Bentley Veterans Association

In 2021, Oscar Roche, a veteran and the Security and Safety Manager at Vi at Bentley Village at the time (now retired), started “coffee with veterans” to provide residents an opportunity to gather once a month to exchange stories and bond over shared experiences.

While the camaraderie the small group fostered was meaningful, Oscar and the attendees began to aim higher: they wanted to create a larger association with well-rounded programming that would not only build friendship among members but also educate the public and advocate for veteran programs and resources.

Through word-of-mouth marketing and community support, the Bentley Veterans Association (BVA) – which, since Oscar’s retirement from Vi, is now entirely run by its members – has grown to include almost 100 residents, significantly expanded their activities and events, and become a lively, inclusive, and meaningful group for veterans at Vi at Bentley Village.

Resident Bob Griffith, president of the BVA, is responsible for much of the group’s exponential growth. To spread the word and invite new members, he worked with the Vi at Bentley Village staff to identify residents who are veterans and then wrote a letter expressing that no matter when, where, or how long they were in the service, they would be warmly welcomed by the group.

“We’re now the community’s third largest organization,” said Bob. “It’s very gratifying.”

And it’s not just residents who have found connection through the association. Scott Kaufmann, Asst. Director of Dining Services at Vi at Bentley Village (and a veteran himself), started attending meetings to help with technology needs and now also coordinates event planning and refreshment set-up.

“It's rewarding for me, as someone who was in the service,” said Scott. “My time was so much different compared to theirs.”

Every meeting presents residents with the opportunity to talk about their service and share how being a veteran impacts their lives.

“One of the benefits I get out of the group is getting to know people who served,” said member Bob Fisher. “Getting to know what branch they were in and what their experience was like is very interesting.”

As the group has grown, programming has expanded beyond monthly meetings. The association now organizes guest speakers, boating and fishing trips through the Freedom Waters Foundation, tailgating parties for the annual Army/Navy football game, outings to local museums, and group participation in Fourth of July and Memorial Day parades.

One of the association's most significant efforts is supporting members who wish to experience an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. During meetings, a dedicated Honor Flight Coordinator assists with member registration and trip logistics. To date, the association has sent over two dozen members to the nation’s capital to see and experience the memorials honoring their service.

Association member Shirley Hagerson was one of the first Vi at Bentley Village residents to attend an Honor Flight and was able to visit Arlington National Cemetery along with several monuments, including the Vietnam Women’s Memorial.

“It was wonderful,” said Shirley. “Then we came back, arriving in Naples and about 400 people were there waiting for us to come off the plane.”

The association is already looking to the future and has a range of opportunities for members planned through the end of the year and beyond. In addition to their upcoming Honor Flight in September, they are also looking forward to participating in next year’s Naples St. Patrick’s Day parade – a first for the group.