By Jon Hanni, Data Entry Specialist
On Saturday, May 21, the Family Alliance for Veterans in America (FAVA) team in Forest City, Iowa, participated in a “Poker Run” organized by the American Legion Motorcycle Riders from Osage, Iowa. Their organization had contacted FAVA to be a part of a stop on the run, which was presented in honor of Chris and Anita Anderson, owners of Anderson’s Produce and Antiques of Mason City, Iowa who were struck and killed by a drunk driver on September 4, 2021, near Mason City. Chris and his wife were active members in the American Legion & VFW activities in Northern Iowa. Chris had served in the U.S. Air Force. Both were committed to the community through the Mason City Community Betterment Association.
The President of the American Legion Riding Club Jeff Bausman contacted FAVA and I to set the event up at our office. I, along with our Lead Veteran Navigator, Rose Holmes, set up snacks and beverages for the participants. It was an amazing group of riders that stopped by and we were able to give a lot of information on what FAVA can do for Veterans in need. The riders and their club are about helping needy Veterans. It was a wonderful day at FAVA to have them stop in and we were pleased to have them take an interest in learning more about our program.
We are looking forward to developing a new partnership with this club in the future. The unfortunate tragic loss brought us together for a reason. We were honored to be asked to share details about our program with the riders. Our sympathies go out to their family for this tremendous loss and to the riders who thought so highly of both.
