By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
Athens, Alabama, is blessed to have a Disabled American Veterans chapter that loves to fellowship, cook and eat great food, encourage its members, and honor them for their service. The James L. Daniels DAV/DAVA Unit #51 on Airport Road is where I got to experience all of that on March 29. They had a “Welcome Home” Chinese dinner, and I was glad to know that our copy editor, Yvonne Dempsey, was voted Citizen of the Year. Jim Watson was the EMCEE for the evening, and was himself an honoree.
For those of you that are not familiar with the DAV, here is some background:
“DAV is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families, helping more than 1 million veterans in positive, life-changing ways each year. Annually, the organization provides more than 600,000 rides to veterans attending medical appointments and assists veterans with well over 200,000 benefit claims. In 2019, DAV helped veterans receive more than $21 billion in earned benefits. DAV’s services are offered at no cost to all generations of veterans, their families and survivors.
DAV is also a leader in connecting veterans with meaningful employment, hosting job fairs and providing resources to ensure they have the opportunity to participate in the American Dream their sacrifices have made possible.
With nearly 1,300 chapters and more than 1 million members across the country, DAV empowers our nation’s heroes and their families by helping to provide the resources they need and ensuring our nation keeps the promises made to them.”
The DAV was started in 1920, at the beginning of what was known as the Roaring ‘20s, where vets were still reeling from the effects of World War I. The organization has never wavered from its mission to keep its promises to our vets and their families.
In January of 2025, Yvonne also noted in her article on the DAV/DAVA:
Those eligible for membership in the DAVA (Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary) are: Any person who is eligible for membership in the DAV; any person who has served in the armed forces of the United States of America, who has not been dishonorably discharged; family and extended family members of any disabled veteran (or deceased) or of any person injured and still in active service; family and extended family members of any person who served with the armed forces of any nation associated with the United States of America as an ally, was honorably discharged, and became an American citizen; and family and extended family members of any person who has served in the armed forces of the United States of America and has not been dishonorably discharged or separated from such service.
Awhile back, Jim Watson told the members that their DAVA group needed to be called the “Roadrunners,” in part because they were always moving quickly to help out vets and volunteer where needed. Well, I had a young man by the name of John David McGee as my plus one for the evening, and as a 17-year-old, decided he wanted to become a Roadrunner. And I don’t think anything could have made Jim Watson any happier.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
April 4, 2025
