As the "Friends" of the Fisher House Puget Sound Board of Directors, we appreciate the trust our stakeholders have placed in us. Our all-volunteer Board is humbled by the opportunity to advance the generous intentions of our donors. We will continue to act as prudent stewards of your gifts with transparency, integrity, and heart! Your 100% tax-deductible donations are meaningful in supporting military families during times of medical emergency. We appreciate your support!"
Friends of Fisher House Puget Sound Board & Advisory Members 2024
Rocco Bagala, President ~ As an Army Veteran, Rocco has always valued the Fisher House's mission. During his career as a social work leader in the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, he became actively involved with the development of the Fisher House policies as well as extensive involvement in social work leadership at the National Fisher House network and on the local level. Rocco's experience working with Veterans and their families has allowed him to develop a variety of skills and expertise in the field of social work. He is excited to be on the Board of Directors, bringing his knowledge of military culture along with his insight of the needs of military families to the board. Rocco looks forward to continuing to serve Veterans and their families in his role as President. John Park, Treasurer ~ John has worked the last 29 years at the Seattle VA Medical Center/Puget Sound Health Care system in roles that allowed him to have an impact on operations and services for Veterans. As someone who has dedicated his life working for Veterans and their families, John finds it extremely rewarding and satisfying. Serving as a Director for the Friends, has allowed him to continue to make positive contributions to Veterans and their families during difficult times in their lives. John looks forward to helping ensure continued support for house guests in the future. Joel Wirasnik, Secretary ~ Joel has a life-long commitment to serve Veterans. His recent retirement following 38 years of service with the Department of Veterans Affairs, lead him to serve on the board of Friends of Fisher House Puget Sound. It continues to be his mission to faithfully serve the men, women, and families that diligently share their time, talents, and lives to protect our freedom. As a participating member of the Board of Directors, he works to provide housing and comfort for military families impacted by illness and injury.
Gail Eck, Director ~ Right out of college, with a business degree in hand, Gail accepted a position in management with the VA. Little did she know that her entire career would be spent serving in seven different VA health care systems across the country. It was the VA's mission of caring for those who gave so much in support of our nation and other nations around the world that Gail couldn't leave. Having a son who served as a Marine in Iraq brought the importance of that mission home in a personal way. After retirement, her involvement as a Board Member of the Friends of Fisher House Puget Sound Board has allowed her to continue to provide support for Veterans, active-duty military, and their families.
Alan Myers, Director ~ Alan began his journey in the Marine Corps in 1968. Earning his Naval Aviator wings as a Fixed Wing Aviator in 1970, Alan flew reconnaissance aircraft and served in various staff positions including: Operations, Intelligence, Maintenance, and Supply. Alan possesses a unique skill set, being one of a few individuals who have been certified in the military on both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. During his time in the States, Alan was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point in North Carolina and served overseas, based at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. In 1973, Alan completed his active duty with the Marine Corps and transitioned to a career with Eastman Kodak as part of their Digital Imaging sales and support team. He maintained a customer base, providing services to the U.S. Military, NASA, and Law Enforcement. In 1981 Alan joined the Indiana Army National Guard and over the next 21 years served in the Guard in Utah and Washington until his retirement in 2002. Following retirement, always a heart for service to others, Alan helped found the Seattle Chapter of "Stand up for Kids," a non-profit mentorship program focused on supporting homeless teens. Now, we are grateful to have Alan as a part of the Friends of Fisher House Puget Sound team. With his passion for supporting active Military, Veterans, families, and caregivers during times of medical need and a wealth of experience, Alan will undoubtedly play a crucial role in fulfilling our mission.
Read About Alan on the Northwest Justice Project 1-21-2025 The Justice Project https://nwjustice.org/home Credit for onnline story about Alan Myers below go to Northwest Justice Project Alan: A Military Aviator’s Fight for Rights January 21, 2025 I come from a long line of military pilots, so when I graduated from Indiana University in 1968 with the Vietnam War still going on, I decided to enter the Marine Corps. After earning my commission, I headed to Pensacola, Florida for basic flight training. I was fortunate enough to make it into the jet pipeline. By April 1970, I achieved my wings.
From Military Family to Marine Corps Pilot I was assigned to fly the EA-6A, a reconnaissance aircraft that was the forerunner of today's F-18 Growler. Although I was sure I'd be deployed to Vietnam, my unit was just pulling out of the country. Instead, I flew numerous missions throughout Southeast Asia. Those flights would later prove to have lasting consequences on my health. The EA-6A was essentially like flying inside a microwave. We carried ALQ pods that emitted tremendous amounts of radiation to jam enemy radar, but we had no protection in the cockpit. To make matters worse, the glass canopy covering the cockpit exposed us to intense UV radiation from the sun. This was particularly concerning because it was during a period of high solar activity. I served in the Marine Corps until October 1973, then went to work for Eastman Kodak. But in 1981, the call of military service drew me back. I joined the Army National Guard in Indiana, transitioning to rotary wing helicopters. My service took me from Shelbyville to Salt Lake City and finally to Washington state, where I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in January 2002, ending a combined 25-year career as a military pilot.
