The Rev. Ginger Bennett, Associate Rector of St. Andrew’s, Shippensburg, has worked with military veterans for many years, serving in a variety of chaplaincy roles including at the Lebanon VA Medical Center; Civil Air Patrol’s Gettysburg Squadron; and as an Air Force Reserve Chaplain stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. She herself served in the United States Air Force active duty from 1997 to 2003 and then joined the Air Force Reserves in 2023. Now she is reaching out to other service members and veterans in the new Episcopal Diocese of the Susquehanna to offer networking and support.
“We are stronger together than we are separately,” says Mother Ginger. “Service members and veterans experience this first-hand as we commit our lives in service to our country. While we are in the service, we find support in each other, but when we return to civilian life, we often do not have the same support networks built into our lives.”
She notes that while many veterans join organizations such as AMVETS, the VFW, or the American Legion as a way to connect with other veterans and their families, those organizations often do not offer spiritual resources or provide an opportunity for veterans to connect around their faith. Toward that end, Mother Ginger is looking to identify military members and veterans who might be interested in a diocesan-wide network and ministry.
She is asking current military, veterans, as well as those in the process of enlisting to complete this form if they are interested in connecting with fellow veterans and service members. Please email the Rev. Ginger Bennett or call her at (717) 601-9749 with any questions.