Congratulations Larry Osborne and Veterans of Foreign Wars Verdi Post 10053

By Staff Reports
U.S. Army veteran Larry Osborne was named Veteran of the Month (VOM) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Verdi Post 10053 was also honored as Veteran Supporter of the Month (VSM) in a special ceremony inside the Old Assembly Chamber in Carson City on June 17, 2019. Governor Steve Sisolak attended the ceremony.

Osborne served in the Army from 1958-1964. He is a lifetime member of the Korean War and Defense Veterans Association and was elected Secretary of the Carson City Chapter #305 in 2016 and re-elected in 2017 and 2018. He maintains the records and communications of the chapter and organizes activities and events in the community.

In May 2018, Osborne organized a visit to the Carson City Korean War Veterans Memorial for Ms. Hannah Kim, a Korean War Veteran Activist who is touring Korean War Memorials in all 50 states to raise awareness of the war. Ms. Kim is also raising funds for the Korean War Remembrance Wall that will be placed near the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C. and will list the names of all those veterans that died in the conflict.

Osborne has been a Nevada Veterans Advocate since 2016 and has participated in many events including: The Dragon Boat Festival in Sparks, the Walk in Memory in Carson City and the Minden Aviation Roundup.

When asked, Osborne assists veterans in his community including responding to a request from Richard’s Crossing to have a representative talk to their clients about veterans’ benefits.

The VFW Verdi Post 10053 has been helping our veterans, troops, and the community for more than 50 years since its inception in 1965. They do whatever it takes to live up to the VFW motto: “No one does more for Veterans.” VFW’s Denise Estes accepted the award on behalf of the organization. She serves as a certified VFW Veterans Service Officer.

Most of the members of Post 10053 belong to more than one Veterans Service Organization, which shows their dedication to the veterans and local community. Some of the other groups represented by VFW Post 10053 members are: the American Legion, Fleet Reserve Association, Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans and the Vietnam Veterans of America. Four members of VFW Post 10053 have been nominated and selected as the Veteran of the Month.

Post members are also members of community organizations including; the Knights of Columbus, the Eagles, the Clampers, the Reno Rodeo Association, and the Elks.

Post members assist the VA as drivers and ambassadors andmake donations to the Veterans Guest House, numerous local food banks and soup kitchens. They hand out needed items at veterans stand downs and donate to the Christmas on the Quarter through the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. The Post supports the Verdi Historical Society to purchase and place veteran grave markers on the graves of veterans at the Crystal Peak Cemetery in Verdi on Memorial Day. Members also provide scholarship monies with the VFW Patriot Pen Essay competition for middle school students and the Voice of Democracy Verbal Essay Competition for high school students.

The Post’s biggest and most beloved program is its “Treats for Troops.” The purpose of this program is to give our men and women serving overseas a little taste of home. Most PXs and ship’s stores carry a limited supply of items that remind our service members of home, so they started this program with overseas contacts to provide a list of things that the troops need or want and can’t purchase at their current duty location. Post 10053 recently sent out a package with 60 pounds of goodies, treats, and needed items.

Veteran Service Commission Chairman Bill Baumann and Veteran Service Commission member Sally Wiley also attended the ceremony. Nevada Department of Veterans Services Deputy Director Fred Wagar served as emcee.

The Veteran of the Month (VOM) is awarded to veterans across Nevada who have gone above and beyond the call of duty specifically with respect to volunteer work in support of veterans and the military.  The Veteran Supporter of the Month (VSM) award recognizes both organizations and non-veteran Nevada community members who support military members stationed in Nevada, Nevada Veterans, and their families.  Both programs shine a bright light on individuals and organizations that help military members, veterans, and their families with no expectation of recognition or award.