By Beth Koostra
FORT PAYNE- Regent Beth Koostra of the Phillip Hamman chapter, NSDAR, announced plans for their fifth annual National Defense Luncheon. National Defense and veterans are two of the main focuses of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This annual function combines both and is open to the public.
This year’s speaker with be Retired CMSgt Eric Dudash, a well-known and highly respected citizen of DeKalb County. Retired Chief Master Sergeant Dudash recently retired from the United States Air Force. He completed over thrity years of service. He was deployed seventeen times and completed 167 temporary duty assignments. He served in Desert Shield and Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was also engaged in hostage rescue and drug interdiction.
He has been very active in local events since moving to Mentone, AL, with his wife and three children. He is a Life/Bronze Legacy VFW member and serves as the Department of Alabama Senior Vice Commander. He is also a member of the DeKalb County VFW Post 3128. He was honored with the 2022 Spirit of the Eagle Award from the Boy Scouts of America/Alabama, one of the Top Community Leaders of DeKalb County 2022, the Liberty’s Learning Foundation 2022 Super Citizen Award in addition to being named the 2022 Veteran of the Year by Governor Kay Ivey.
Dudash serves on the Patriot Park Board and the Board of Warrior Freedom Service Dogs program. It was through this service dog program that Eric first met “Phantom,” his service dog. Together, they serve veterans receiving hospice care and those suffering from TBI and PTSD.
Phantom was born in 2019 and was donated to the Warrior Freedom Dogs organization in Flintstone, GA. By the time he was six weeks old, he had already passed the 24-page initial evaluation test. Eric siad that Phantom chose him, and they worked together for nine months. Phantom holds four certifications and provides nine service tasks. Phantom and Eric visit classrooms and travel to help struggling veterans. Phantom enjoys time with the family at the farm when they are not traveling.
Any profits realized from the luncheon will be donated to the Warrior Freedom Service Dogs organization. The public is invited, but reservations are required. Contact Beth Koostrat at 256-465-5006 for tickets and further information. The luncheon will be on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Santa Fe in Fort Payne.