Raising awareness for veterans

VFW Auxiliary National President Carla Martinez, center, speaks with Ron Oppliger, chairman of the Friends of Marion County’s Veterans Park Foundation, during her visit to the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park on Feb. 23, 2024, with Florida VFW Auxiliary President Teresa Bachand at right. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]

Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary National President Carla Martinez made a four-day visit to Ocala recently to honor veterans and deliver a message about suicide awareness.

Martinez placed a wreath at the Medal of Honor Monument at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park on Feb. 23, along with Florida VFW Auxiliary President Teresa Bachand. The monument honors recipients of the nation’s highest military honor, including local recipient Hammett Bowen. After the wreath placement, Martinez spoke briefly about her focus mission.

“I’d like to talk about suicide awareness,” said Martinez, who is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served 13 months in Korea.

She said family members may be at risk especially when a service member has multiple deployments and that children in single-parent homes may be at risk. She said she wants to spread the word about calling 988 (and then pressing 1) in times of crisis.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran Crisis Line at 988 is available around the clock to veterans and those concerned about them. It is manned by VA responders who can “listen and help” and connect callers with additional resources. People can also text 838255 for assistance.

During Martinez’s visit to the park, she was given a proclamation plaque on behalf of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners by Assistant County Administrator Amanda Tart.

The proclamation named Feb. 22 to Feb. 25 “Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Weekend” and welcomed Martinez on her visit here. It also recognized the organization’s support of active duty and veteran service members and stated that the VFW Auxiliary has nearly 500,000 members, with 37,500 of those in Florida.

Husbands and wives, sons and daughters and other family members, including stepchildren, of qualified VFW members, may join the auxiliary.

Bachand, who lives in Ocala, invited Martinez to the city.

While in Ocala, Martinez met with Jeffrey Askew, director of the Marion County Veterans Service Office and overseer of the park, and Ron Oppliger, chairman of the Friends of Marion County Veterans Park Foundation, who was accompanied by Ray Orlosky

On Feb. 24, Martinez was scheduled to attend an Aisle of Flags ceremony for members and guests at VFW Post 4209 in northeast Ocala.

Post member Jarvis Lewis said it was a “huge honor” to host Martinez and “rally the troops” for her cause of suicide awareness.

To learn more, go to veteranscrisisline.net and vfwauxiliary.org