another Veteran group. From that time until now, your help and spiritual input have been so uplifting.”
Thank you so very much, Jonnie and Hattie Pearl Miller
Respecting wishes: NAAV received a generous monetary offer from Mrs. Lawson of Spring Field, Missouri in memory of her son, Scott Lawson, who served in the U.S. Air Force. Those funds were requested to be dedicated toward suicide prevention and to families who have lost loved ones as a result. NAAV was honored to receive the checks and takes great pride in putting those monies towards that intended cause.
Also, NAAV paid $98.00 respite care for an overnight stay and added fees for the daughter of a World War II Veteran Ms. Bloomer, who was recovering from an injury in May 2019.
As a team: NAAV representatives made several trips to Forest Hills in DC, in support of Ms. Bloomer’s rehabilitation efforts, who was expected to return back to the Armed Forces Retirement Home-Washington, DC, in July 2019. Ms. Bloomer was extremely grateful for the many acts of kindness shown by Ms. Burns and NAAV representatives.
Still on the move: NAAV paid rentals assistance for veteran Ronald Mbiad of Las Vegas, NV, a few months ago and has also assisted over 40 individuals with claims and benefits during June and July.
Because we care: NAAV provided $500.00 to Central Union Mission (CUM) towards the care and support of the homeless. One of those receiving support through this CUM kindly replies with a sincere poem written by hand titled Where I am Today, by G.Q., which read:
Where I Am Today
“Is free and easy
Is joyous and happy
Is back with my family
Has given me a new way
Is looking up not down
Gets better looking everyday
Is learning about me again
Is teaching me to read
Is where I’ve always wanted to be
Is growing being responsible everyday
Is with God in my life.”
Central Union Mission has been in the process of “breaking the cycle of poverty in D.C., since the mid 1980’s. They stand by the testimony found in Matthew 25:35-40 “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me…” For those you out there, to the best of your ability, don’t ever stop giving, through any means.
Hearing back: NAAV received a telephone call in June from U.S. Army Veteran Ronnie Eugene Johnson of Fort Worth, TX, requesting emergency assistance to restore water damage for his home. It’s hard to imagine that Mr. Johnson, an Army Veteran had to suffer through three months without water. However, NAAV’s efforts prevailed as many phone calls were made on Mr. Johnson’s behalf. Through prayers to the Lord our God, NAAV was able to gain support from the Neighborhood Community Services Center in Fort Worth, TX, which resulted in the reconnection of Mr. Johnson’s water and the total amount paid in full in July 2019.
Mr. Johnson writes: “Thank you for your great work in getting water turned on in my home! I called many services over the past three months with no success until I called your organization. Your professional assistance is truly a blessing from the Lord God!” — Ronnie E. Johnson, Ft. Worth, TX”
Message in July 2019 begins with the salutation: “Thanks for everything and I hope this letter for you to share with your potential network says it all.” Sincerely Wayne…” Dated August 9, 2019, the letter reads:
To Whom It May Concern:
“I am writing this letter to first, thank The NAAV, and specifically, Ms. Constance Burns for the compassion, understanding, and assistance, all of which I so desperately needed. Especially considering that there are only 18% of Veterans left from my era, and of that 18%, 11 % of us are ill. Mine happens to be, specifically, heart issues due to exposure to the defoliant and carcinogen agent orange, from my two years spent in Vietnam. Most groups I encountered before Constance’s organization, had little or no interest in helping disabled veterans from an era long past. But not the NAAV, which is evident, are very concerned about all era veteran’s welfare. All Veterans need to be, no matter what issues they may have, treated with dignity and understanding. As soon as I am able, this is the first organization that I will financially support, and I urge all of you to do the same. It is extremely rare these days to find a person or group whose sole purpose is to assist others, with no strings attached. But, they need your help, so they can keep on helping people in need. It may not always seems that way, but it could be anyone of us.”
Sincerely, Wayne F. Shiesley
“Be still and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). NAAV sees your good deeds and sincerely thanks you for your heart of giving. Because of the many ways your support and generosity assists our organization, the lives of others are impacted and blessed. As you review the June and July summer testimonies, you can agree that your giving makes a difference in more ways than one. Thank you for being a part of paying it forward with our Veterans and their family members. Let us all be reminded that God will bless those who bless others. We could not do half of what we do without you. May these additional summer months continue to warm your soul by staying joyful and light.i
Kind regards,
Constance A. Burns
CEO/President
NAAV, Inc.,
Washington, DC
i All ClipArt graphics taken from https://www.hellasmultimedia.com; pulled August 11, 2019.