By Mark Szymanski, mark.szymanski@evocatillc.com

In honor of National Nutrition Month, the national nonprofit Soldiers’ Angels announced Cincinnati as its newest Military and Veteran Food Distribution (MVFD) site. The organization, recognized as the largest provider of food exclusively to veterans in the country, provided food assistance to more than 49,000 Service Members and Veterans in 2024 alone.

“With inflation continuing to pressure our community, Soldiers’ Angels is fighting back by doubling our efforts to fight Military and Veteran hunger in 2025,” said Soldiers’ Angels President and CEO Amy Palmer. “This new Cincinnati food distribution site will provide vital support to Veterans and Service Members in the area and is one of many new initiatives we’ve created to combat food insecurity across the country.”

Now in its tenth year, Soldiers’ Angels’ monthly food distributions now serve veterans, active duty Military, Guardsmen, and Reservists in seven cities: Atlanta, Charleston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, and San Antonio, with a new location opening in Washington, D.C. later this year.  

Soldiers’ Angels has taken over the monthly events in Cincinnati from the VA Medical Center, which had previously hosted them since 2022. The organization aims to enhance the quality of food provided at the Cincinnati event, improve the distribution infrastructure, and raise awareness about food insecurity within the military-connected community.

“We are very excited to partner with Soldier’s Angels to expand our monthly mobile food drive addressing food insecurity among Veterans who may be struggling financially or facing homelessness,” said Nicole Comer, U.S. Air Force Veteran, Chief, Voluntary Service, Cincinnati VA Medical Center. “To date, we have provided relief for over 4,600 households. The additional support of nutritious meals and groceries will promote better health outcomes for Veterans in a more private and dignified way of receiving assistance.”

Soldiers’ Angels MVFD events in Cincinnati will take place on the fourth Friday of every month, providing 175 Veteran and Military families with, on average, 75 lbs. of groceries. Veterans and volunteers must pre-register at SoldiersAngels.org/Cincinnati each month to attend or support the event. 

NEXT EVENT:  Friday, March 28, 2025

WHO:  Hosted by Soldiers’ Angels

WHERE:  Cincinnati VA Medical Center – 3200 Vine St. Cincinnati, OH 45220 

REGISTER FOR SUPPORT: Register for notifications for all future events at SoldiersAngels.org/Cincinnati. Recipients must pre-register each month.

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The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners has announced the appointments of three distinguished local veterans to the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission (VSC), a move that reinforces the board’s commitment to enhancing services to local veterans. Commissioners made the three appointments after approving an increased budget that doubled the funding for the VSC.

The VSC offers a broad spectrum of services, including emergency financial assistance, transportation and expert guidance on VA claims and benefits, all aimed at improving the quality of life for veterans. The budget requested by the VSC and approved by Commissioners went from $1.4 million in 2024 to $2.8 million in 2025. This year’s budget also includes funding to support the second annual Veterans Appreciation Day at the Great American Ballpark.

The newly appointed members, all honorably discharged veterans and residents of Hamilton County, are: 

• Victoria Parks, former Hamilton County Commissioner, current City of Cincinnati Councilmember and U.S. Air Force veteran.
• Bill Burwinkel, U.S. Army and Vietnam veteran, founder and board chair of National Marketshare Group Inc. and long-time Price Hill advocate 
• Lincoln Ware, Marine Corps and Vietnam veteran, and local radio talk show host

These appointments are for five-year terms. The Commissioners adopted the resolution during their Jan. 9 meeting.

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Contributed

Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) and Congressman Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03) introduced commonsense legislation to increase veterans access to non-opioid pain medications.

The opioid epidemic has impacted every demographic in the United States. In response, Congress passed the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) Act in 2022 so seniors on Medicare have access to and never pay more for non-opioid pain management medications.

To ensure veterans have the same access, Congressman Landsman and Congressman Van Orden introduced the NOPAIN for Veterans Act – legislation that would reform the way the Department of Veterans Affairs offers and covers non-opioid pain management drugs.

