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Volunteering with DAV
Did you know that DAV has a program to recognize volunteers for their service?
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Did you know that you don't have to be a DAV or Auxiliary member or even have a Veteran in your family to volunteer with DAV?
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Did you know that youth volunteers who accumulate 100 or more hours are eligible to apply for scholarships through DAV?
Yes, it's all TRUE!
Department Adjutant, Dr. Carl Forkner, received his DAV 10,000 Volunteer Hours pin on September 16th. The award was accompanied by a beautiful black and white plaid "DAV Volunteer" blanket==appropriately timed going into the winter months.
Did you know that DAV has awards for members who bring other Veterans into DAV? We mean, more than the real reward of having another Veteran join our amazing, Veteran service focused, organization?
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When a member recruits 5-9 new members, they receive a bronze star.
When a member recruits 10-24 new members, they receive a silver star.
When a member recruits 25-49 new members, they receive a gold star.
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And when a member recruits 50-99 new members, they receive the Francis J. Beaton Award.
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Over the last six membership years (July 1 - June 30), Chapter Adjutant, Northern District Liaison, Chapter Commander, Department Junior Vice Commander, and current Department Adjutant & CEO Dr. Carl Forkner brought in 10-25 new members during two years, 25-49 new members during three years, and this year received the Francis J. Beaton Award for bringing in over 50 new members--it was his first time reaching and surpassing the 50 mark.​
There isn't a secret to bringing new members into our Chapters. With every new member, it starts the same way: seeing them, greeting them, listening to them, understanding their story, and letting them know that they still matter! We're not saying to stop telling Veterans "Thank you for your service;" rather, we are suggesting that the conversation not end...What did you do in the service? What was your favorite duty station? If you could go back and visit someplace that you served, where would that be? And there are so many more ways to show Veterans that you care, that you are interested in their story, and that they still matter!
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Do you know a very special Veteran? They don't have to be famous--just special to you! Submit them for an interview about their service with the Imprints of Honor program, administered through high schools across America and supported by the Library of Congress. At no cost to the Veteran, they are interviewed, their story recorded, their section of that year's book edited and polished, and then the Veteran is honored at an event and book signing, where the public can come, purchase a book, and go around to the Veterans whose stories are in the book to meet them and get their books signed. Adjutant Forkner appeared in this April's volume and had a fantastic time meeting all the students, parents, and community members who attended the event! Simply go online to https://www.imprintsofhonor.org/ to find out how to nominate your special Veteran!
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Did you know that in Arizona, in 1981, the Arizona Departments of DAV, VFW, and American Legion formed a coalition of Veteran organizations called the Unified Arizona Veterans? From that simple beginning, the organization has grown to a consortium of over 50 Veteran and Veteran-focused organizations statewide. In 2007, in order to recognize Veterans who continued to excel and give back to their communities, UAV established the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame. Each year, a field of accomplished--and accomplishing--Veterans are nominated for this honor, which is typically bestowed upon an average of about 15 Veterans in each "Class" of honorees. Department Judge Advocate, Past Department Commander, and National 1st Junior Vice Commander Glenn Hohman was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018, and current Department Adjutant & CEO Carl Forkner was inducted in 2025. Glenn currently also serves as Chair of the Unified Arizona Veterans and Carl serves as the organization's Secretary.