National Commander Message

Coleman Nee, Commander

‘Not for ourselves alone’

What the South Boston neighborhood where I grew up lacked in wealth, it made up for in camaraderie and patriotism. At a time when much of the country was either protesting against or completely ignoring those returning from Vietnam, I watched and admired as those who made it home built one of the nation’s first memorials to the 25 friends, heroes and sons of “Southie” who made the ultimate sacrifice. Witnessing my community honor the fallen had a profound impact on me and illustrated the importance of banding together to accomplish a task bigger than oneself.

Like many of you, I found that military service reinforced that idea. But as we all know, that same service comes with trials and tribulations that can last far beyond our time in uniform. And in transitioning to civilian life, we tend to gain a greater appreciation for being around others who understand and relate to our experiences.

I took that belief with me when I served as the secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services from 2011 to 2015. When veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan returned home, we didn’t wait for them to contact us for services. We put post-9/11 veterans and qualified peers into the community to network with local agencies and groups to find those who came home and were struggling with the transition.

For over a century, service to our fellow veterans has been the hallmark of DAV, and we’ll continue building on that together in the coming year. But it’s important to remember that service is much more than claims work; it’s conducting outreach to minority veteran communities, volunteering at food pantries to serve veterans living just above the poverty line, or building a wheelchair ramp or doing yard work for a veteran or surviving spouse in need. Literally anything you can do to help a veteran in your community makes a difference because it introduces them to our cause and can be the springboard to becoming an active DAV member.

There’s a passage from Roman statesman Cicero that has guided me since high school: “Not for ourselves alone are we born.” As veterans, we all lived this adage in our younger years through our service to this nation. As DAV members, we must rededicate ourselves to our sacred cause and to each other through service and peer support, for they are the best things we can do to help our brothers and sisters access the resources and benefits they’ve earned.

I am humbled by this honor you’ve bestowed upon me, and I look forward to sharing this journey with you as your national commander.

If you want to find out more about the National Commander, you can find his biography here.