After more than 10 years of dormancy, a Lee County panel dedicated to enriching the lives of local veterans has been reformed.

Earlier this year, the Lee County Veterans Advisory Committee was brought back thanks to the work of local veterans who want to assist their fellow comrades. Each county commissioner appointed two individuals to make up a committee of 10.

The reformation of this committee, which was dissolved in 2012, was spearheaded by retired Army Colonel and Army JROTC instructor Steve Epkins.

At the newly formed committee’s first meeting last week, Epikins was elected to serve as the chair of the committee, while Chris Cammarota was elected vice chair, and John Thomas secretary.

“It makes me feel good that we got something going for local veterans,” Epkins said. “I just hope that we’re able to reach out and help. We’re looking to educate, assist, support, solve problems — things like that for our veterans and surviving spouses and their families.”

Cammarota added, “This is long overdue. There’s money available through the county for veterans, and our job is to make suggestions to the County Commission, and if they like it, they’ll follow through. Whether it’s for homeless veterans, job training, or money for a parade or something like that. Veterans need a voice, and I’m just happy to help out and do the right thing.”

The Lee County Veterans Advisory Committee is made up of:

• Roger Thriftshauer – Retired Navy rear admiral

• John Thomas – Retired Army lieutenant colonel

• Armando Hernandez – Served in the U.S Marine Corps and senior manager of Homebase Florida

• Gerry Harvey – Served in the U.S. Marine Corps and post commander of the Cape Coral VFW Post

• Stephanie Neurock – served in the Army and works with Congressman Bryon Donalds

• Chris Cammarota – served four years in the U.S. Navy and involved in many local veterans organizations

• Steve Epkins – retired Army colonel with 22 years of teaching Army JROTC in Florida high schools

• Joseph Duhain – current captain in the Florida Army National Guard and professor at FGCU

• Tim Cook – retired Navy captain and medical doctor

• Dale Spain – retired U.S. Marine Corps gunny and CEO of Hearts & Homes

Epkins said the committee is still shaping exactly what its goals will be moving forward, and that they will meet once each month. The next meeting is Aug. 14.

One of the ideas Epkins proposed was a book for veterans with a plethora of information on how and where they can receive assistance.

“There are answers out there, and people know those answers, but there are those that don’t know where to find them or the organizations that do certain things,” Epkins said. “Some kind of book just for veterans, so when (a veteran’s) car won’t start and they need assistance and doesn’t have the money, where can they go? Or if they’re homeless, what do they do?”

Other ideas included a quarterly veteran calendar and newsletter that includes all of the local veterans events taking place over those months.

“This next upcoming meeting, we’ll start working on definitive plans and talking about this stuff,” Epkins said.

Epkins talked about a “veterans and homeless veterans stand-down,” where veteran groups could gather and assist the needs of the community.

“We could do it at a local college or a park,” he said. “It could be something once per year where veterans could come and get all the things they need — the essentials, or a resume review, or a job. Things like that.”

According to statistics from Lee County Government and state of Florida, there are between 55,000 to 62,000 veterans in the area — the fifth largest veteran population by county in the state.

Additional topics to be discussed include a committee-organized Veterans Day and Memorial Day services.

All members of the committee had to fill out an application to volunteer their services, and submit it to Lee County Veteran Services Manager Rodney Van Ness.

“Our goal is to make things better for veterans and their families,” Epkins said. “That’s all I’ve been doing since I retired from JROTC, is working with veterans groups and JROTC.

They hope to be involved in County Commission meetings and will have quarterly updates with Van Ness and county staff.

“We want to be an overarching veterans group that’s looking to help and support and fix things and make things better,” Epkins said.

Honoring veterans

The “Saluting our Heroes ’45 & ’53” event (formerly Spirit of ’45) will be held from 4:15 to 7:15 p.m. on Aug. 11 at Heritage Palms Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers. The event is free for World War II and Korean War veterans and their guest. Tickets are $50 per person for all other attendees, as the event is open to any and all.

The ceremony will include a presentation of National Colors, Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem; POW/MIA service (missing man table), wreath ceremony; World War II and Korean War videos and speeches, flag folding ceremony; Pipes and Drums to include “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes; honor guard/firing party for three volleys; echo taps and patriotic songs.

Reservations must be made by Aug. 1 and tickets must be paid for by Aug. 6.

To make a reservation or for more information, email Kim Gaide at kimgaide@aol.com or call 239-209-6160. Once reservations have been made, a check or money order should be made payable to VFW District 13. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.