Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter #63 Treasurer Susan Ward and DAV Auxiliary Unit #63 State Chaplain Shirley Plahovinsak were the recipients of their earned 2026 Camp Corral Recognition Pins.
The Vice-President of Development & Outreach for Camp Corral, Sheri Oberhelman, presented the distinctive pins to them, during ceremonies conducted at the 106th DAV Annual Convention held in Orlando, Florida.
Camp Corral is a one-week summer camp program exclusively for children of permanently wounded, ill and fallen military service members and veterans, at no cost to the families.
The Camp was founded in 2011 by the Golden Corral Restaurant Chain and has sent more than 41,000 children to the unique summer opportunity.
The Camp has been supported in the past by the DAV’s Just b’ Kids Scholarship Program which has sent over 7,700 children ages eight (8) to fifteen (15) for the week-long summer camps.
This year, at the Eastgate Plaza Golden Corral Restaurant, Clermont County’s Chapter #63 and Unit #63 joined together to raise $11,770 for the Just b’ Kids Scholarship Program.
“Our Chapter proudly supports Camp Corral’s mission to empower children who share in the sacrifices of military service,” said Chapter #63 Commander James Stanzak. “This camp gives children the opportunity to “Just B Kids” while making friends, and learning coping skills.”
Research, conducted by Camp Corral, revealed that fifty-two (52%) percent of the children attending the camp feel that no one understands what it is like being the child of a parent killed in action or permanently disabled.
“Our Clermont County organization is composed of disabled veterans as a requirement for membership,” explained Chapter #63 Treasurer Ward. “And this is why our chapter members take great pride in supporting the effort of the DAV’s Just b’ Kids Program.”
In 2026, Camp Corral operated twenty-one (21) camps and provided children with life-changing experiences developed to allow military kids to be kids, away from the stresses and unique challenges of military life.
At the conclusion of the 2026 season, Camp Corral will have served 3,200 children in the twenty-one (21) camps. However, according to Vice-President Sheri Oberhelman, there are over six (6) million kids, on a waiting list, that are eligible to attend Camp Corral.
“We began our partnership with Camp Corral to help expand this incredible program supporting veterans and their families,” said DAV National Adjutant Barry Jesinoski. “Children of disabled or fallen veterans face unique challenges and sacrifices due to their parent’s service. We’re grateful for Camp Corral’s dedication to providing children from across the country the joy of a week away at camp.”
“Vice-President Oberhelman provided a supply of 2026 Camp Corral pins for all our Chapter and Auxiliary members who accepted donations for the Just b’ Kids Scholarship Program at the Eastgate Plaza,” stated State Auxiliary Chaplain Plahovinsak.
“Working together, we were able to send many children to Camp Corral and these pins will be proudly displayed on our hats,” concluded Plahovinsak.