Paying back Veterans by honoring their time and devotion

by Annemarie Eveland 

or as Credited. 

Our Veterans have put their time in (and sometimes their lives) to keep our country safe so it is fitting that we “pay it back” by honoring their time and devotion in many ways. For example, I recently attended a Veterans Affairs (VA) meeting in Payson, Arizona that covered many different topics related to being a Veteran. I have chosen several Vets to interview in this article — a two-part article on our Rim Country Veterans. The next article will feature coverage of their Pleasant Valley Veterans Retreat Center, a newly acquired large property open to all Vets free of charge. 

When I researched the word “Vet” I found that the Latin origin “vetus” means - “old, a person who has long experience in something.” I discovered, however, that most Vets I meet are still active (despite age and injuries from their duties in the service) and they like contributing meaningfully to our community. Many Vets have past work histories with very responsible executive jobs. So, I first talked with Art Schaier, a Navy Vet. He is the former co-owner of the Earnhardt Auto Dealership and the current owner of Schaier Auto in California. Schaier is also a 16-year board member at Hanover Foods, a NASCAR affiliate, and a member of the Country Music Association. He is Chairman for Vets of the Payson Elks Lodge, Greater Payson Moose Lodge, and Payson Lions Club. 

Schaier also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Pleasant Valley Veterans Retreat, located in Young, Arizona, which is a monumental project started six years ago. It is a property of over 232 acres with buildings which have been designated as a special retreat center for Veterans and their families. The devoted effort to obtain this retreat center and the journey to get it open for the Vets will be in next month’s issue, not to be missed. He is now working to get the other 42 Lodges in Arizona to participate in this program. He fostered an impressive movie, “The Thin Red Line” for a special showing at our Sawmill Theater. He relayed to me his deep admiration for County Supervisor Woody Cline, who pursued this possibility of the Retreat Center in Washington DC enjoining both political parties in a common cause. We will visit with Schaier again.

Another Veteran, Jim Muhr, also serves on the Board of Directors for the Pleasant Valley Veterans Retreat Center. He has been instrumental in relaying good information on possible uses for the Retreat Center and has given me some great ideas to include in our upcoming issue. 

Muhr was a Combat First Lieutenant in Vietnam. He was wounded in battle twice and then sent back to the States for his final two months of enlistment. He shared with me his recent focus on devoting his time to working with the state legislators and state senate to bring forth bills that are beneficial to Veterans. In the political arena, he got a bill passed that now gives Purple Heart Veterans free license plates. He is also a Purple Heart Veteran himself.

I sat down with Veteran Chuck Marinak. His long list of credentials includes Ambassador for Veterans Helping Veterans (VHV), founder of Rim Country Veterans, hosted Coffee Time, Payson Hometown Heroes Recipient, Prior Chairman for the Annual Payson Stand Down for Vets, a charter member of American Legion Post 147, service officer of American Legion, Blanket Drives for homeless, activities with the Take A Vet to Lunch program, master of ceremonies for Softball tournaments for Vets, member of Payson Military Honor Guard, Lifetime Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Board of Directors for Veterans Helping Veterans (VHV), and nominee for the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame. 

Marinak shared, “When we moved here years ago, I met a Veteran named ‘Shaggy,’ a 6-foot-statured biker, who was providing help for Veterans on a kitchen table out of his own home.” Their meeting had a profound effect on Marinak. He is an Air Force Vet and Shaggy helped get him get benefits for hearing loss and hearing testing done. The results took a while, but now he receives a 10% disability because of his loss of hearing. When Marinak asked how he could pay it back, Shaggy told him “Just pay it forward.” He thought about Shaggy’s instructions, “Put the word out,” and he has been doing that ever since.  

He then met former marine, Roscoe. They brainstormed how to use his Payson church for open meetings for the Veterans. Soon they outgrew that space and moved to the present Mount Cross Church location on Highway 260. Hospice of Payson then heard what they were doing to support Vets, and now they buy the donuts for their meeting every other week — a sweet touch. Marinak also started producing T-shirts that display “Rim Country Veterans.”  

“The VHV was first put together for camaraderie and to help Vets get needed services,” Marinak stated. “We were renting an office space in the mall near Tiny’s Restaurant. Then we bought that Suite #10 office space where Shaggy and his wife Michelle work full time.” There are now seven people who are involved with Veterans Helping Veterans, Marinak tells me. “We bought a van to transport Vets and then someone bought us a Mercedes van. We use both vans to transport Vets around. Every Wednesday, we drive our van with Veterans down to Carl Hayden’s Hospital in Phoenix for Vets’ appointments for eyes, ears, etc. where they do the testing. All our services are free to our Veterans. We give our service now to those who served us in the past.”

