Ron Wilson became involved in local veterans organization when he returned to Noblesville after serving six years in the Navy and joined the American Legion in 1971.
“In the past 40 years, all of my old World War II friends are gone,” he said. “It’s hard for me to believe the average age of Korean War veterans is 75 and Vietnam War is 70. Time flies when you are having fun.”
Wilson headed the group that brought the Vietnam War Memorial “Traveling Wall” to Hamilton County in 2004 and 2007.
“When I told the group it would cost $8,000 to bring the wall to Noblesville you could see all the blood drain from their faces. I told them, ‘Hell, that’s only getting 80 businesses to donate $100 a piece.’ We raised $8,000 in seven days,” he said.
Wilson said the group might try to bring the wall back again but fundraising the second time was tougher than in 2004.
“The way the economy was it was hard. Places that donated $100 or more the original time were only giving $25 or $50,” he said. “I’d love to do it again, but a big group of members are no longer with us.”
Wilson also played a critical role in creating two veterans organizations. Wilson and two friends started the Navy Club Ship No. 29, which was founded Nov. 11, 2009.
“It started with coffee on Wednesday nights with two sailors and a Marine,” he said. “Through all of this I’ve been able to help a bunch of different families and veterans throughout the county.”
He and Wayne Long also created the Hamilton County Veterans organization in 2007. The 501c3 nonprofit has several projects it is working on including a van to transport Hamilton County residents to the VA Hospital in Indianapolis. Wilson said he hopes the program is underway in 2015. The group also is collecting fund to fix a crack in the war memorial at Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville.
“We’ll dismantle what is there and put in a new base. It has a 19-degree lean,” Wilson said. “We hope to have it fixed by Memorial Day.”
Wilson said there is a misconception about veterans groups.
“People think we sit around and talk about war stories. That just isn’t the case,” he said. “We talk about stuff, but we don’t talk about that stuff. It’s a time to socialize with guys that have been there and done that.
Throughout his years being involved in veterans affairs Wilson said the biggest change is need.
“People either don’t know how to get benefits or where to go. Things are changing constantly with the VA system,” he said. “One hundred and eighty dollars could be the difference between paying for medicine or not.
Veterans or families in need or residents interested in assisting those in need may contact Wilson at [email protected]. Wilson also can assist those interested in joining or learning more about veterans organizations and programs.
