Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) who are military veterans recently participated in a program aimed at building community and supporting fellow veterans. The IAM Veterans Committee-Building Class gathered union members from various locals across the United States, each bringing their own military background to the event.
The program focused on service, leadership, and advocacy for veterans within both the union and broader communities. Participants engaged in classroom sessions, workshops, and group discussions to identify key issues affecting veterans. Topics included navigating Veterans Affairs benefits and claims processes, accessing support resources, and organizing community service initiatives.
As part of their activities, attendees volunteered at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. There, they worked together to dismantle and rebuild a safety fence around a pond on the facility’s grounds as an example of putting their commitment to “service to the community” into action.
Rich Evans, IAM Veterans Services Coordinator, emphasized the ongoing nature of service for veterans: “When veterans unite through the IAM, we create more than committees. We build bridges of support, leadership, and solidarity,” Evans said. “This program reminds us that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. It continues in our workplaces and communities, where we stand together to care for one another.”
The event highlighted collaboration among veteran members as they developed strategies for forming or strengthening veterans committees within their districts and locals.