The NOPAIN for Veterans Act would require that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs list and cover all non-opioid pain management drugs under VA pharmacy benefits. It would also mandate that these drugs be included on the VA Drug Standardization List, preventing them from being substituted with alternatives.

Congressman Landsman:

“By making non-opioid pain management options more affordable and available to veterans, we can take a big step in preventing addiction and substance abuse. These lists will provide safer alternatives, prioritize the health of veterans, and contribute to the overall effort of ending the opioid epidemic.”

Congressman Van Orden:

“Veterans deserve the best care possible, and that does not include getting them addicted to opioids with overly aggressive pain management treatments. The men and women who have bravely served our nation deserve better. That is why I am proud to join Congressman Landsman in introducing the NOPAIN for Veterans Act so veterans can access safe, effective treatments that provide relief without running the risks associated with opioid prescriptions.”

Tom Synan, Newtown Chief of Police and Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Hamilton County Addition Response Coalition:

“I have seen firsthand how the opioid epidemic has affected our area. Cincinnati was one of the hardest hit areas in the country by the opioid epidemic. Although we have had a reduction in overdose deaths, there are still too many people, including our veterans, who are suffering. As a veteran, I applaud Congressman Landsman and Congressman Van Orden for introducing this legislation, which will provide greater access to FDA-approved non-opioids to my fellow veterans and give them a choice instead of opioids and reduce the amount of opioids in our communities.”

Chris Fox, Executive Director of Voices for Non-Opioid Choices:

“Voices believes that all patients in all settings should be afforded access to all FDA-approved and clinically appropriate non-opioids. This is especially true for those who so bravely served this country in our military. We must do better by them and, when it comes to pain management, it means that they deserve access to the full suite of non-addictive pain management options.”

The full text of the NOPAIN for Veterans Act can be found here.

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The U.S. Surgeon General has declared firearm violence a public health crisis, warning of its severe impact on both physical and mental health across the nation.

In a landmark advisory issued Tuesday, June 25, Dr. Vivek Murthy emphasized that gun violence poses a “serious threat to the health and well-being of our country.” This is the first time the government’s leading public health body has focused directly on gun violence.

“As a doctor, I’ve seen the consequences of firearm violence up close in the lives of the patients I’ve cared for over the years,” Murthy stated in a video message. “These are moms and dads, sons and daughters, all of whom were robbed of their physical and mental health by senseless acts of violence.”

The advisory highlights alarming statistics, revealing that firearm-related deaths in 2021 reached a near three-decade high due to increases in both gun homicides and suicides. In 2022, 48,204 people died from firearm-related injuries, with suicides accounting for 56.1% and homicides accounting for about 40% of these deaths.

“The problem has continued to grow,” Murthy noted, referencing data showing that 54% of U.S. adults have experienced a firearm-related incident. He also pointed out the disproportionate impact on specific communities, stating, “Black individuals endure the highest rates of firearm homicides, while suicide rates are highest among veterans, older white individuals, and younger American Indian and Alaska Native people.”

Murthy also highlighted the tragic impact of gun violence on children. Since 2020, it has been the leading cause of death among children and adolescents, surpassing car accidents, drug overdoses, and cancer.

“I have sat with parents who have lost a child to firearm violence,” Murthy shared. “As a father, I know a parent’s worst nightmare is to lose a child, to feel like you can’t protect your child from harm.”

Comparative data from 2015 revealed that the rate of firearm-related deaths in the United States was 11.4 times higher than in 28 other high-income nations, according to the CDC and WHO. The mental and emotional toll of gun violence is also significant, with the report noting increased rates of depression and psychiatric disorders among families and communities affected by shootings.

The advisory proposes a public health approach to tackle gun violence, akin to strategies used to address cigarette smoking and reduce motor vehicle deaths. It calls for increased federal investment in firearm violence research, community-based intervention and education programs, and encouraging health systems to discuss safe firearm storage with patients.

Policy recommendations include:

• Enacting safe storage laws.
• Implementing universal background checks.
• Prohibiting assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
• Improving mental health care.
• Enforcing effective firearm removal policies under extreme risk protection and domestic violence protection orders.

