County Executive John R. Leopold has picked the 13 people he wants to serve on Anne Arundel's first Veterans Affairs Commission.

"We have to start looking at the people at the local level and seeing what we think we can do to help what has fallen through the cracks," said Kenneth L. McCall, Sr., who was nominated last week to serve as the commission's chairman. "I don't want the impetus to be all on the federal government or at the state level."

The new commission makes Anne Arundel only the third county in the state with a formal panel of veterans to help shape local politics. The 13-member commission that is appointed by the county executive and must be confirmed by the County Council is designed to serve as an advocacy group, think-tank and sounding board for the county administration.

"Anne Arundel County is taking a leadership role in that regard," said Cathy Watts, an outreach and advocacy worker with the Maryland Veterans Commission. "The counties' veterans commissions are really starting to come into their own."

Prince George's and Harford counties both have similar commissions. Anne Arundel followed suit at the urging of County Councilman Ed Middlebrooks.

Mr. Middlebrooks, R-Severn, said he first pushed through the commission last winter, but the composition of the board needed to be tweaked before it could move forward. Under the new county administration, the board was changed and Mr. Leopold announced the first appointments on Friday.

"All 13 are leaders, in one way or another, in their communities," Mr. Leopold said. "I've known these folks for years through my efforts with other veterans affairs initiatives."

Mr. Leopold encountered several of the 13 panel members during his years as a delegate, including David Boschert, former chair of the Anne Arundel County delegation who ran against Mr. Leopold in the Republican primary for county executive last year.

Although about 55,000 veterans - about 12 percent of the state's veterans - already live in the county, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are expected to send home more each year.

"We still have a lot of veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, etc.," Mr. McCall said. "Some of their needs are not being met."

Mr. McCall, who already serves on the statewide veterans commission, said the county's commission gives a much needed voice to the aging veterans and the new people arriving each day.

"Some of these people leave the military and don't have an idea what's out there for them," Mr. McCall said. "We will be able to be a bridge."

The county's veterans commission will meet at least quarterly. Mr. McCall said the details of their work will be determined by the commissioners once their appointments are final, but he hopes the many veterans in the county can help them understand which programs work well, and which do not.

"I'm working at making this not a ceremonial type of thing, but an operational commission," Mr. McCall said.
 

Commission

Chairman: Kenneth L. McCall, Sr. - sergeant major, Army, retired.

John Spencer - captain, Air Force.

Gary Cagle - president of DCI Medical Systems Inc., combat medical officer in the Army special forces.

Richard Heath - Army Medical Corp, director of student financial service and veterans' affairs at Anne Arundel Community College.

Pam Scarbro - lieutenant, Navy and charter member of Women in Military Service for America.

Grant E. Acker - chief warrant officer, Army commander.

Richard Barns - captain, Army, retired.

David George Boschert - Marine Corps Reserve captain.

Alfred M. Shehab - lieutenant colonel, Army, retired.

Maudella Smith - Army.

Charles E. Thomann - colonel, Army, retired.

Robert L. Wright, 1st class petty officer, Navy.

Ronald Kitchen, Navy.