Apr 20, 2020
A past VFW Commander-in-Chief said he didn’t want to sit on the sidelines while the COVID-19 pandemic was happening across the country.
Brian Duffy, who is a Gold Legacy Life member of VFW Post 1170 in Middletown, Ky., and his wife, Jean, a member of VFW Post 1170’s Auxiliary, made about four dozen face masks for medical professionals in the Fort Myer, Fla., area near their home.
“Me doing this is really from the VFW’s desire to always be engaged in a fight,” Duffy said. “We are always helping to defend our country, but since I don’t wear a uniform anymore, I thought this would be a good way of helping while maintaining social distancing.”
Duffy said his and his wife’s actions, as well as those of VFW Posts, Districts and Departments during the pandemic, “live up” to VFW’s “still serving” mantra, as well as Commander-in-Chief William “Doc” Schmitz’s “Dare to Care” motto.
“We have to find ways to help not just our veterans, but our citizens,” Duffy said. “Even though this is the first time I’ve tried to handle a sewing machine, I’m still able to help in any way I can.”
By, Dave Spiva/VFW magazine