Life & Work with Richard of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard.

Richard, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My path with the Veterans of Foreign Wars kind of came out of just wanting to stay connected after my time in the military. When you leave the service, you really do miss the people, the structure, and that sense of purpose that comes with it. Getting involved with VFW Post 6605 gave me a way to bring some of that back.

At first, I was just showing up and helping where I could — events, meetings, whatever needed to be done. Over time, I started taking on more responsibility and really got pulled into the day-to-day side of things. It wasn’t something I set out to “step into,” it just kind of happened naturally as I got more invested in what we were doing for veterans and the community.

What’s kept me involved is seeing the impact firsthand. Whether it’s supporting veterans who need help, putting on events, or just making sure people know the Post is here and active, it all adds up. A lot of folks don’t realize how much goes on behind the scenes at a VFW Post, and being part of changing that perception has been really rewarding.

Now, I’m just focused on helping keep the momentum going — making sure we stay active, relevant, and a place where veterans actually want to come together and feel at home.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not completely — it’s had its challenges.

With the Veterans of Foreign Wars, especially at a local level like VFW Post 6605, a lot of it comes down to consistency. Since everything is volunteer-based, there are times when things run really smoothly and other times when it’s harder to get enough people together to keep momentum going.

Another big challenge has been awareness. A lot of people don’t really know what the VFW does beyond the name, so part of the work has been just getting the word out and showing that we’re active and here for the community.

But honestly, those challenges are also what make it rewarding, because when things come together and you see the impact, it makes the effort worth it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work with the Veterans of Foreign Wars really comes down to keeping things active and making sure the Post stays connected to both veterans and the community at VFW Post 6605.

A big part of that is just staying involved in what’s going on throughout the year — whether it’s helping with fundraising efforts for veterans, supporting our annual dining out event, or being part of our semi-monthly dinners and community service projects. A lot of my role is behind the scenes, helping coordinate things and making sure they actually come together and run smoothly.

What I enjoy most is seeing how those efforts bring people together. The dinners and events aren’t just activities on a calendar — they’ve become a place where veterans, families, and the community can connect and feel part of something. And the fundraising and service work all ties back into making sure we can continue supporting veterans when they need it most.

For me, it really comes down to consistency and follow-through — just doing my part to help keep that rhythm going so the Post stays active, visible, and meaningful to the people it serves.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I wouldn’t really call myself a big risk-taker in a bold or flashy way, but I do believe in stepping up when something needs to be done, even if I’m not 100% sure how it’s going to turn out.

With the Veterans of Foreign Wars, especially at VFW Post 6605, a lot of what I’ve done has come from just saying “I’ll take that on” when something needed attention. Sometimes you don’t have a perfect plan or guarantee it’ll go smoothly — you just know it matters and you figure it out as you go.

To me, risk is less about chasing uncertainty and more about not stepping back when responsibility shows up. Most of the things I’m proud of came from moments where I just trusted myself enough to step forward

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