National Guard Veteran Carl “Jeff” Jefferson Lay began serving his country after high school in 1989, serving through the Gulf War through Operation Enduring Freedom, both as active duty, National Guard, and back to retiring from active duty. Due to combat issues, he was retired with 100% disability, but was still blessed to come out of is time in the service with all of his limbs, eyesight and hearing. Being in the military during this time frame was cause for years left not being able to watch his children grow up first hand, and as many veterans have before and after, missing many family events and holidays. In hindsight, after always putting the Army first, he has learned that time in the Army ends, but if you are blessed, your family is still there waiting.
Although struggling with health problems that be come more to handle with each passing year, Jeff has found a way to fill a void left by the military. He serves as CSM with the U.S. Veteran Reserve Corps here in Florida, whose primary mission is to utilize the years of service, leadership, skill, talent, and expertise gathered from our veteran core to stand ready to provide competent, supplemental, professional, and technical support to our communities for readiness and response during times of disaster or emergency. Jeff is also prior Commander of the American Legion Post 467 in Saginaw, TX.
Sent in by Wendy Lay