Honoring a Vietnam War Veteran

A VFW Post in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Bowie, Maryland, donated $2,400 to a veterans’ home in Charlotte Hall, Maryland, on Jan. 25.

VFW Post 8065 made the donation and presented a plaque to the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. The contribution was given in honor of Robert “Bob” Gload, a Vietnam War veteran and Air Force pilot who died on Feb. 23, 2020.

Gload was a former commander (1987-88) and Buddy Poppy chairman (2009-20) of the Post 8065. The Quartermaster of the Post, Paul Connolly, said Gload was responsible for raising thousands of dollars through the Post’s Buddy Poppy program.

Post 8065 Commander Megan Bogley, a retired Army veteran, said Gload was known for sitting outside of a local Wal-Mart for hours collecting donations.

“He would sit there for 8 to 10 hours a day during the drives,” Bogley said. “He did it so we could help veterans. He was big on making sure the funds were used to take care of veterans.”

Bogley said the Post wanted to donate last year but the pandemic halted the plan. After working with the veterans’ home and Gload’s family, a presentation was set for Jan. 25.

“We didn’t realize until the presentation that it was the day before Bob and his wife’s (Karla Flores Gload) wedding anniversary,” Bogley said. “His whole family was so appreciative.

The idea to donate to the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home came from a past Post commander, according to Bogley. The $2,400 donated went toward purchasing new TVs for the home.

“We thought there was no better way to honor Bob than to help veterans on his behalf,” Bogley said.