OUR MISSION IN FLAGLER
DAV Chapter 86 provides free professional help with VA claims, transportation, volunteer opportunities, and a supportive community.
Our Mission in Flagler.
DAV Chapter 86 provides free professional help with VA claims, transportation, volunteer opportunities, and a supportive community.
DAV 86 at the Veterans Day Parade
Commander Larry Rekart and Senior Vice Commander Mike Gaskill attended the Palm Coast expo to promote the mission of DAV 86 in Flagler County.
NEWS
Commander Larry Rekart and Senior Vice Commander Mike Gaskill attended the Palm Coast expo to promote the mission of DAV 86 in Flagler County.
Services We Provide
Benefits Assistance
Our accredited DAV service officers provide free, professional help with VA claims and appeals. We guide you through paperwork, deadlines, and evidence so you can receive the benefits you’ve earned.
Transportation
Need a ride to a VA clinic or hospital? Our volunteer drivers are here to ensure every veteran can access vital medical care on time, safely and free of charge.
Community Outreach
From food drives to holiday celebrations, DAV Chapter 86 connects veterans and their families with the community. Together we honor service, build friendships, and support those in need
Events
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General Membership Meeting 1/12 10AM
The local Palm Coast Chapter 86 needs your support! Contribute now to help make the mission a reality and our community a better place for disabled veterans.
The Mission? Empower veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Caregiver Resources
VA Caregiver Support Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers specialized services for caregivers of eligible veterans, including coaching, training, peer mentoring, and a 24/7 support line. Caregivers can also access financial stipends, respite care, and other assistance to help them manage the challenges of daily caregiving.
DAV Caregiver Support Program
The DAV Caregiver Support Program provides tailored support and resources to the friends, family members, and loved ones who provide care to veterans, enhancing veterans’ quality of life by filling a critical gap in services.
Transportation
Commander's Blog
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A U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran, Commander Rekart served as a Combat Medic with the 4th Infantry Division and Military Assistance Command (MACV). He and his wife Patricia have called Palm Coast home for 15 years, during which time he has been an active member of the Chapter.
Happy New Year everyone.
I hope your holiday season was peaceful and joyful.
Looking ahead, DAV Chapter 86 has several exciting plans for the new year. Service Officer training will begin on Tuesday, January 6th, with eight of our dedicated volunteer members participating. Appointments with our Service Officers will begin the following week. Anyone interested in meeting with a Service Officer should contact the scheduling department during regular office hours to arrange an appointment.
Within the next few weeks our local Ram Jack provider will begin work to level the building. Ram Jack has generously donated the 10+ Helicoils required to complete the project properly. Each Helicoil costs approximately $2,000, making their contribution truly significant. This time-consuming and technically complex process may result in temporary office closures. Once the building has been fully leveled, we will re-carpet and repaint the affected areas. Thanks to the Executive Committee, the Chapter is in good financial standing and has budgeted for this project.
The Chapter website and Facebook pages continue to grow in both content and followers. Oral, Dan and Bill's IT Service keep our sites updated. We can always use additional help. If you have media-related skills and a few hours available, please stop in and meet with our media team. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Website: www.dav86fl.org and Facebook: Facebook.com/FlaglerCountyDAV86
Please note that we have updated our monthly meeting schedule. The monthly Members Meeting will now be held at the office on the second Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. The Executive Committee Meeting will be held on the first Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. Members with questions or issues relevant to the Chapter are encouraged to bring their concerns to the attention of the Commander or an Executive Committee member so that a meeting with the Executive Committee may be scheduled.
Everyone is welcome to stop in for a visit. Membership is not required to visit or to take advantage of our veteran and veteran family services. Our office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Hutch has the coffee pot ready when the doors open. On Tuesday mornings, Ms. Dee and Chief DuPuy pick up and deliver bread and other goodies from Publix. If I had to recommend a day to visit, Tuesday would be it. Selection and quantities of food vary, so come early.
The annual election process will begin in March. Nominations for all offices may be submitted to the Adjutant either in person or by email at dav86adjutant@gmail.com. The formal election will be held in conjunction with the May monthly meeting, with installation of officers taking place at the June meeting. The term of service corresponds to the Chapter’s fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30.
Regarding building maintenance, those who have visited the office since mid-December have likely noticed the landscaping improvements. Straub’s Lawncare did a remarkable job enhancing the appearance of our grounds. A special thank you to Mike for his excellent work.
Thank you all for your continued support, dedication, and commitment to DAV Chapter 86. We look forward to a productive and rewarding new year together.
Respectfully,
Lawrence E. “Larry” Rekart
Commander
Chaplain's Blog
Chaplain Bio
Chaplain Tom is a Navy veteran and served as an Aviation Electrician with Antisubmarine Warfare Squadron VS-38. During multiple WESTPAC deployments on board the USS Constellation, CV-64, he served as a flight deck troubleshooter for his squadron.
Upon leaving the Navy, Tom spent 40 years in the technology industry holding both engineering and managerial positions. During those 40 years he has also served bi-vocationally in various ministry roles. He is a graduate of DeVry University and Global University, Berean School of the Bible. Prior to retiring, he most recently served as Assistant Pastor at River of Life Church, Doylestown, PA overseeing Pastoral Care.
Words of Wisdom - January 2026
Thoughts for the new year:
During my “A” school in Millington, TN, as I studied Electricity and Electronics our instructor drilled in us the adage - “analyze, detect and correct” as a means to approach a problem. He would say go back to basics - don’t try to correct an electrical problem until you troubleshoot it properly by analyzing and detecting it first. Failure to do so could result in replacing properly functioning equipment and possibly introducing additional faults.
As we embark on this new year and reflect on what went well last year and what didn’t, let’s go back to basics and “analyze, detect and correct.” Often times what we focus our thoughts on dictate what we experience. Purposely focusing our thoughts on what is good and right will yield the type of results we all long for. Isaiah 26:3 says - “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”