Written by Emma Weber<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three years ago during the end of summer, veteran Bill Morton, known on the road as \u201cRhino,\u201d and some friends came into the local Searcy diner Chit, Chat and Chew for a cup of coffee. Owner Jacob Dixon, a fellow veteran, had been wanting to start a coffee call. Morton and his friends in the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) Chapter 7-8 provided the perfect starting point. Since then, the group has expanded and amassed friends from all branches of the military. Their common thread: a desire to create community.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this table, every veteran is welcome. Ages ranging from 29-85 make an effort to come and connect with one another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have lots of differences, but we put them aside at the table,\u201d Morton said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Morton said others are invited as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis event is open to the public,\u201d Morton said. \u201cWe want veterans to come in and make friends.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Commander of CVMA Chapter 7-8, Bill Blecher, known as \u201cOscar,\u201d elaborated on the need for veterans to have a place to feel supported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSince leaving the service and moving to a civilian company, I haven\u2019t felt the same feeling of family,\u201d Blecher said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blecher and Morton create a family-like atmosphere by connecting their friends with professionals who can help. Frequent members at the table have many skills relating to suicide help and internal veterans aid. Morton and Blecher both mentioned that these services help many of the people at the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are just friends helping friends,\u201d Blecher said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another member of the group, veteran Candice Wyant, has taken the steps to make a group just for women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere are a lot of us out there,\u201d Wyant said. \u201cHere, you have a family you can have coffee with. You think, \u2018Hey, there is a place for me.\u2019 And we are just doing life together.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wyant works specifically to make a space where female veterans can find their identity outside the service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen you get out of the service you lose yourself, and you want to be a part of things but it’s hard to communicate with others,\u201d Wyant said. \u201cSo you end up staying home. But there is a lot more to us. We are strong and proud, and we want to build a community.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Events like the coffee call at Chit Chat and Chew provide opportunities for all those who have served to have a central location to meet. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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