By Sherry Olney
A Community Rooted in Service
In a community anchored by Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, service is not an abstract concept. It is part of daily life. Airmen train here. Special Forces soldiers deploy from here. Navy personnel complete advanced training just miles from our neighborhoods. Many who serve here retire here. They become business owners, church leaders, mentors, and volunteers. Military service is woven into the identity of this region.
The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce consistently organizes and leads community-wide events that honor that legacy. Most recently, the Chamber commemorated the 35th Anniversary of Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In recent years, it has also brought the community together to mark the 75th Anniversary of the United States Air Force, honor the Doolittle Raiders during the Final Goblet Ceremony, recognize ODA 595, the 12 Horse Soldiers, and commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
In one of those moments, Chamber President and CEO Ted Corcoran stands alongside members of ODA 595. The image reflects something deeper than ceremony. It shows a community standing shoulder to shoulder with those who served.
These gatherings are more than tradition. They are reflections of who we are.
When the Uniform Comes Off
For some veterans, the most difficult mission begins after the uniform comes off.
Transition to civilian life can mean navigating complex VA systems, waiting on disability determinations, securing employment, addressing medical or mental health needs, or rebuilding financial stability. Pride, strengthened through service, can make asking for help difficult.
Even in a strong military community like ours, some veterans experience housing instability.
Not because they lack discipline.
Not because they lack character.
But because transition requires support.
Sometimes the need is quiet. A veteran waiting on a disability determination. A veteran navigating paperwork alone. A veteran sleeping in a car while trying to secure employment. Pride can delay the call for help. But when that call finally comes, response matters.
And in Fort Walton Beach, support does not come from one place. It comes from many.
Veterans Supporting Veterans
In this community, support often begins with fellow veterans.
The Crispy Warriors, pictured together representing decades of service across multiple branches, continue their mission long after active duty ends. Meeting weekly, they remain connected and engaged, offering steady encouragement and accountability to fellow veterans throughout the region.
Their commitment extends beyond camaraderie. They support veterans navigating difficult transitions and contribute financially to strengthen local efforts that ensure veterans are not left without options.
Organizations such as AMVETS, along with civic groups including Moose and Eagles Lodges, also continue to advocate for and assist those who served. The Army Air Force Enlisted Village provides housing for surviving spouses of career military members. The Air Force Armament Museum preserves the history that shaped this region and reminds future generations of the cost of freedom.
Each organization reinforces the same message.
Veterans are not forgotten here.
Stabilization When It Matters Most
When housing instability becomes part of a veteran’s transition, One Hopeful Place plays a direct role in ensuring immediate stability.
Since 2020, 65 veterans have moved into permanent housing through its campus. Veterans are a priority population, and a bed is always available for veterans in need.
One Hopeful Place works closely with the VA to help veterans access the benefits and resources they have earned, while also coordinating with the Homelessness and Housing Alliance across Okaloosa and Walton counties. Through collaboration with Bridgeway Center, veterans can access mental health and recovery services that strengthen long-term stability.
This is not the work of one organization.
It is a coordinated community effort.
Veteran service organizations, civic groups, and business leaders continue to stand behind those who once stood for us. Financial institutions with deep military roots, such as Eglin Federal Credit Union, and community funders like United Way Emerald Coast invest in housing stabilization and essential services that support veterans in difficult seasons.
Their partnership reflects a shared understanding.
Honoring veterans includes ensuring they have the resources needed to rebuild when necessary.
Fort Walton Beach does more than remember military history.
It carries it forward.
It honors publicly.
It supports privately.
It stands ready when service members need support in return.
The men and woman who once stood watch for us deserve a community that stands watch for them.
Here, service does not end.
It continues.
