Medal of Honor recipient continues to serve
Medal of Honor recipient and longtime American Legion member Don Ballard spoke at the Legion's 99th national convention in Reno, Nev., Aug. 22, 2017. Photo by Clay Lomneth/The American Legion

Medal of Honor recipient continues to serve

Medal of Honor recipient and longtime American Legion member Don Ballard continues to serve.

Ballard, who went back to school at age 60 to become a licensed funeral director, encouraged American Legion Family members to educate themselves about end-of-life benefits. “The government doesn’t care about you when you’re alive, and they certainly don’t care about you when you’re dead,” he said Tuesday at the Legion’s general session of the 99th national convention in Reno, Nev.

Ballard said the perception that the government will pay for veterans’ funerals is not entirely accurate. “They will not pay one penny for my funeral, even though I have (the Medal of Honor),” he said. “And they will not pay for your funeral.”

VA does have burial allowances that provide up to $2,000 for service-connected deaths on or after Sept. 11, 2001. For non-service connected deaths on or after Oct. 1, 2016, VA will pay $300 toward burial allowances and $749 for a plot.

A few years ago, Ballard created a nonprofit that helps veterans and their family members with limited financial resources with funeral expenses. “We care — it’s our passion — about taking care of veterans,” he said, referring to his wife who helps him.

In addition to educating veterans, Ballard also wants to create a network of funeral directors who will join his project to help veterans with their funeral expenses. Veterans and family members seeking such assistance will need to provide information regarding the need. But Ballard says he will assist those who qualify with burials where they are entitled.

On Tuesday, Ballard assisted National Commander Charles E. Schmidt in presenting the Legion’s Spirit of Service awards to this year’s recipients on stage at the convention.

Spirit of Service recipients included Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Robin Stephens, who thanked the Legion for the award and “for allowing me to become part of this family.”

In 2016, Stephens volunteered more than 624 hours supporting Virginia Beach Medical Services as an EMT saving countless lives by responding to various types of medical emergencies. Stephens has used her qualifications to train and qualify 28 master training specialists. She is a command Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate where she has devoted voluntarily 77 off-duty days on call to assist sexual assault victims.

“I am excited to share this passion for service with past, present and future military members,” she said. “I have gotten to know some of you and been able to learn what The American Legion is truly about.”

Marine Cpl. Justin Ahasteen, another Spirit of Service honoree, provided more than 400 hours of volunteer community service while assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps.

“Hunger, poverty and inequality have plagued our nation,” he said. “But organizations such as The American Legion, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the willpower of others are able to impact the lives of many and make a difference one action at a time.”

Ballard has had an impact on countless lives, including those he saved when he dove on a hand grenade in Vietnam on May 16, 1968.

“I wear the Medal of Honor for all the guys I served with,” he said. “I wear it especially for all the guys who died that day. I wear it for all the corpsmen out there.”