The Navy Desert Storm/Desert Shield veteran spent nearly 20 years in the military. “I accepted an early retirement offer in 1996 when President Clinton downsized the military.” It was an easy decision for the married man with three young teens at home and a shore-to-sea-to-shore Navy rotation.
Esse enlisted in the Navy in 1979. “A buddy of mine said, let’s go jump out of airplanes and throw hand grenades and I said okay! We went to enlist in the Army, but somehow both ended up in the Navy,” Jon said looking back at the memory with humor.
Although this was only a few years following the Vietnam War, Jon didn’t experience any negativity during his service.
Esse spent his career working as an electrician on amphibious ships. He spent all of his sea duty in Norfolk, Virginia with shore duty time at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida and the Pentagon’s Navy Annex in Washington, D.C. In total, he served on three ships.
After his service, he continued to work for the Navy as a civilian for one of the “Beltway Bandits” – private companies that contract with the government.
In 2012, he and his wife moved to the South Wales community in Culpeper County. In the spring of 2022, Jon’s wife Lynnette, a local freelance writer, wrote about a veteran who was part of the local nonprofit Hero’s Bridge. “I am her first proofreader for articles and after reading this piece, I signed up to volunteer with this organization,” said Jon.
Before the ink was dry on the paper, Jon had contacted Hero’s Bridge and been through the volunteer orientation program.
Hero’s Bridge offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities that give volunteers flexibility to do what they can when they can. “I never felt overwhelmed at being overcommitted to Hero’s Bridge,” said Jon.
His first volunteer opportunity was becoming a Battle Buddy with John Victor, the veteran Lynnette had written about. “Every time I visit with John he tells me about all the people who care about him, and it’s true,” said Jon.
According to Jon, Hero’s Bridge has organically created a familial culture. “Once you walk in the door, you realize you have become a part of something very special. You have become part of a family.”
Today, Jon is still one of John Victor’s Battle Buddies (he has quite a few) and he also is one of the organization’s van drivers. Each month, Jon helps transport veterans, volunteers, and staff to excursions intended to help combat isolation and keep elderly veterans socializing. They visit such places as military museums, horse farms, iron forges, walks through historic Old Towns, and many others. Each excursion includes a festive lunch at a local eatery.
While Jon is technically retired from both the military and his career as a civilian, his service hasn’t ended. It has simply morphed into a new type of service; caring for elderly veterans and encouraging others to do the same.
“My neighbor is a second-grade teacher in Culpeper. She was looking for someplace for her students to send cards. I quickly recommended Hero’s Bridge and made the connection. It is such an easy way to demonstrate respect for veterans, seniors in general, and even wider than that, respect for other members of the community.”
Jon’s message to potential Hero’s Bridge volunteers is that you can do as much or as little with the organization as your time permits but be careful because you will fall in love with these people.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit www.herosbridge.org/volunteer. Or email volunteer@herosbridge.org.