The Central Alabama Military Retirees Monthly Luncheon took place at Kountry Kitchen in Clanton on Wednesday. (Photo by Anthony Richards)

The Central Alabama Military Retirees luncheon was held at Kountry Kitchen in Clanton on Wednesday.

These meetings are now held on the second Wednesday of each month after being held every three months for quite some time.

Marie McGalliard with the Chilton County Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary was on hand as the guest speaker for October.

The DAV Auxiliary was founded in 1922 to fulfill the needs and insure the best livelihood of the men and women who served the United States of America.

According to McGalliard, one of her focuses is to look out for the family as a whole and gain a better understanding of the effect that PTSD can have on the home environment.

“It is not just the adults that are effected,” McGalliard said. “Some children do not know how to process what is going on with parents who have PTSD symptoms. They walk on ‘egg shells’ within the home.”

Over 4,000 veterans call Chilton County home, with many having some sort of need or questions.

“We welcome any veteran to come in and we want them to feel just as important as the next,” McGalliard said.

The DAV Auxiliary was chartered in Chilton County a couple of years ago and has since then grown from 10 to 27 members.

Members are any family or extended family of veterans who were disabled, died or served in the military.

Membership rates vary depending on age range, with free membership provided to those over 80 years old.

“We want to make a difference in the lives of veterans and their families,” McGalliard said. “Many times our older veterans just need someone to talk to. We’re here to help give them a voice.”

The next DAV Auxiliary meeting is scheduled for Nov. 5 beginning at noon at the Masonic lodge off of Highway 22 in Clanton. It is a public meeting that everyone is invited to attend and ask questions.

Chilton County Sheriff John Shearon is scheduled to be the guest speaker at the next Central Alabama Military Retirees Luncheon on Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. at Kountry Kitchen.

Monica Eiland is over 100 years old and continues to be a routine attendee at the luncheon, where no membership fees or donations are required to attend.

“If you care anything about the military, than this is for you,” luncheon organizer Bonnie Frazier said.