Richard Boettger (left) celebrates with American author and long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad (right) on the 10-year anniversary of her iconic swim from Cuba to Key West, Florida.

DAV member Richard Boettger, who served as a Russian language specialist in the Army, saw his planned military career come to an early end when he sustained a knee injury during basic training.

The career-ending injury is common among military members—
10 times that of civilians, according to some studies. For the Michigan native, the loss was hard to take.

“I blew out my knee, which prevented me from going into any kind of special forces,” he said. “I got an early discharge, gave up my security clearance and went into other things. I eventually went to the VA hospital and got an operation, but it didn’t fully fix my knee.”

Reflecting on his journey, Boettger acknowledges the pivotal role the VA and DAV played in enhancing his quality of life through exceptional medical care and support services.

“I have had such extraordinarily good care from the VA with my medical care that it really enhanced the quality of my life,” said Boettger.

He also became a DAV member and learned about the FreeWill website.

“Using the FreeWill website was straightforward, and knowing the significant impact DAV has on veterans made it an easy decision for me,” he said, highlighting the importance of supporting organizations that provide critical programs and services to veterans at no cost.

Having such an accessible resource was a relief to Boettger. He used to pay thousands of dollars making updates to his will. FreeWill took that stress away and gave him the time to not only make sure his family is provided for but also support the causes he is passionate about.

“When I read the uplifting stories about what DAV does for disabled veterans who have suffered far worse injuries than I did, I’m reminded that giving to DAV is a good use of my legacy money.”

Join Boettger in his efforts by leaving your own lasting legacy for our nation’s heroes. Donate to DAV through your will, living trusts, beneficiary designations, memorials and endowed gifts. The complete list of gift planning resources is on DAV’s website at davplanmygift.org. You can also take advantage of DAV’s partnership with FreeWill and create a no-cost will, trust or legacy in 20 minutes at freewill.com/dav.

Through his philanthropy and advocacy, Boettger aims to inspire others to follow suit and include DAV in their wills. By leaving a legacy that supports veterans, individuals can ensure the sacrifices made by those who served are recognized and honored for generations to come.