GREENVILLE — Veterans representing the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force were among the winners of the annual gun raffle supporting Darke County Veterans Services’ Washington, D.C., trip.
Five firearms were awarded through the fundraiser, sponsored by Greenville American Legion Post 140. Proceeds help provide veterans with a four-day trip to visit memorials and other historic sites in the nation’s capital.
Tom Pitman, Darke County Veterans Services director and county veterans service officer, emphasized that community contributions make the trips possible.
“Not one penny of taxpayers’ dollars sends the veterans to Washington, D.C.,” Pitman said. “It’s all been done by veterans, by fundraisers, people buying tickets and supporting them.”
“The citizens of this great state, this great county, are the ones that support the veterans and send them to D.C.,” he added.
Ted Bruner, Post 140 Master Sergeant-At-Arms, credited the partnership between the Legion and Veterans Services staff for the raffle’s success.
“The Veterans Services office staff does a lot of work, but the American Legion Post 140 does sponsor the gun raffle,” Bruner said.
He thanked Post 140 Commander Ken Wombold and the post’s executive board for supporting the effort.
“It turns out to be a great way to help finance sending our veterans down to D.C. to see the memorials that they deserve to see,” Bruner said.
Bruner said fundraising for the trips has been underway for seven years.
Among the winners was Ralph Peyton, of Cedarville, a Navy veteran who served from 1971 to 1977, including six years in submarine service.
Peyton purchased his ticket at the Veterans Services office in Greenville after seeing the raffle display at the Darke County Fairgrounds. He won a Smith & Wesson firearm, his first prize of that kind.
“This is super,” Peyton said.
John Fella, of New Weston, won a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun with a ticket purchased at the Veterans Services office. Fella served from 1968 to 1972 and spent all of 1969 in Vietnam.
Having previously participated in the Washington trip, Fella knows firsthand what the fundraiser provides.
“Oh, I loved it,” he said. “It was very nice. I would love to go again sometime.”
Aaron Teegarden, of New Weston, won two firearms: a Ruger .357 and a Beretta handgun. He purchased his ticket at the Ansonia American Legion.
Teegarden served in the Marine Corps from 1988 to 1992, including service during Operation Desert Storm.
“I got lucky, and I won two,” Teegarden said.
He said he was glad to help support the veterans’ trip.
Another winner had a familiar connection to the program: Jacob Stairhime, of Kendallville, Indiana, has driven the charter bus for two Darke County veterans’ trips to Washington.
Stairhime, an Air Force veteran who served in the Air National Guard from 2004 to 2013, bought his ticket at the office.
“I really do enjoy the trip to D.C. with the Darke County veterans,” Stairhime said. “We all have a lot of fun and a good time.”
For Stairhime, driving the group means more than just a job.
“I enjoy it because I’m a veteran as well, and they’re just a great group to drive for,” he said.
Pitman, a retired Air Force senior master sergeant, said drawing Stairhime’s name was a pleasant surprise.
“I was shocked when we drew his name,” Pitman said. “He’s been an awesome driver for us both times that we’ve had him on the bus, and everybody enjoyed having the Air Force drive the bus.”
Darke County Veterans Services staff members include Pitman; Var D. Gehron, veterans service officer; Krisann Franck, financial assistance specialist; Cindy Bruner, administrative assistant; and Jack Preston, transportation coordinator.
The county’s Veterans Services Commission members are Chris Rehmert, Gaylen Blosser, Jennifer Anthony, Scott Riffle, and Wesley Cothran.
