 This visit by Melissa Jarboe, Founder of the Military Veteran Project was about more than stepping into a classroom. It was about opening a conversation that doesn’t happen often enough. When I sat down with these students, we talked about military service, what it means to serve, and what happens after. We talked about transition, identity, and the realities many veterans and their families face once the uniform comes off.
What stood out immediately was how many of these students were already connected to that story. Several had parents, siblings, or close family members who served. Some had seen the impact firsthand, both the pride and the challenges. Others were hearing these perspectives for the first time and wanted to understand more. And they asked real questions. Not surface-level questions but thoughtful, direct ones about mental health, about support, about why some veterans struggle and what can actually be done to help. That kind of curiosity matters. Because awareness doesn’t start in a crisis, it starts in moments like this. It starts when young people begin to understand the weight of service, the importance of community, and the role they can play in looking out for others. It starts when we give them the language and confidence to recognize when something isn’t right and the understanding that it’s okay to step in or speak up. This is how stronger communities are built. Over the years, the Military Veteran Project has worked to create these kinds of connections not just with veterans, but with the communities around them. Because support doesn’t live in one place. It lives in relationships, in awareness, and in people who are willing to show up for each other. Moments like this are part of that foundation. They represent early prevention. They represent education. They represent a shift toward communities that are more informed, more aware, and more prepared. As we continue focusing our efforts here in Kansas, engaging schools and youth will remain a key part of the mission. Because when the next generation understands, the entire community becomes stronger. And that’s how we move forward together. Because behind every number is a name.
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 The Military Veteran Project (MVP) is aware of the recent legislation under consideration in Kansas that would allow for-profit companies to charge veterans for assistance in accessing their earned VA benefits.
We want to be clear: Veterans should never feel they have to pay for help to access the benefits they earned through service to this country. For decades, accredited Veteran Service Organizations, county representatives, and the Department of Veterans Affairs have provided free, qualified assistance to veterans and their families. These services exist to ensure that no veteran is left navigating complex systems alone—and without financial burden. While we respect efforts to expand access and improve navigation of the system, we are deeply concerned about the potential for confusion this legislation may create. When free services and paid services exist side by side, veterans may not always know the difference—and that uncertainty can come at a cost. At MVP, our mission is rooted in prevention through education, connection, and community impact. That includes ensuring veterans and their families have clear, accurate information about the resources available to them. We remain committed to:
And every veteran deserves access to care and support without barriers. We encourage all veterans, families, and community partners to seek out accredited, no-cost assistance when navigating VA benefits and to ask questions before entering into any paid agreements. We believe Kansas can lead the nation in protecting veterans not by creating new costs, but by strengthening awareness, access, and trust in the systems already in place to serve them. If you need help or don’t know where to start, MVP is here to walk with you. |
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SERVING OUR MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 2012
The Military Veteran Project is a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization, IRS identification number 46-0877378. Donations made to the Military Veteran Project are tax deductible in the U.S. ·