We help Sacramento County veterans and their families gain access to free services and programs for disabilities as well as provide a safe place for them to gather, enjoy a meal, and share their stories. James Rounsavell or “Jim” as he likes to be called served six years total in US Army Air Corps and US Air Force and is a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. In 1952, Jim was involved in a
terrible accident while on active duty that cause a significant back injury that he would have to deal with for the rest of this life. For over 60 years after he was originally denied his veteran’s benefits, Jim has devoted his life to helping disable veterans navigate the challenging Veteran’s Affairs (VA) system and has been a loud voice for change in the community. Unfortunately the same challenges we face today regarding receiving veteran’s benefits are the same problems veterans have faced for decades. In his short 84 years, Jim has not only been activity advocating for disabled veterans but he has taken on a number of community organizing responsibilities including running for Oregon State Senate in 1966. One of the highlights of Jim’s community activities however, started in 1988 when he and his wife Jeanne founded the Veterans Golf Park for Disabled Vets in Citrus Heights, a 501(c)3 California non-profit corporation. Jim is a lifelong golfer and began to realize that golf could help provide a positive thought path to counteract the negative mental process that is plaguing veterans suffering from with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). PTSD and TBI are two very degrading but all too common syndromes that affect our veterans. Many of these veterans face challenges in readjusting to their physical and emotional conditions. As a result, many have broken marriages, lost homes, lost jobs and have lost touch with family and friends. These are the veterans among us that need the most help. Veterans Golf Park is only just one of those tools that can make a difference. Today Jim and Jeanne continue to advocate for veterans and in May 2013 proudly announced the opening of the Veteran’s Community Center in Citrus Heights. With the help of Congressmen Ami Bera’s Office and many more, Jim and Jeanne are working on fixing up the historical Old Sylvan School and their goal is to provide a free and safe place for veteran’s to go to seek services and help. Although Jim and Jeanne demonstrate incredible vision and perseverance they can not do it all themselves. They invite veteran’s organizations, and other community organizations in the Greater Sacramento Area to contact them and come out to visit the Veteran’s Community Center to learn more about how they can help disabled veteran’s get back on their feet.
