Serving in the military is tough, and transitioning to civilian life can be challenging. Frank Iezzi, a former Royal Canadian Air Force member, knows these difficulties firsthand. Since 2017, as president of the Algoma Veterans Association, he has been committed to supporting other veterans in the Sault Ste. Marie area. Iezzi served in the RCAF from 1987 to 2008, including a six-month deployment in Afghanistan in 2002.
After leaving the military, Iezzi struggled to adapt to civilian life in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. His challenges deepened in 2017 when a serious neck injury forced him out of work. At that point, he turned to Veterans Affairs Canada for support and helped establish the Algoma Veterans Association.
The association has about 120 members, including veterans ranging in age from 25 to 70, as well as their spouses and friends. It is run by a board of 10, most of whom are veterans. Their activities include coffee meetups, occasional breakfasts, and peer support sessions, all following their motto: “Veterans helping Veterans.” Over the past seven years, the group has raised more than $40,000 through fundraisers, providing essential funds for their work.
The Algoma Veterans Association uses these funds to help veterans with a variety of needs, including assisting with paperwork and, when possible, helping with rent payments. They also support local charities such as Pauline’s Place, St. Vincent Place, and the Soup Kitchen, assisting veterans involved with those organizations whenever they can.
One of the key fundraisers organized by Iezzi and the Algoma Veterans Association is the annual Red Friday Golf Tournament. The 14th tournament was held on July 19 at Crimson Ridge Golf Course, marking the second year that the Algoma Veterans Association hosted the event. Previously, it was run by the Military Family Support Group. This year, they raised nearly $18,000—the highest amount in the tournament’s history—thanks to 34 sponsors and 141 golfers, an increase from 91 participants the previous year.
Source: SooToday
