Reservist featured in VFW PSA

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Leo Brown
  • 442nd Fighter Wing public affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  A little can say a lot. That's the hope Tom Talbert, communications manager for the Veteran's of Foreign Wars national headquarters in Kansas City, has for three little words said by the 442nd Fighter Wing's Master Sgt. Todd Sieleman.

Sergeant Sieleman, the non-commissioned officer in charge of weapons safety, recently appeared in 30- and 60-second VFW public service announcements saying simply, "thank a veteran."

While Sergeant Sieleman's message and on-camera time last just a few seconds, Mr. Talbert said he hopes Sieleman's words will send a clear statement about the importance of having an attitude of gratitude for veterans.

"It's a public service announcement to softly promote the VFW, but primarily to thank the troops and all veterans, active, retired and deceased," said Mr. Talbert, who is also a staff sergeant with the wing's public affairs office.

Sergeant Sielemann said taking part in this effort helped remind him of the sacrifices veterans have made. "I make it a point when I see an old man with a (military) ball cap to go up and say, 'thank you.' I make it a point when I see a young kid in a military uniform to go up and say, 'thank you.' If we don't do that for the young kids, they'll never learn to appreciate what veterans have done for us."

"He was excellent," Mr. Talbert said of Sergeant Sieleman. "He was exactly what we were looking for. We hit all four services and he represented the Air Force."

Taped at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Kansas City, Mr. Talbert said the spot will be seen "as people flip through their local stations.

Pretty much all commercial and cable stations around the country can use it, he said. It will also be available soon on the VFW Website (www.vfw.org).

"We are an advocacy organization for veterans," Mr. Talbert said. "If it weren't for organizations like the VFW, you wouldn't have pensions, you wouldn't have (Veterans Affairs) hospitals, lots of things like that.

''The GI Bill was a direct response to organizations like the VFW,'' he said. ''Our commander-in-chief testifies often before Congress so they can pass bills that are friendly to veterans.

"The purpose of the spot, from a strategy standpoint of the VFW, is to increase awareness of our organization and the service we provide to veterans in a subtle yet compelling manner," Mr. Talbert said. "We're trying to get VFW's name in the public's eye, but we also want to show our public service approach to supporting veterans."

Nation-wide, the VFW and its auxiliary number 2.4 million.