New Organization’s motto is “Veterans 4 Veterans”
L-R VONMA members Jim Brown, Kevin Burrell, Brian Ojida, Ken Gladd, Bryan Lincoln, Joseph Palmer, Terry Peters
L-R VONMA President Kevin Burrell, Bonnie Devan, Jimmy Devan, VONMA Sergent at Arms Jim Brown
By John T Ryan (Please share)
Peru, NY, April 6, 2025—Last year, a small group of local veterans formed The Veterans of the North Motorcycle Association (VONMA), adopting the motto “Veterans 4 Veterans.” On Sunday morning, the Association’s President, Kevin Burrell, exemplified this motto by presenting a check for $14,244 to veteran Jimmy Devan.
On February 27, a vehicle struck Devan while walking with his seeing-eye dog, Ryder, near his Route 22B home. Following the incident, Jimmy spent several days in intensive care at UVM Medical Center in Burlington and then underwent rehabilitation at the Fanny Allen Hospital in Colchester. He returned home on March 18, but it will take several weeks for him to resume his daily routines. On Sunday, Ryder rested in a nearby room, escaping the accident without injury.
Devan lost his eyesight in Vietnam in 1968 while serving as a U.S. Marine when a booby-trap explosion left him completely blind and with a body filled with shrapnel. VONMA Sergeant at Arms Jim Brown reported that hundreds of people, locally and from across the country, generously donated personally and through a GoFundMe/PayPal campaign to raise the $14,244 gift.
Over the past several months, the 21-member VONMA has assisted homeless veterans in finding temporary shelter, built handicapped ramps, widened doors, acquired ferry tickets for veterans traveling to Vermont for medical treatment, and helped a veteran whose home suffered severe fire damage. Jim Brown noted, “There are several people and organizations assisting veterans, but sometimes there’s a gap in getting help, filling out paperwork, and receiving approvals. Our goal is to provide immediate assistance to veterans and their families to fill that gap.” VONMA strives to serve Clinton, Essex and Franklin County veterans.
For more information on VONMA, call its president Kevin Burrell at 518-300-0910.
Posted: April 7th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Charity Events, Community Events, General News, Northern NY News, Upstate New York, Veterans' News.