Military veterans have a special place in the hearts of Dave and Debbie Metz.

A new fund at the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge seeks to honor that commitment. The Metz-Tiderman Fund for Veterans aims to improve the quality of life of local veterans.

“I’ve been wanting to do something to honor my parents,” Debbie said. “The military was so important and pivotal in their lives. I thought this is the perfect way to honor them.” The Metzes worked closely with Community Foundation CEO Dan Layman to establish the fund. “Our veterans have served us with honor,” Layman said, “so it is particularly meaningful that we have this opportunity to honor and support them through this new fund established by Dave and Debbie Metz.”

There are four generations of Naval officers in the Metz family. It started with Debbie’s maternal grandfather, Oscar Loyer, who was a supply officer. Her father, Otto Darby “Darb” Tiderman, was a Navy captain. “For my father, it was his career,” Debbie said. “The military gave him a wonderful education. It allowed him to live all over the world, which was kind of unusual back in the 50’s and 60’s to have that kind of travel opportunity. They have lifelong friends from the military, and it was their whole lives. We wanted to think of a way to honor them. I thought this was pretty appropriate.”

Dave was a lieutenant in the Navy. He did three years active service, and an additional three years in the Navy reserves. “I signed up for ROTC and got my commission after graduation (from Purdue University),” Dave said. “Four days after graduation, I had to be in Charleston, South Carolina. I served on several aircraft carriers, and as a communications officer. “I think the biggest thing that it did looking back on it now is that it matured me. If you had to be on watch at 4:00 a.m. in the morning, you’ll be on watch at 4:00 a.m. in the morning. That’s just the way it was. There wasn’t any discussion about it.”

Dave and Debbie’s daughter, Laura, and her husband, were also Naval officers. With so many personal ties and experiences with the military, it’s given the Metz family a special interest in things that directly impact military veterans. “From what I understand,” Debbie said, “two of the biggest problems are the lack of camaraderie and the lack of sense of purpose.”

The Metz-Tiderman Fund for Veterans will provide funding to nonprofit organizations that improve the quality of life for veterans. One such nonprofit is Salute of Virginia, an organization in Waynesboro. Organized in 2023 and incorporated in early 2024, Salute of Virginia provides a community center for veterans. “It’s a place for them to call home,” said Leah Hale, founder of Salute of Virginia. “It’s a place for them to meet like-minded people and have that camaraderie. Salute is also a resource hub. It happened really fast, but what it took was a group of veterans to say, ‘This is what we want. This is what we need.’”

Among its many services, Salute of Virginia offers veterans a weekly brunch on Friday mornings. This is time for them to be together that they can look forward to each week.

The Metzes are thrilled about helping to fund organizations like Salute of Virginia and partnering with the Community Foundation.

“This has been a dream of ours for a long time to have a family fund,” Debbie said. “I just can’t say enough about how Dan has guided us through all of this. It’s been a really great experience.”

Donations to the Metz-Tiderman Fund for Veterans can be made to the Community Foundation by check (P.O. Box 815, Staunton, VA 24402) or online donation (www.cfcbr.org).