A new fund at the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge seeks to honor the commitment of veterans.
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. The military was so important and pivotal in their lives. I thought this is the perfect way to honor them,” said Debbie Metz.
Dave and Debbie Metz worked closely with Community Foundation CEO Dan Layman to establish the fund.
“Our veterans have served us with honor, 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,” Layman said.
Four generations of the Metz family have served in the U.S. Navy, starting 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. The military gave him a wonderful education. It allowed him to live all over the world, which was kind of unusual back in the 50s and 60s 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,” Debbie Metz said.
Dave was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. He served three years in active duty and an additional three years in the Navy reserves.
“I signed up for ROTC and got my commission after graduation (from Purdue University). Four days after graduation, I had to be in Charleston, South Carolina. I served on several aircraft carriers, and as a communications officer,” Dave Metz said.
According to Dave Metz, serving in the U.S. Navy encouraged him to mature as an individual.
“If you had to be on watch at 4 a.m. in the morning, you’ll be on watch at 4 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, the Metz family has a special interest in what directly impacts military veterans.
“From what I understand, two of the biggest problems are the lack of camaraderie and the lack of sense of purpose,” Debbie Metz said.
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 that the Metzes toured with Layman.
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. 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,’” Salute of Virginia Founder Leah Hale said.
Among its many services, Salute of Virginia offers veterans a weekly brunch on Friday mornings, which provides a time 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. I just can’t say enough about how Dan has guided us through all of this. It’s been a really great experience,” Debbie Metz said.
Donations to the Metz-Tiderman Fund for Veterans are welcome by writing a check to the Community Foundation, P.O. Box 815, Staunton, VA 24401 or by making a donation online.
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Rebecca Barnabi
