Glenn Slaughter
Glenn Slaughter, a DAV life member and volunteer out of chapter 25 in Cleveland, Tenn.

DAV life member and volunteer honored for building wheelchair accessible ramps for his fellow veterans.

DAV life member Glenn Slaughter was recently honored with the Raymond H. Miller Patriotic Veterans Award for his volunteer work building wheelchair accessible ramps for his fellow veterans.

The award is presented annually to a veteran who goes above and beyond in his service to veterans and veteran agencies, and Slaughter’s work on more than 12 ramps earned him the award—the seventh veteran to receive the award.

The U.S. Army and Vietnam veteran worked on wheeled and track vehicles while serving. After his discharge in 1974, he joined DAV Chapter 25 in Cleveland, Tenn., where his skills as a carpenter would be put to good use.

“They were talking about what they could do to provide these ramps, and I said I could do it, and I could build them,” Slaughter said.

Slaughter was also the team leader in the recent construction of a new pavilion at the Old Fort Veterans Cemetery in Tennessee.

Mary Baier, who serves as chairwoman of the Raymond H. Miller Patriotic Veterans Award Committee, presented the award to the Army veteran.

“He is humble and refuses to take credit for his tireless work for veterans in need,” said Baier.

Slaughter’s wife, Debra, told Baier her husband would rather enjoy quiet days on his farm and feed his many, many animals—too numerous to count—than to stand up and accept such an award.

“This is why Glenn Slaughter was awarded this year’s Raymond H. Miller Award,” Baier said. “His humbleness.”

He is described as unassuming in his volunteer service to veterans, taking little credit for the many projects on which he participates. When presented the Raymond H. Miller Award, he said, “I appreciate this, but I don’t deserve it.”

Debra says he is a “Jack of All Trades,” and can do anything electrically, with plumbing, or carpentry. These skills have proven very valuable in his efforts to assist veterans in need.

“This is a perfect example of a fellow veteran wanting to get involved and assist other veterans,” said DAV National Voluntary Services Director John Kleindienst. “Through our Local Veterans Assistance Program (LVAP), Mr. Slaughter was able to find a way to best use his skill sets to volunteer and have a positive impact on the veterans’ lives around him. He is truly paying it forward by utilizing his abilities to provide a higher quality of life to those who he helps.”

In keeping with his demeanor, Slaughter said he was “appreciative and humbled by the award.”

If you or anyone you know would like to get involved with any of the numerous ways to volunteer through DAV please visit volunteerforveterans.org.