Military Salute: Ron Voegeli and Disabled American Veterans | News

BEAUFORT, SC (WTOC)- After two years of hard work and fundraising, the Disabled American Veterans group has raised thousands of dollars to help purchase a new van to help get veterans to and from the VA hospital in Charleston, free of charge.

"This is a way for 12 veterans to ride to the hospital and not have to drive. They can get their eyes dilated, whatever has to be done, and they can get there and ride in the van to come back," said Ron Voegeli, DAV.

It's a service Robert Lindstrom appreciates.

"I think it's great, I appreciate it," said Lindstrom. "It goes easy on my pocketbook, that's the main thing."

"We're tickled to death to be able to provide this service. Everybody is a volunteer, nobody gets paid a dime. It's all volunteer services, all the drivers are volunteers," said Voegeli. "All the people who collected the money and do all this stuff, when you see us out there, nobody gets paid a dime."

Now that the new van is on the road, the old van will be used to pick up veterans around the area who need to visit Naval Hospital Beaufort.

Voegeli, who is now the National First Junior Vice Commander of the National DAV, has been one of the driving forces behind this effort.

"I needed help 28 years ago and I didn't have anyone to help me. When I found someone to help me, he was with the DAV in Columbia, South Carolina," said Voegeli. "When he helped me, I thought if you can help me, I ought to be able to give my life to helping people back."

That's exactly what he's done and continues to do.

For all Ron Voegeli and other volunteers with DAV do to help make life better for their fellow veterans, we here at WTOC give them a military salute.

The veterans raised $16,000 towards the van and the DAV gave a grant for the other half. The DAV is looking for more riders who need the service and volunteer drivers. To make an appointment to ride the van, call 843.255.6880. To volunteer, call Ron Voegeli at 843.812.2796.

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