I found Marinak to be an unassuming, devoted, and humble person who says, “I’m just a volunteer. I help Vets every day. We have Coffee Time, which is every Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m. at the meeting hall at the Mount Cross Church, 601 E. Highway 260 on the south side, across from Tiny’s Restaurant. It is open and free for anyone to attend.” He usually finds more Veterans to help there too. Marinak also joined the VFW and then got Tonto Basin Vets to join them. I could see that the work for volunteers grows with new Vets coming to the meetings. David Small, another Veteran I met, is the current moderator of Coffee Time, and Commander of American Legion 147. 

“I run the weekly Tuesday morning meetings and am commander for American Legion Post 147,” David said. “I am also the facilitator for the Post-traumatic Stress Group, ‘Bridges to Healing.’” He told me that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a very serious and prevalent issue for Vets. There are 21 Vets a day that commit suicide. I was astounded by that sad information. However, I also learned that in all of Gila County, there are 7,500 Veterans, and in Payson alone, there are 5,500. A truly incredible number for our small mountain town. 

Veterans Helping Veterans had their third anniversary five months ago. They started with three Vets and a vision. Last week, 115 Vets came to Tuesday’s “Coffee Time” meeting, and it consistently welcomes well over 100 veterans each week. Ken Coldwell assists David with the meetings. Veteran David and Veteran Shaggy are both on the Board of Directors for VHV. The weekly meeting is a great way to connect with fellow veterans, enjoy coffee and donuts, and listen to the speakers and presenters about things that affect Veterans and ongoing resources for Vets. Call the Veterans Helping Veterans (VHV) office at (928) 978-5238 or just come join the many other Veterans who look forward to each Tuesday fellowship to stay informed.

Another way that Vets help other Vets is by accepting challenges that stretch their current abilities. For example, Veteran David Small and his brother Jeff, have planned a bike ride starting on May 4th,. They will be leaving home, for a journey of one thousand miles and be out on the road camping for two weeks.

The first day they will stop at Jakes Corner, on Highway 188 (Globe-Roosevelt Highway), at noon where there will be a large gathering to support this adventure — everyone is welcome to join in the celebration. Former Mayor Tom Morrissey’s band, The Oxbow Revival, will be playing music and Pastor Isaac Bradford from Calvary Chapel and David have written songs to be played. Mayor Morrissey also permitted them to use the CDs that he had produced for music. The entire ride will be documented with hopes of inspiring other Veterans to also meet new challenges. These documented videos will be posted on Facebook and YouTube.

The brothers bought their motorcycles on a budget from a company that sells motorcycles in a box on Amazon — the XPro Hawk 250 dirt bikes — for a delivered price of $1982.00. They have two support vehicles to meet them at certain points along the route for food and supplies, any issues that may occur, and to provide help with their bikes.  

“Our campaign,” David says, “is titled Long Way from the Box. We have cameras, and drones, and two support teams. We will take video of the trip, edit it, and put a portion of the ride on YouTube and Facebook each week.” There are fourteen different segments in this challenging ride. Both of the men in the support vehicles, Rod Rockman and Bill Carr, are professional actors who were in the movie, The Pleasant Valley War. Both are Veterans whom David will interview about their time in the military.

They will put it on YouTube as the “Small Brothers Adventures.” Dave added, “My brother and I agreed no holiday gifts, and instead, get together each year and do something similar like sailing his boat for a year at Desolation Sound in Canada.” On this ride, David and his brother will stay days two and three at the Pleasant Valley Veterans Retreat near Young. 

For more information about this ride, you can email David at davidesmall1965@gmail.com or call: 928-978-2740. David hopes to inspire other Vets with this trip to show them that they are never too old to tackle something new or do something they normally wouldn’t do. 

Veterans Helping Veterans is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with its office located at 400 East Highway 260, Suite 8 in Payson, AZ 85541. Office open: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Call: 928.978-5238, or visit, www.vhvinc.org. VHV provides free transportation for Veterans in Payson, Star Valley, Pine, and Strawberry. 

When Veterans return to civilian life, many seem to get lost in the system, feeling they have few choices to help them and often isolate themselves. VHV’s main goal is to help Veterans adjust through counseling for PTSD and give them assistance in disability claims and other Veterans’ benefits they deserve. All programs are 100% free to Veterans. The free Tuesday 8:00 a.m. open meetings have been an incredible boon to the morale of veterans. There is early open time before the meeting for camaraderie with other Vets. VHV is a supportive organization that relies on charitable, tax-deductible donations and every cent goes to support veterans’ programs. 



Since these support programs and services are run by Veterans, they easily understand and empathize with the problems and changes Vets have to face in their return from serving in our military to a changing world. Several Vets have told me they feel comfortable and supported by another Vet helping them. Why not? For it seems it is not that we like someone, but we are very much like them which makes it easier to get things done. A big thank you to them for their service that has kept us free!