Latest news with #DavidVargas
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bay Area veteran helps fellow vets get what they need while highlighting their stories
The Brief David Vargas, along with the local Chamber of Commerce president, created the Pinellas County Veterans Association in 2024. He also published a book titled "The Veterans Voices: Stories of Hometown Heroes." The first-ever Palm Harbor Hero Fest is set for this Saturday, May 17. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - In a county rich with military history, Air Force veteran David Vargas noticed something missing: a clear, efficient way for veterans to get the help they need. The backstory "I was noticing that there was a gap, there was a hole of efficient transfer of information for veterans," Vargas said. That gap led Vargas, along with the local Chamber of Commerce president, to create the Pinellas County Veterans Association in 2024. Now, with over 40 partner organizations and agencies, the group is making real progress in cutting red tape. "We just route that veteran, whatever his issue is, to that associated organization that can help them out a lot faster, a lot better," said Vargas, who serves as the association's president. Vargas didn't stop there. He wanted to highlight the stories behind the uniforms, leading to the creation of a powerful new book. "This book that we created was a compilation of local stories of your veterans, of not what they did so much in the military, but more so who they are, where they're from, why did they choose the military?" said Vargas. "Why did they choose their branch?" "The Veterans Voices: Stories of Hometown Heroes" features 40 veterans from across Pinellas County; some still giving back, others with stories dating all the way back to World War II. Among the stories: 104-year-old WWII veteran Murray Zolker, a survivor of Auschwitz, and countless others whose quiet service continues off the battlefield. "The honor, the respect that these gentlemen paved the path for us to never forget that we stand on the shoulders of giants," said Vargas. "The ones that came before us paid a hefty price." The book is available in local libraries and includes a QR code linking to additional resources for veterans and their families. "If someday somebody wants to listen to their peepa 20 years from now, they can go back and look and listen to their actual live interview that they've had and so the libraries around here love it," Vargas said. What's next Palm Harbor Hero Fest is set for this Saturday, honoring hometown heroes. For more information about the book, click here. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13 photojournalist Bryan Gray. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
Oklahoma man killed after his vehicle is hit by train in southwest Kansas
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A 35-year-old Hooker, Oklahoma man was killed when his SUV was hit by a train. It happened Friday around 4:30 p.m. in Kismet. The Kansas Highway Patrol says a Chevy Suburban was southbound on Main Street. The KHP report says the driver drove around a crossing arm and was struck by an eastbound train. The driver, David Vargas, was pronounced dead. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