The Hidden Costs of Flying The physical toll of my service wouldn't become fully apparent until years later. In the early 2000s, I started having vision problems. During an online search, I began connecting the dots between my time in the EA6A's microwave-like cockpit and my condition. I was diagnosed with an iris melanoma at Virginia Mason Clinic - a rare form of cancer that eventually cost me the sight in my right eye. My body bore other scars from my service too. During training at a rocket range in Texas, I suffered a spinal compression fracture while firing rockets on a range from pulling “G”’s exiting the target. Twenty-five years around jet engines had also left me with significant hearing loss. In November 2015, I applied for VA benefits in Seattle but was wrongly told I didn't qualify because I hadn't served in Vietnam and my income was too high - even though I was retired and making very little money at the time. It wasn't until a chance visit to a VA facility in South Dakota about five years ago that someone finally pointed me toward Northwest Justice Project (NJP).
Finding Help I was hesitant at first - I didn't know what NJP was or what they represented. But when I met Jen Budinick, a former Marine Corps sergeant turned lawyer, everything changed. NJP took my case and showed that the initial VA rejection was wrong - you don't need to have served in Vietnam to be eligible for benefits. NJP argued to the VA that my melanoma and partial blindness were connected to my military service - all those hours of UV exposure in the cockpit. They included my back injury and hearing loss. Thanks to their advocacy, I received a 50% disability rating. That rating also meant I could receive both my military retirement and VA disability pay, instead of having to choose between them. Without NJP's expertise, I doubt I would have received either benefit.
Giving Back The support from NJP changed my life in ways I hadn't expected. Today, I serve as a director on the board of Friends of Fisher House Puget Sound, helping to raise funds and awareness to support active-duty Military and Veteran families staying at our four Fisher Houses located here in Washington State. We provide “home away from home” accommodations for these deserving families while they are caring for their loved one needing emergency treatment at a military medical facility. It's my way of giving back. I continue to be moved by the dedication of NJP staff. These are people with law degrees who could be making much more money in private practice, but they choose to serve veterans and others needing legal representation instead. They remind me of what draws many people to military service - that sense of duty to God and country, that dedication to serving humanity. I couldn't even take them out to lunch to say thank you - they wouldn't accept it. That's just the kind of organization they are. If there's one thing I want other veterans to know, it's this: give NJP a call, without a doubt. If I had known about them earlier, I probably would have been receiving VA benefits since 2015. I couldn't have done it on my own. Without their help, nothing would have happened.
How to get legal help: If you are a veteran with low-income or a family member living outside King County and need legal assistance with VA benefits or housing, you can contact NJP's CLEAR toll-free legal hotline at 1-888-201-1014 weekdays between 9:15 am - 12:15 pm. If you are a veteran or a family member living in King County and you need legal assistance, you can contact King County Veterans Program to schedule an appointment with an attorney by calling 206-263-VETS (8387).
Viviana Davis ~ Viviana has a diverse background, having been born in Lima, Peru, before being raised in Kirkland, Washington. Her bilingualism is a notable trait, as she is fluent in both English and Spanish. Viviana is a family-oriented person, married to Master Sergeant Justin Davis, sharing their lives with three children, and an Old English Bulldog named Roxy. Viviana's commitment to education led her to the University of Phoenix, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. In her professional life, Viviana holds a full-time position at PepsiCo, where she serves as a Merchandiser Manager. Outside of her career, she finds joy in a range of activities. Viviana is an enthusiastic traveler, often exploring new destinations with her family. Volunteering is another significant part of her life; she began contributing her time and effort to the JBLM Fisher House in July 2023. In addition, she maintains an active lifestyle by engaging in running and hiking. Looking ahead, Viviana aspires to establish a permanent home for her family in Washington once her husband, Master Sergeant Justin Davis, retires.
Melanie SImmons ~ Melanie has and continues to faithfully and diligently served active Military and retired Veterans at the Seattle VA for over 25 years. Melanie shares, "I have a deep affection for our heroes, those we serve." A former member of Friends of Fisher House Puget Sound for 6 years, I am excited to be a part of all that is happening today! I participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Marianne Marks Garden as a memorial to my mother. I am honored to be a member of the Advisory Support team for Friends. I enjoy spending time with the families during mealtime, providing support and listening to their stories. The time together is healing.”
Friends of Fisher House Puget Sound ~ we keep families together because a family's love is good medicine!
Friends of Fisher House Puget Sound PO Box 18253 Seattle, WA 98118 206-501-8860 [email protected]