While some states have adopted these measures, federal legislation has faced significant opposition. Data from the Giffords Law Center indicates that “states with strong gun laws have fewer gun deaths.”

“A public health approach can guide our strategy and actions,” the advisory concluded. “The safety and well-being of our children and future generations are at stake.”

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By Larry Davis and Mike O’Connor 

Another chapter in the inspiring life of 103-year-old Richard Stewart was written this past June 6 in Normandy, France, where the U.S. Army veteran was bestowed the French Legion of Honor Medal during the 80th anniversary commemoration of World War II’s D-Day invasion. In 1944, when Mr. Stewart, then an army private, hit the beaches of Normandy, he helped make history not only for his country, but for freedom in a larger sense. As a member of the Signal Corps, he was among only about 2,000 African American soldiers to take part in the invasion. Eighty years later to the exact date, the Lincoln Heights resident became one of 11 American D-Day veterans to receive the Legion Of Honor Medal – France’s highest decoration – during an emotional ceremony at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. 

The medal was presented to Mr. Stewart by French President Emmanuel Macron at the observance, which also included U.S. President Joe and First Lady Jill Biden, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and numerous other world leaders.

Mr. Stewart returned home June 12 on a Delta Airlines flight at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Members of the public and the news media were able to welcome him upon his arrival in the “Meet and Greet” area.

The June 6 ceremonies marked the second year in a row that Mr. Stewart was selected by the nonprofit Best Defense Foundation to be among fellow veterans honored during D-Day events in Normandy. All expenses were covered by the Best Defense Foundation in partnership with Delta Airlines, The Boeing Co. and Michelin North America Inc. The foundation’s mission is to help veterans and their families. Since 2018, it has provided “Battlefield Return” programs to Iwo Jima, Belgium, the Eagle’s Nest, Guam, Tinian and Saipan, Normandy and Germany. For more information, visit: bestdefensefoundation.org. 

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By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

Former U.S. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, a trailblazer and dedicated public servant, died at 89. Kirk Johnson, her son, confirmed her death on Sunday, Dec. 31. Johnson had been recently admitted to hospice care and left behind a legacy of remarkable achievements and contributions to the nation.

Kirk Johnson highlighted his mother’s accomplishments as a trailblazer, public servant, and remarkable family member in a statement that the family released to express their sorrow over her passing. The family acknowledged the mourning of an extraordinary woman while celebrating her life and legacy. 

“I am heartbroken to share the news that my mother, Eddie Bernice Johnson, has passed away,” Kirk Johnson said.

“She was a remarkable and loving mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother, as well as a trailblazer and public servant.

While we mourn the loss of an extraordinary woman, we celebrate her life and legacy. She will be deeply missed.”

The younger Johnson said funeral services are pending.

Eddie Bernice Johnson was born to Edward and Lillie Mae Johnson in Waco, Texas. She graduated from A.J. Moore High School and earned her nursing certificate from Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame in 1955. According to the Texas Metro News, Johnson furthered her education at Texas Christian University, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She earned a Master of Public Administration from Southern Methodist University in 1976.

Johnson championed STEM, women’s rights, veterans, fair housing, transportation, and the Affordable Care Act throughout her career. She was a founding member of the tri-Caucus (CBC, CHC, and CAPAC) and the Dallas Coalition of Hunger Solutions. Noted Ambassador Ron Kirk highlighted Johnson’s numerous firsts, including being the first African American to serve as Chief Psychiatric Nurse at the Dallas Veterans Administration Hospital.

In her political career, Johnson served in the Texas House and Senate, becoming the first African American woman in Dallas to be elected to office. When she went to Washington, she became the first registered nurse to ever serve in Congress. She was an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Girlfriends Circlets, and Links, Inc.

Johnson was the first African American and first female chair of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. She was also the first African American to serve as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare regional director, appointed by then-President Jimmy Carter.

Before her retirement, Johnson’s portrait was unveiled and hung in the Science Committee Room. The program for STEM women has also been named in her honor. Upon her retirement at the end of the 117th session, she was the oldest member of the House of Representatives.

The Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford (NV-04) and members of the CBC issued a statement mourning the loss of Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. 

“Among her many accomplishments in the Texas State Legislature as a nurse and member of Congress, Congresswoman Johnson was perhaps best-known to those close to her as a mother, wife, and friend, and she will be greatly missed,” CBC members stated. “She leaves a legacy and a lifetime of public service that will not soon be forgotten.”

They acknowledged her groundbreaking achievements, including being the first Black woman elected to Congress from Dallas and her role as the first African American and first female Chair of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Johnson’s impact extended beyond legislation; she delivered hundreds of millions of dollars toward revitalizing transportation in Texas, notably for the Southern Gateway Project and the DART Rail System. The DART and Amtrak rail centers in Dallas were renamed the Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station in her honor.

Johnson’s multifaceted career included being a mother, wife, and friend in addition to a public servant, leaving a void that those who knew her will feel deeply. “Her legacy as a trailblazer and advocate for justice, equality, and progress will endure,” CBC members asserted.

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Contributed by The Best Defense Foundation

The Best Defense Foundation brought WWII veterans to Normandy, France, this year to commemorate the 79th anniversary of D-Day in partnership with Delta Air Lines and with the support of Michelin North America Inc. 

The French Embassy to the U.S. and the U.S. Mission to France are committed to honoring WWII veterans and sharing their stories to make sure that we never forget that the French-American friendship is bound in blood and that our two countries owe each other their very existence as free nations.

WII veterans from across the U.S. left from Atlanta, Georgia, on May 31, 2023, and landed in Deauville, Normandy, France on June 1 on a special Delta charter flight, to participate in a week-long program that  included the official D-Day Commemoration on June 6. 

The WWII veterans were recognized and celebrated during many other commemorations and events in the cities of Deauville, Hérouville-Saint-Clair, Carentan, Sainte-Mère-Eglise, Bayeux, Ver-sur-Mer and Caen. During their stay, the group visited local museums, interacted with French students in a local school and connected with WWII British veterans.

Among the WWII American veterans joining this program were six D-Day veterans who participated in the invasion and subsequent battle of Normandy in June 1944.

As all veterans have their own stories worthy of highlighting, this program honored soldiers, sailors and airmen, as well as nurses and women who fulfilled varied support missions during WWII.

The support of the U.S. Embassy in France and the French Embassy here helped in sharing and amplifying their incredible stories of leadership, teamwork and sacrifice. 

Before the trip, Donnie Edwards, Best Defense Foundation founder, said, “As we approach the 79th anniversary of D-Day, we are drawing near to a time when these commemorations will no longer have a WWII veteran present. It is with great pride that the Best Defense Foundation and our dedicated partners can provide this opportunity to up to 50 WWII veterans and provide them a once-in-a-lifetime experience to remember those they served with and preserve their story for all generations to come.” 

TEC5 Richard V. Stewart, 459th Signal Construction Battalion, now of Cincinnati, age 102, was one of the D-Day veterans making the trip.

Stewart was born Nov. 29, 1920, raised in Marion, Indiana, graduating from high school in 1939. While attending embalming school in 1942, he received his draft notice and was inducted in the U.S. Army on Dec. 31, 1942. 

He received specialist training in communications and became a lineman responsible for installing and repairing telephone lines. He landed on Omaha Beach in July 1944 and continued to serve in France, Belgium and Germany supplying area communications support for various Army Air Forces commands until the end of the war.

Due to segregation during that time, and the fact that Black soldiers were not allowed to fight alongside Whites, Stewart’s unit was called in after the fighting to run communication lines throughout the war-torn area.

He was discharged from the Army on Nov. 13, 1945.

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By Larry Davis 

and Mike O’Connor

D-Day participant Richard V. Stewart, 102, of Paddock Hills, is one of only three African American veterans who are among a group of the Greatest Generation being flown to Normandy, France, in observance of the invasion’s 79th anniversary. 

