Honoring and Assisting Our Military Service Members

The unseen sacrifices of military families inspired Jeff Gault to establish the Army Scholarship Foundation

Military Service
At its annual Fall Luncheon, Jeff Gault (right) receives a check from Wreaths of Honor, presented by its director Larry Allen (left) with featured luncheon speaker Captain (US Army, Retired) Florent Groberg.

When Jeff Gault retired from his long military career, his family’s own sacrifices inspired his passion for creating the Army Scholarship Foundation (ASF). He founded the non-profit foundation in 2001 with help from fellow U.S. Army veterans. It provides college scholarships to the sons, daughters and spouses of those who have served our nation honorably as soldiers in the United States Army.

Jeff and his wife, Rose, lead the Help our Heroes Luncheon held in Dallas each fall. The October 2024 luncheon celebrated the recipients of 358 scholarships awarded this year to children of US Army soldiers and veterans and spouses of active-duty enlisted soldiers.  All were made possible through the non-profit’s donors.

Captain (US Army, Retired) Florent Groberg, Medal of Honor recipient and keynote speaker at the event, echoed Gault’s passion for the numerous sacrifices made by families to support their loved ones who serve in the armed forces. He gave a personal and first-hand description of the emotional, psychological, financial, and social impacts that require resilience and support.

ASF team members and volunteers had a busy fall season sharing the mission and accomplishments of the organization. 

They made presentations at the Air Force Audit Agency, the regional office of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Dallas North Audit Office.  And they exhibited at the Air & Space Forces Association’s Sam Johnson Chapter Annual Golf Classic.  At the Army Golf Tournament in Dallas, ASF received a remarkable $10,000 donation from the North Texas Audie Murphy Chapter of the Association of the United States Army.

Jeff was a guest on the first season of the PEOPLE PURSUING PASSIONS podcast by The SAVVY List. He speaks on his own family’s challenges during his long military career which inspired the creation of the Army Scholarship Foundation.

Only A Tiny Fraction of Veterans Describe Themselves as Courageous or Brave

Captain Groberg’s statement made at the recent Army Scholarship Foundation Luncheon was astounding. Some 5,000 of his fellow service members died serving in Afganistan. But 130,000 committed suicide when they came home after active duty.

Findings from the CVN Civilian-Military Divide Survey conducted by the Harris Poll confirm some reasons for these sad statistics. The survey was commissioned by Cohen Veterans Network (CVN). It showed that nearly one-third of civilians say the first word they would use to describe veterans is “courageous or brave.”  But only 2% of veterans described themselves that way.  Similarly, 13% of civilians would use the words “hero” or “heroic.” Just 1% of veterans who said they would use that term to describe themselves.

CVN is a national not-for-profit network of mental health clinics for post-9/11 veterans, service members and their families. Since its inception in 2016, it has treated more than 75,000 clients and provided over 650,000 clinical sessions. The network treats a wide variety of mental health challenges. This includes depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, PTSD, anger, grief and loss. CVN also addresses family issues, transition challenges, relationship problems, and children’s behavioral problems. CVN also provides comprehensive case management services to help clients with potential stressors such as unemployment, finances, housing, and more. Care is available through the network’s 22 Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics, serving 20 states in-person and via CVN Telehealth, face-to-face video therapy. 

Military Service
The Savvy List recently posted an article about treatments offered by Park Cities-based Re-Gen & Aesthetics Concierge of Texas to help first responders and military members suffering from PTSD and mental health issues.It is establishing a 501(c)(3) to fund scholarships for a long list of patients seeking the treatment.
 

Remembering Texans Who Served

Military Service
Members of MOWW Dallas Chapter Support the North Texas Wreaths of Honor Program

Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) Dallas chapter members will gather at DFW National Cemetery on Wreaths Day. December 14, 2024.  Each year, volunteers remember and honor veterans by laying Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes.  MOWW asks the public’s help in sponsoring remembrance wreaths and/or volunteering on Wreaths Day.

MOWW Dallas holds a monthly lunch meeting. It services to promote and encourage responsible citizenship, patriotism, youth leadership, military and public service, veteran support, and strong national security. Visit MOWW.org for upcoming events.

A Fredericksburg Museum Honors its Native Son

Located in downtown Fredericksburg, the National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW), is a Texas Historical Commission Property.  Founded in 1967, it is the only institution in the continental United States dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific and Asiatic Theaters in World War II.   

The Admiral Nimitz Foundation honors Fredericksburg native Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who served as Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces in the Pacific Ocean Area. The Foundation was established in 1971 as a 501(c)(3) to raise funds for the museum and to manage its operation.  

The museum annually welcomes more than 120,000 visitors, including at least 15,000 students from across the state. It features three galleries with more than 55,000 square feet of exhibit space. Over 40 media installations, approximately 900 artifacts, 15 macro-artifacts, and hundreds of photographs are part of the collection.


This article appeared in the Holiday 2024 Issue of The Savvy Life. For our many newcomers to the Dallas/Fort Worth area, this issue is designed to inspire them to get involved and explore all that the North Texas community has to offer.  And if you’re a native or longtime resident, the content inside will remind you how fortunate we are to be part of a community that embraces humility, passion and kindness. North Texans place a high value on preserving and promoting our history, architectural treasures and culture. We encourage you to spread the word about it.

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