Q&A with Steve Rodgers
Residence: Warner Robins
Volunteer with Servants Task Force
Q: Servants Task Force intends to honor Vietnam War-era veterans Aug. 6. What’s going on?
A: We’re sponsoring a Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Honoring and Pinning program at the Museum of Aviation from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Century of Flight Hangar.
Q: How many veterans are involved?
A: It looks like a group of 200-plus, each of which served honorably from 1955-1975 either in-country in Vietnam or in the U.S. or other locations. The broad purpose is to say “thank you for your service and welcome home.”
Q: Do you think such thanks and welcomes were lacking for them?
A: These vets were not given the same accolades and welcome home that I and others got after Operation Desert Storm or Enduring Freedom or those before us got returning from World War II. Instead of ticker-tape parades they were often treated like criminals.
Q: What will the ceremony entail?
A: Each will get a certificate of appreciation from Mike Roby, the Georgia commissioner of Veteran Services, and a gold Department of Defense lapel pin. It’s a small way to show them the honor they deserve. State Reps. Shaw Blackmon and Jimmy Pruitt will be on hand, too.
Q: Any special speakers?
A: Mike Roby and Tommy Clack of the Walk of Heroes Veterans War Memorial near Conyers will speak.
Q: Veterans and their families will be there. How about others?
A: The public is invited and we hope as many as possible will come. We hope other veterans and Vietnam-era vets who’ve already gotten pinned or who have yet to get pins will come help honor their brothers.
Q: Is this just local or part of a national program?
A: The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration was enacted by Congress and we’re a Commemorative Partner. There are ceremonies nationwide. There have been smaller occasions here but nothing this size. Again, it’s all about thanking and honoring our Vietnam veterans and their families for their service, valor and sacrifice.
Q: All of which you’re passionate about?
A: When people ask me why I’m doing this, I give them one word: heroes.
Q: Explain.
A: I think we’re lacking the kind of heroes we can look up to today like we had in the past. There’s no John Wayne in the movies. These men and women are people we can look up to, people who made our country strong from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s to today. They did their job; they put on the uniform, served their country and many put their lives on the line. They can be looked up to, and I do. Many don’t think of themselves that way but I am passionate about letting them know they do deserve it and their lives will mean more to us than they’ll ever know.
Q: Can veterans still sign up? Will there be similar events in the future?
A: The deadline is past for this ceremony but we’ll have future ones. We’ve heard from families, spouses, sons and daughters who want to know if they can posthumously honor their loved ones, and we’re planning a ceremony for that sometime the first of next year. We’ll have related events like something we’re putting together in the next 12 months for active duty military, local law enforcement and first responders. I’m also excited about our working toward creating a statewide alliance of veterans organizations, politicians, the governor’s office, business and industry who are interested in supporting veterans and our military. It will be a coalition that can pull resources together and accomplish a lot more.
Q: Are you the founder of Servants Task Force?
A: I am. It’s a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) volunteer organization and I’m the president-CEO. I work at Robins Air Force Base. I started Servants Task Force in 2010 with the mission of helping other organizations raise funds and awareness for what they do. Our motto is “Helping Others Help Others.” We’ve done things with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Georgia in Macon, the American Heart Association, the Cancer Society, local law enforcement and other local groups.
Q: Last thoughts? And how can you be contacted?
A: I’m at 478-960-5838 and hotrod31014@hotmail.com. We just hope the ceremony will duly honor these heroes and that our community will come out and support them. And I do need all the vets coming to be honored to be there by 4 p.m. so we can check them in and get them seated.
Answers may have been edited for length and clarity. Compiled by Michael W. Pannell. Contact him at mwpannell@gmail.com.
This story was originally published July 24, 2016 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Q&A with Steve Rodgers."