The Marshall County Veterans Affairs team of Kevin Huseboe and Shari Coughenour is always busy, whether they’re performing their day-to-day duties of connecting former those who have served with the services they’re entitled to or working on a special project like the new memorial on the courthouse lawn. In the coming weeks and months, they’ll be taking the lead on the county’s Home Base Iowa initiatives and launching a new monthly veterans gathering known as “Coffee and Camaraderie.”

Huseboe, who serves as the director, couldn’t do it alone: he’s always quick to shout out community partners ranging from the Marshalltown Central Business District (MCBD) and Executive Director Deb Millizer to the Iowa Veterans Home. He’s also excited about the soon-to-be-opened new VA clinic on East Merle Hibbs Boulevard and all of the opportunities it will provide for area veterans.

“We’re gonna be working with them a lot because a lot of veterans go there, so we’re gonna highlight our flyers and really drive that home too,” Huseboe said.

The Frank Harter VFW Post 839, located at 107 E. Meadow Ln., will be the site for the Coffee and Camaraderie events, which will be held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 a.m. beginning in August with rotating guest speakers — some names Huseboe threw out included Commandant Todd Jacobus, representatives from UnityPoint Health and Marshalltown Community College and Bob Grimes from New Horizons Real Estate. The VA will provide cookies and donuts.

“It’s just veterans talking to other veterans, opening up about issues, anything they would like to see happen if they’ve had issues where they’re from with trying to get claims done or talking with medical professionals, or any questions or concerns they might have that we can help or assist with by bringing in guest speakers,” Huseboe said. “And each time we have a meeting, if they would like to see something different at the next month’s meeting, we’ll go above and beyond to make that happen for them.”

Along with creating a forum to discuss general issues and concerns in the veterans community, Huseboe hopes the events and initiatives will help to promote Marshall County as a great place for those who might wish to relocate through housing and entrepreneurship incentives offered by the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce. Whether they’d prefer to live inside the Marshalltown city limits or in one of the smaller, more rural outlying communities, he believes Marshall County has a lot to offer to veterans.

“As we grow with this and they start pushing Marshall County as the veterans capital of Iowa, that’s the big push that the mayor (Joel Greer) and everybody wants to get behind because of the growth that Marshall County Veterans Affairs has had in three years and all the people in different counties that we see,” Huseboe said.

Huseboe and Coughenour also plan to have a presence during this year’s Red, White and Blue Fourth of July festivities in the 13th Street District and around the IVH campus.

“There’s a lot of good things coming. I mean, it’s great how the town and county have just watched what’s grown with Veterans Affairs here in town and the appreciation we’ve gotten. It’s incredible. I really enjoy it. It’s just great having it,” Huseboe said.

DETAILS

Event: Marshall County Veteran Coffee and Camaraderie

Purpose: Coffee and Camaraderie is a monthly get together for military veterans to support one another and bolster fellowship. There is no charge to attend. Sponsors will provide coffee, light refreshments, and a monthly speaker for relevant topics. There will be no sales pitches. You do not have to be a member of the VFW to attend.

Date: First Tuesday of each month.

Time: 7:30 a.m.

Where: Harry C. Harter VFW Post No. 839, Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, 107 E. Meadow Ln., Marshalltown, Iowa 50158

Sponsored by: Marshall County Veterans Affairs, Marshall County Home Base Iowa Committee, Harry C. Harter VFW Post No. 839

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.