Capping the Memorial Day weekend was a ceremony honoring Stewart Tuesday morning at Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport before his flight to Atlanta to join other veterans, with a Cincinnati Mayoral Proclamation by Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, tributes from other dignitaries and veterans, and a letter of appreciation from Brigadier General Jeffrey W. Foley, Ret., U.S. Army Signal Corps. 

In Atlanta, he joined other D-Day veterans from across the country for their charter flight to Normandy, France, to take part in observances of the invasion’s 79th anniversary. 

Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney will proclaim May 30, 2023, as “Richard V. Stewart Day” in the Queen City. 

Also taking part will be Steve Lee, Civilian Aide to U.S. Secretary of the Army Christine E. Wormuth, as well as retired U.S. Navy Capt. Steve Drefahl, who is a past president of both the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and the Cincinnati Council of the Navy League. 

Lee will read a letter of appreciation for Stewart from retired Brigadier General Jeffrey W. Foley, of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. A time-honored military tradition – the presentation of a Challenge Coin – also will be renewed. 

Stewart, of Paddock Hills, is among a group of D-Day veterans being flown to Normandy by the nonprofit Best Defense Foundation, in partnership with Delta Airlines and Michelin North America, Inc. 

Stewart is the oldest veteran in the group, as well as one of three African Americans, including a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. He is the only Cincinnatian in the group. 

As a member of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, Stewart was among only about 2,000 African American soldiers who took part in the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.

Stewart’s son Samuel, a veteran, is making the trip overseas. 

In a WLWT-TV video, Samuel said he is proud to see his father honored the way he always deserved.

“If it weren’t for family and friends, I wouldn’t be able to make the trip,” Samuel said. “I think the most honoring thing for me is that he is 102 and has lived a great life.”

As a backup, Samuel will be there to salute his father and capture the special moments.

“For him to be blessed enough to go back to the battleground where he served, and maybe I’ll be able to document a little bit of that on my phone, and I’m proud of it,” Samuel said.

On Monday, inside the Lincoln Heights Memorial Day Ceremony, he said, “I’m so thankful that the Lord looked me over and brought me back all in one piece and all in one mind,” Stewart said.

Following the war, Stewart put his embalming license to work for a funeral home in Muncie, Indiana. He moved to Cincinnati in 1953 and worked for Houston and Sons Funeral Home. Soon after, he met his wife, Pauline, and had two children.

“The Lord cared for me and brought me back safe and sound,” Stewart said. “He is still caring for me now.”

The “Best Defense Foundation” and its partners sponsored the trip.

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Contributed

The community of Evanston, The Education Community, honored America’s veterans again this year in a colorful Memorial Day Parade filled with bands, floats and community groups. Photos by Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney

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By Kristine Glenn

kglenn@fatcatcommunications.com

The Urology Group, along with partners GE Aerospace, Richard Wolf Company and Xavier University Veteran and Military Family Center, is presenting a 50th anniversary tribute to Vietnam War veterans on National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29. This year marks 50 years since March 29, 1973, when the final U.S. fighting soldiers withdrew from Vietnam.

This 6-9 p.m. event at Cintas Center on Xavier University’s Campus is free, but attendees must register in advance at HonorVetsEvent.org. University’s Campus

U.S. service members arrived home from Vietnam without a proper hero’s welcome. Thankfully, attitudes have changed over the decades. But it took 44 years before the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act was signed into law in 2017. This milestone anniversary presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show Vietnam vets the respect they deserve, to let them know their sacrifice will never be forgotten and to tell their stories.

Following is the schedule:

6 p.m. Pre-event live music from the ’60s and ’70s with The Remains.

7 p.m. Entertain-the-troops variety show and tribute program begins, featuring Rocky Bleier, Super Bowl Champ and Vietnam Veteran; entertainment acts, including Bob Hope impersonator; music from the Vietnam era and tribute by Bill Cunningham; stories of Vietnam veterans, recognition of veterans from all eras and military branches, and special ceremony for Vietnam veterans.

Concessions will be available throughout the event.

For more information, go to HonorVetsEvent.org or info@honorvetsevent.org

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