By Darlene Brace
Many years ago, November 11th was designated as Veterans Day. Veterans Day was established as a day to recognize, honor, and thank the men and women who have served our country in the military.
One of these veterans is a man in Chautauqua County named Greg Carlson. Greg Carlson not only served in the military, but he continues help other veterans. Greg is a local man who grew up in Celoron, and he enlisted in 1996. He served our country in the Air Force for twenty years from 1996 to 2016. During his military career, he was deployed overseas seas five times to Iraq and Afghanistan, and once to South America. He was given numerous awards and decorations to include but not limited to the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal. These highly prestigious medals are awarded to men and women who displayed meritorious service in combat zones.
Gregg retired from the Air Force as a Major in 2016. Even though he has retired from active service, in a way he still continues to serve our country. Shortly after retiring, he started his current position as Director of Veteran Services for Chautauqua County. At the Veteran Services, he is happy to still be affiliated with the military. He helps county veterans by providing them a gateway to get the benefits that they have earned and qualify for. Some of the benefits for veterans are disability, health care, pensions, and death benefits. He wants to make sure that all veterans get the benefits they deserve.
If you are a veteran and need support or help in finding the benefits and services you qualify for, you can call the Chautauqua County Veterans Service Agency at 716-661-8256. If you are in Cattaraugus County you can contact the Cattaraugus County Veterans Service Agency at 716-701-3298.
When asked what the most positive experience of his time in the military and his current position is, Greg said, “It’s not the awards and decorations that are the most important thing. To me, the most important thing is the camaraderie with my fellow airman when I was in the service and the camaraderie I have with the vets that I help now.”
Greg went on to explain about another source of support for area veterans. It’s called the Dwyer Peer Support Group, and it was started in Jamestown about ten years ago. The Dwyer Program was named after Joseph P. Dwyer, who was an Iraq combat medic. He came home from serving our country with PTSD and a brain injury. Unfortunately, he passed away, but after his passing, his family lobbied New York State to get involved and support vets. The Dwyer Program was started and is funded by a state grant. It’s a non-clinical peer to peer organization for vets which provides a non-threatening and trusted space. It has a variety of activities and events, where veterans can get together to talk and spend time with other veterans. There are many veterans that live with injuries as well as PTSD, and this peer-to-peer support has become very successful in enhancing and saving lives of our country’s heroes.
An example of activities available through the Dwyer Program, is a weekly coffee hour, which takes place on Monday mornings at 10am at Christ First Church on Lakeview Avenue in Jamestown. They sometimes have bowling nights, card nights, family nights, women’s groups, and other activities. Once a year there’s a military ball. There’s just a variety of events to support local vets, that gives them a common place to meet, talk, and spend time with other vets. There’s also a small group that meets in the Brockton area called Veterans for Christ, that has some similar services. If you’re interested in the Dwyer Program, you can find information on dwyerchautauqua.com, or you can call Cindy at 716-661-8447.
Serving our country is a very honorable and selfless position. Each year we celebrate Veterans Day to honor these men and women. To Greg Carlson and all the other men and women who have served our county in the military, may you have a very Happy Veterans Day, and a big heart felt thank you for serving our country.