Disabled USAF Vet presented with SUV as sailor's legacy
Family of late USN Capt. Frank “Mick” O’Beirne of Mystic, CT present his 2018 Toyota 4 Runner to Work Vessels for Vets
SGT Tom Bryant of Gouverneur, NY awarded the vehicle for his program to train and transport certified veteran welding trainees into businesses
A presentation ceremony of a 2018 SUV to USAF vet from NY was held at the offices of Work Vessels for Vets, Inc. at 43 Pequot Avenue, Mystic at 5:30pm on Thursday March 28, 2019. This presentation brings to $70,000 the total value of WVFV awards to injured veterans since January 1, 2019.
“Leaving a legacy from a veteran… for a veteran,” said WVFV Director Cathy Cook. “We thank the family of the late Capt. Frank O’Beirne, USN (ret) for this most generous donation. His legacy of military and community service above self will live on through Sgt Bryant’s program to train veterans to be certified welders.”
Work Vessels for Vets, Inc,, the Mystic-based charity that equips America’s injured veterans with the tools needed for self-employment, received the donation of a nearly new 2018 Toyota 4 Runner SUV in memory of the late Frank “Mick” O’Beirne, Captain, USN (ret) who recently passed away. His widow, Kathleen attended the presentation.
Capt. O’Beirne served in the nuclear Navy, including commanding a Trident submarine and as commanding officer of the Kings Bay, GA naval base. In retirement, he was elected to the Groton Town Council and served as Mayor in addition to service with many other local charities. Capt. O’Beirne was instrumental in the work to save the Groton Subase from BRAC closure. The O'Beirnes have long been supporters of WVFV, and Kathleen knew that her husband would have wanted his vehicle to support veterans in need.
Sgt Tom Bryant is an older disabled USAF veteran. He owns Bryant Industrial of Gouverneur, NY, a company that trains veterans in welding, and transports the trained veterans to on-site contracted jobs throughout upstate NY. He has received many awards for his accomplishments and work with fellow veterans and many vendors in the Syracuse region. He provides veteran job placement services for a number of unions and companies. He is a 2008 graduate of the Syracuse University Entrepreneur Boot Camp for Veterans. Tom applied to Work Vessels for Vets in desperate need of reliable, 4WD transportation to move his veteran-student welders to job sites and to expand his operations. “I will be able to place many more vets as certified welders with this award. I can reach so many more,” commented Bryant.
“We are thrilled to match Tom with Mrs. O'Beirne's generous donation,” said John Niekrash, President and Co-Founder of Work Vessels for Vets. WVFV Board Members Rick Crolius, Jay Kane, and Frank Gaglio joined in the presentation event.
