Ironton AMVETS Post 5293 opened its doors in 2003. Since then, the post has brought in tens of millions of dollars to Tri-State veterans.

From September 2011 to June 2012, over $2.7 million in back pay and benefits were paid to the vets who entered our doors in search of the assistance that was denied to them for years.

And there are still 1550 vets in West Virginia and Kentucky and over 500 vets in Ohio we are still fighting for from our post.

The policy of AMVETS is to treat every veteran who served honorably as a veteran. Our post exemplifies this policy. Any veteran who walks through our doors is given their due respect and what ever assistance we can provide.

We occasionally get appreciation and thanks from the community and veterans we serve, but now we want to extend our thanks to the community. Our major fundraiser yearly is the Clover Drive and we held a Clover Drive on Sept. 1 in Ironton and Sept. 15 in Coal Grove. Your assistance helped us raise nearly $3,000.

This money will help us reach out to more veterans in the area.

You hear a lot about helping more from other agencies, but what does this amount mean in real terms to Ironton AMVETS Post 5293?

> 428 lunches.

> 50 months of Internet service.

> 30 months of our newsletter.

> 20 donations to other local groups.

> 5 months rent.

> Direct support to 15 local veterans.

What that means in this community is we care about our veterans.

With the Christmas season approaching, we want to provide what we can to families of veterans to have a bountiful holiday. From now until the week before Christmas, we will be having a food/toy drive at the post every Wednesday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.

We are having a contest to see which branch gets the most donations. Army, Navy Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines are competing to get the most donations.

Please come by and donate what you can for your favorite branch.

If you know of a local vet that needs help, let us know. We want to see those who serve get what they deserve for their sacrifice.

Once again, thank you Ironton and the Tri-State community.

Miles Lewis

Commander

David L. Malone Memorial

Ironton AMVETS Post 5293