Sumter Veteran Honored Nationally by VFW for #StillServing

Sumter veteran Eric Shumpert is being honored for dedication to country and community in the VFW #StillServing campaign. The national Veterans of Foreign Wars #StillServing (vfw.org/stillserving) campaign recognizes veterans who continue to serve in their community after the military.

Shumpert is #StillServing by working to make his local VFW Post 3034 an inclusive and welcoming place for younger currently serving veterans. He explains that younger veterans often have families and are drawn to physical and community activities so he plans to add an electronic gaming area inside the Post and establish a local 5K /10K race sponsored by the Post and other veteran service organizations in town.

Shumpert says he is #StillServing because he wants all veterans to know the benefits of being a member of VFW, particularly the comradery at the local Post and the legislative advocacy in Washington D.C. VFW recently helped pass the PACT Act, a massive expansion of benefits, and is now working to pass the Major Richard Star Act, a bill that would give veterans with combat-related injuries full disability and retirement pay regardless of how long they served.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) launched #StillServing, a campaign to highlight the many ways America’s veterans continue to serve in their local communities after transitioning from the military, in February 2020. What started as an awareness campaign has become a social movement as veterans across the country continue to step up to share stories of how they are still serving. More than 1,000 veterans’ stories have been shared through news coverage, website features and magazine and newsletter articles.

“Our original intent here was to recognize and showcase the important ongoing service of the lifeblood of our organization - our members, but the campaign quickly took hold and expanded well beyond the confines of our membership to veterans and advocates around the world,” said Tim Borland, VFW commander-in-chief. “The participation and interest this campaign has garnered has exceeded all expectations, and it continues to gain momentum.”

Since its launch, more than 2 million people have engaged with the campaign and it has gained the attention of individuals worldwide, recently earning a Grand Award at the 19th International Business Association for the highest marks of more than 3,700 nominations to the business awards.

Building on a legacy of service that spans more than a century, #StillServing represents the heart of the VFW and its members, and conveys what today’s VFW embodies. The VFW encourages all veterans to share stories on social media using #StillServing to show how they continue to answer the call to serve in ways big and small. In addition, family or friends are asked to use #StillServing in social media posts to honor a veteran in their lives who believes the spirit of service transcends military life.

Veterans volunteer more time in their communities, according to a recent civic health survey* of veterans. The same study showed veterans donate to charities, register to vote, and are involved in their communities and local government at a greater rate than their civilian counterparts.

The VFW urges Americans to visit vfw.org/StillServing to learn more about the campaign, make a shareable image honoring veterans in their lives, watch videos of VFW members making a difference and see a collection of user-generated content.

*2021 Veterans Civic Health Index