In the spirit of honoring Veterans and celebrating their contributions to our communities, Veterans United Home Loans is revving up its #ThanksToVeterans RV tour for the year 2023. After the resounding success of its inaugural voyage leading up to Veterans Day in 2022, the nation’s largest VA lender is hitting the road again. The mission remains clear: to shine a spotlight on the remarkable ways Veterans continue to serve and strengthen the communities they call home.
Kris Farmer, Chief Marketing Officer for Veterans United and an Army veteran, passionately emphasizes the company’s dedication to showcasing the lasting impact of veterans in our communities. “We know our communities are made stronger thanks to veterans,” says Farmer. “This year, rather than focusing on what veterans receive on Veterans Day, we wanted to tour the country to shine a light on the ways veterans give back to their communities every day.”
The #ThanksToVeterans RV embarked on its journey on October 7, traversing 24 states and Washington, D.C., covering almost 8,000 miles and contributing over 1,500 volunteer hours. Along the way, the tour engaged in service projects alongside veterans, taking place in various states, including Washington, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Maine, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, California, and Missouri. The tour concluded its West Coast journey with a memorable work project and celebration in San Diego on Veterans Day.
Looking ahead to 2023, Veterans United is eager to expand its reach and impact. The company is now reaching out to the nation for input on where they should travel next. To this end, a dedicated website has been established to accept nominations for causes and organizations that Veterans United should consider for its upcoming tour. If you want to bring the #ThanksToVeterans RV tour to your community, submit your cause or organization here: https://www.thankstoveterans.com/
Daniel A. Dailey, the 15th Sergeant Major of the Army and an employee of Veterans United, reflects on the tour’s remarkable experiences: “We met some amazing people this past month who have sacrificed significantly for our country. We took a great amount of pride in being able to give back to them as a small way of saying thank you. We’re looking forward to expanding our reach even further next year, and that’s where we need help from everyone to tell us where we can be impactful. We ask people to visit our website and tell us about our Veterans and community heroes who we should pay a visit to in 2023.”
The tour began its journey in Washington, D.C., at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting and expo in October. There, Veteran volunteers joined their team and Marine Corps Veteran Rob Riggle to assemble 500 craft kits for military children through the Armed Services YMCA just ahead of the holidays. The RV then ventured to various locations, including Lifeline Equine Therapy Services in Maryland, Camp Freedom in Pennsylvania, the Travis Mills Foundation in Maine, the Veteran and Military Fall Fest in Louisiana, Bowen Combative Arts in Tennessee, VFW Post 805 in Illinois, and Team Fidelis in Missouri.
Ronald Green, the 18th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps and military advisor to Veterans United, emphasizes the significance of these service projects, stating, “These service projects create awareness and allow people to find their comfort zone when it comes to volunteering or supporting their communities. This type of project could go on all year long because there’s that much of a need across the country.”
On Veterans Day, Veterans United partnered with multiple organizations in San Diego for a wide-ranging service project open to the local community and their families. Feeding San Diego, the Foundation for Women Warriors, and Operation Gratitude joined forces with Veterans United at the Veteran Museum in Balboa Park for an afternoon of service. Additionally, in San Diego on the same day, the lender partnered with Habitat for Humanity to make repairs to the home of a Veteran.
Rick D. West, the 12th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy and military advisor to Veterans United, highlights the enduring impact of active and retired Veterans on their local communities and the nation at large. “Simply put, it’s what we’ve been trained to do while in the military, and so many continue to take it to the next level. Additionally, traveling around, meeting with the groups we’ve focused on this first trip has been so rewarding, and it’s started a conversation on what we can do next.”
Veterans United Home Loans, headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, is a full-service national lender that financed over $29.9 billion in loans in 2021. It proudly holds the title of the country’s largest VA lender, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs Lender Statistics. The company’s mission is clear: to help Veterans and service members take advantage of the home loan benefits earned through their service.
In an ever-changing world, where communities often face challenges, Veterans United Home Loans continues to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Veterans, offering gratitude and unwavering support as they make their mark on our nation’s neighborhoods. The #ThanksToVeterans RV tour is a testament to the enduring spirit of service and sacrifice that Veterans embody, and it serves as a reminder that the journey to uplift and empower communities never truly ends. As we look forward to 2023, let’s join hands with Veterans United and nominate the heroes in our communities for recognition, as together, we can make a difference, one RV stop at a time.