Duane Miskulin stands Thursday next to a captured Japanese cannon from World War II in front of the Wisconsin National Guard Armory in Wisconsin Rapids. Miskulin is working to bring back the Portage County Allied Military Veterans Council. / Casey Lake/Stevens Point Journal
If Duane Miskulin has his way, those vets will benefit from a coordinated effort.
Miskulin, a former national commander for American Veterans or AMVETS, a national advocacy group for veterans, is working to revive the Portage County Allied Military Veterans Council.
The group helps coordinate the county's 13 veteran service organizations, such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. The council helps to make sure different groups' fundraising events aren't scheduled for the same day, for example, or that an honor guard can attend local ceremonies.
Miskulin said the need for the group is even more pronounced with veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan recently and existing organizations looking for ways to best serve them.
"We need to get all 13 of us working together in the community," Miskulin said.
Miskulin is a veteran himself, serving in Ankara, Turkey, for six years in the U.S. Air Force until 1966. He went to work at AT&T, and after retiring 21 years ago, devoted himself to veterans affairs.
He worked with a number of veterans service organizations, eventually becoming a national commander of AMVETS, serving through Post No. 1051.
Miskulin traveled the world while in the role, speaking in Hawaii, China and South Korea.
Miskulin said the purpose of the council is to help all the service organizations to better serve the veterans in the county. It will help the groups coordinate their fundraising efforts and support each other without duplicating services.
"It's so we'll have an organization, so each one doesn't detract from the other," said Portage County Veteran Service Officer Mike Clements.
Miskulin, a former national commander for American Veterans or AMVETS, a national advocacy group for veterans, is working to revive the Portage County Allied Military Veterans Council.
The group helps coordinate the county's 13 veteran service organizations, such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. The council helps to make sure different groups' fundraising events aren't scheduled for the same day, for example, or that an honor guard can attend local ceremonies.
Miskulin said the need for the group is even more pronounced with veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan recently and existing organizations looking for ways to best serve them.
"We need to get all 13 of us working together in the community," Miskulin said.
Miskulin is a veteran himself, serving in Ankara, Turkey, for six years in the U.S. Air Force until 1966. He went to work at AT&T, and after retiring 21 years ago, devoted himself to veterans affairs.
He worked with a number of veterans service organizations, eventually becoming a national commander of AMVETS, serving through Post No. 1051.
Miskulin traveled the world while in the role, speaking in Hawaii, China and South Korea.
Miskulin said the purpose of the council is to help all the service organizations to better serve the veterans in the county. It will help the groups coordinate their fundraising efforts and support each other without duplicating services.
"It's so we'll have an organization, so each one doesn't detract from the other," said Portage County Veteran Service Officer Mike Clements.
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