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Donald Nelson and Clyde Briley want other disabled veterans to know that help is available in the Parkland.

Both men were referred to a St. Louis chapter years ago when they joined the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), even though a chapter had been in Farmington since 1975.

“Nobody knew it existed,” Briley recalled. “We’re trying to make veterans aware that we’re here. A lot of veterans don’t know that help is available.”

On Tuesday, the chapter will increase its ability to help area disabled veterans when it receives the keys to its new van. The members worked for two years to buy the van, which will be used to take veterans from the Veterans Administration in Farmington to the John J. Pershing Medical Center in Poplar Bluff.

“The only way we can get money is through donations for our “Forget Me Not” fliers,” Nelson explained.

Transportation reservations may be made by calling the Medical Center’s DAV division at 573-778-4616.

Nelson looks forward to getting the van. He recalls one disabled veteran who was ill, and had no transportation to get to Poplar Bluff. One of the DAV’s volunteer drivers offered to pick him up and drive the man to Poplar Bluff. When the driver arrived at the pickup site in Farmington, he learned that the man had walked there from Lake Hanna the night before in order to catch the ride.

“One of the DAV members took him to a car lot and paid the down payment for a car out of his own pocket,” Nelson said. “We’re just veterans helping veterans however we can.”

Nelson, a two-time winner of the state Membership Top Recruiter award, is working to spread the news to disabled veterans in the five counties that the DAV can help them with a myriad of problems. Nelson explained that the organization is open to any veteran who was partially or fully disabled during his or her time in the service. A service officer, Bob Ridings, is available to help veterans find the help they need and fill out claim papers.

The local chapter opened July 27, 1975, with 54 members and currently has 387 veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, Somalia, Beirut, Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.

The group meets at 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the LIFE Center, 725 E. Karsch Blvd. and serves veterans in five counties – St. Francois, Washington, Iron, Madison and Ste. Genevieve. For more information or to join the DAV, call 573-518-0343.

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.