Manahawkin resident receives "April Kauffman Award for Volunteer Advocacy"

MANAHAWKIN RESIDENT LAUDED FOR VOLUNTEER MILITARY ADVOCACY

‘Patriotism is not a short and frenzied

outburst of emotion but the tranquil and

steady dedication of a lifetime.”

ADLAI STEVENSON

Tom O’Donnell, resident of Manahawkin and soon- to- be retired Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Veteran Affairs at Stockton University, was honored with the April Kauffman Award for Veteran Advocacy.

O’Donnell met the local radio host and veteran advocate six years ago when she invited him to appear on an Atlantic County radio show that she co-hosted. Lovingly nicknamed “Airstrike April” for her tenacity in fighting for veteran benefits, especially health care, Kauffman believed in getting together “people of like minds” who, when their forces and energy are combined, can make an impact on policy and inspire positive change. The love of country and the respect for the men and women of the Armed Services was a commonality that they shared.

Together, the educator and the advocate promoted the Stockton University Student Veterans Organization’s (SVO)golf fundraiser and awards ceremony, O’Donnell invited Kauffman to sit on the University’s Student Veterans Advisory Board, and they brainstormed on how to improve the ‘welcome home’ and emotional support for returning veterans.

Five days after April Kauffman was the Mistress of Ceremonies for the SVO’s annual event, she was dead. Murdered in her bedroom five years ago this past May 12^th, in a crime that has yet to be solved.

O’Donnell and the University’s veteran community never forgot the passion and patriotism April Christine Kauffman exuded. Since the first year after her death, they honored her memory and created a tradition of recognizing a veteran advocate that supported their education and future development and named it after the woman whose voice was heard in Washington when she spoke out to improve the health care options for American Veterans.

At an emotional ceremony at the Clark-Elasion American Legion Post #352 in Somers Point, NJ, O’Donnell was visibly overwhelmed with being selected as the 5^th Annual April Christine Kauffman Veterans Advocate Award recipient. Kauffman’s daughter, Kim Pack, presented Tom O’Donnell with the award which was later followed by citations from Senator Frank LoBiondo, Assemblyman Chris Brown and Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson.

“This is the biggest honor I have ever received, “attested O’Donnell. “I saw a passion in this woman to help veterans and honestly, it was contagious,” he recalled.

While hoping that justice will be served in the investigation into his comrade’s cowardly murder, O’Donnell plans on marching forward - including visiting college campuses nationwide for Operation College Promise to help them develop programs that support returning veterans on their campuses.

When Tom O’Donnell stops by Barnegat’s John Wesley Taylor American Legion Post 232 (he received an honorary lifetime membership from the State leadership for his veteran advocacy) he will not hesitate to take a moment to thank a veteran of any era or rank for their service to our country and endorse April’s belief that “veterans should be treated like rock stars!”