VFW Post 1475 brightens Christmas for two student veterans and families

Three members of Unit 6, the post’s motorcycle contingent, surprised AC student veterans Quinton Phillips (Army) and Preston Ward (Marines) on Dec. 12 by handing each a check for $500 at a brief gathering at AC’s Veterans Office in the Student Service Center.

“Wow, this is so awesome,” said Ward, an appreciative father of three. “It’ll mean the world to our kids because now we can go spend Christmas with family. The kids haven’t seen their grandparents in a long, long time. I’m just really thankful.”

For the second year in a row, Unit 6 contacted Kelly Murphy, AC veterans’ coordinator, and told her they had some extra money in their scholarship fund, money they wanted to distribute at Christmastime among some veterans in particular need.

Murphy nominated Phillips and Ward, and VFW’s scholarship committee agreed and delivered checks to the unsuspecting recipients, who did not know why they had been summoned to Murphy’s office.

“We’re expecting a baby in March and this will help us out a lot,” Phillips said. “I’m honored and amazed, and I can’t thank these caring veterans enough.”

CUTLINE: Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1475 presented AC veteran students Quinton Phillips, second from left, and Preston Ward, fourth from left, with $500 each.