Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio’s current Department Representative for the Southern Ohio Veterans Home Raymond Hutchinson (left) talks to a Korean War veteran (right) following a “Special Meal” at the Home. “It is truly a job to talk to veterans at the Home who were in the Korean War because these were the military who fought in the “Forgotten War,” stated the former DAV Department Hospital Chairman. “These ‘Special Meals’ mean a lot to the veterans here and they look forward to enjoying them.”
Hutchinson concluded, “When they try to thank the DAV for providing these meals,” concluded Hutchinson, “I tell them we should be thanking them for our freedom and their past military service to America.” Photo courtesy DAVA Unit #63 Commander Shirley Plahovinsak.
Thirteen (13) years ago, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio’s former Hospital Chairman Ray Hutchinson launched a Pilot Project at the Southern Ohio Veterans Home (OVH), located in Georgetown.
PDC Hutchinson was serving as the Department Hospital Chairman and as the DAV Department Representative for the Southern OVH. He made it a habit to visit and talk to the veterans at the Home.
“The veterans at the Home enjoy “Special Meals” like pork cutlets, pot roast with mashed potatoes, roast beef, and shrimp, and I thought that the DAV could provide them,” explained the former Hospital Chairman. “These “Special Meals” would normally not be listed in the OVH Master Food Menu.
“We coordinated these “Special Meals” with the food service personnel at the Veterans Home and decided to sponsor five (5) “Special Meals” per year paid for by the Department of Ohio,” commented Hutchinson.
The sum of $2,500 was budgeted in the DAV’s Department’s Working Budget. “The OVH staff provided a note on the residents’ placemats that day stating these “Special Meals” were provided by the DAV,” noted the DAV Department Representative for the Southern OVH.
Members of DAV Chapter #63, which encompasses both Brown and Clermont Counties, always attend the “Special Meals” and talk with the OVH residents during and after the dining hours.
“It is a special time for our members to talk with other veterans about their military experiences,” said Chapter #63 Commander Jim Stanzak. “It shows to them that we remember them and appreciate what they have done.”
“The February 2025 “Special Meal” was very symbolic for our Chapter,” explained Commander Stanzak, “because it was the 63rd “Special Meal” for our Chapter #63 to attend and participate with our veterans.”
“And these “Special Meals” all started as a successful Pilot Project by Ray Hutchinson,” concluded Stanzak, “who served as the DAV Department Hospital Chairman for twenty-four (24) years,” concluded Stanzak.