DAV aids victims, families of terror attacks.

The DAV was there to help those injured or who lost loved ones in the Sept. 11 attack against our nation and to assist the families of those injured or killed in America's war against terrorism.

"We have been on the spot to offer whatever assistance we could," said DAV National Commander George H. Steese, Jr., "DAV was among the first organizations to respond to emergency needs following the disasters when a DAV Transportation Network van and DAV Voluntary Services drivers transported blood from a Florida VA medical center to a nearby Air Force base to fly to New York City."

On the ground, DAV National Service Officers staffed DAV Mobile Service Offices near the ruins of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., to offer help and assistance to police, firefighters, and emergency workers as well as veterans and families of veterans affected by the disasters.

DAV will also offer its assistance to the families of those in the armed services who were killed in Afghanistan and those injured and disabled in support of the war against terrorism. "Our nation is grateful that the number of those killed and injured in this war against terrorism has remained so low," Commander Steese said. "But even one disabled veteran or a single family that has suffered the loss of a member to aggression is heartbreaking. We will be there for them, whenever there is a need for the DAV."

"We have made more than 350 DAV disaster assistance program grants to veterans and their families," said DAV National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson.

Mr. Wilson said that among the families DAV has helped were the widow of the copilot of the plane that crashed into the Pentagon and the family of a senior military officer killed when the plane slammed into the Pentagon.

"It is very sad that so many of the victims were veterans and active duty military," Commander Steese said. "Besides the active duty and retired veterans killed and injured in the Pentagon, most people do not know that many in the aircraft were veterans, as were the pilots, and the police, firefighters, and emergency workers killed and injured in New York."

Even one of the two postal workers who died of inhalation anthrax following the Sept. 11 disaster was reportedly a veteran.

DAV Assistant National Service Director Brian Austin, who has accompanied DAV NSOs at the disaster sites, said that DAV has provided food, water, clothing, comfort kits, patriotic T-shirts, and other items to those who searched for victims of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon attacks.

"The nation's outpouring of charity for the disaster victims and their families was heartwarming," said Commander Steese, "but it took a great deal of time for those funds to reach those who needed it. It was gratifying to know that DAV disaster assistance grants provided cash to meet the immediate needs of families who had suddenly lost income, but still faced needs."

DAV's determination to help disaster victims did not go unnoticed. One major news service reported, "perhaps the DAV's most vital contribution to date has been its disaster emergency relief to families and survivors in New York and Washington. The group has given over 350 vouchers for $1,000 each to meet the immediate needs of families, since insurance and donations take time to get to victims."

"We offered our complete complement of services to any veteran or survivor who needed help," Mr. Wilson said. "Never has DAV worked so quickly, so completely, and with so much dedication toward a single purpose--to help better the lives of disabled veterans and their families when help was so desperately needed."

DAV NSOs are available to assist any veteran or veteran's family who might be adversely affected by the attacks against America. For assistance, they should call the DAV National Service Office in their city.