1997 CHS grad assists organizations honoring veterans and military families
Bobby McCormick (center), a 1997 graduate of Coshocton High School, has spent the last six years giving back to veterans through a special group organized by his place of employment in Columbus. McCormick works for Bank of America Practice Solutions and is part of the company’s Military Support & Assistance Group (MSAG). He also does volunteer work with numerous other organizations including the USO. Contributed | Beacon
COSHOCTON – Bobby McCormick, a 1997 graduate of Coshocton High School, has spent the last six years giving back to veterans through a special group organized by his place of employment in Columbus.
McCormick works for Bank of America Practice Solutions and is part of the company’s Military Support & Assistance Group (MSAG).
“I still have the agenda from my first official meeting,” he said. “I unfortunately did not have the opportunity to serve (in the military) due to multiple knee surgeries and could not get the necessary waivers. I couldn’t serve so now I serve.”
McCormick sets up all of the MSAG events for the Practice Solutions office and tries to attend all of them if possible.
“I have done the national calls for MSAG leadership and the leadership forum with a few military officers,” he said. “I would say every volunteer event is a networking opportunity. You never know who you will talk to or what opportunity may come out of the conversation.”
McCormick chose to get involved in MSAG to honor his brother Jason, who is in the U.S. Army, his brother Ryan, who served in the U.S. Army and their brothers in arms.
“I have the utmost respect for the job our military men and women do,” Bobby said. “I have seen the sacrifices they make firsthand and know that the little we do can go a long way. My youngest brother Ryan was a combat engineer and was part of the first responders to the 9/11 attacks at the pentagon. Jason has been 3-7 Cavalry, 82nd Airborne and 10th Mountain Division and is now an ROTC instructor at Purdue. Jason had six or seven tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Bobby believes it is important for businesses to support veterans and military families.
“I am loyal to a fault and believe that they had our back and now we should have theirs,” he said. “People in the military also make great employees, their loyal, hardworking, dedicated and have been taught leadership throughout their careers.”
In addition to Bank of America Practice Solutions MSAG, Bobby also is involved with several other volunteer organizations.
“If I ever win the lottery volunteering will become my new career,” he said. “I’m on the BOACV committee at the office, I have worked with the VA hospital, the All Vets Housing Facility through the National Church Residences. I do a lot of work with the USO and in April we teamed up with the guys from 22Kill for our first ever ‘Run for Heroes’ I was able to meet some amazing people like Jacob Schick who lost his leg in battle. I’ve done Honor Flight, that’s one that will make your eyes water every time. I’ve also volunteered at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club, Saint Vincent’s and a few others.”
He even volunteered during his vacation when he took part in the VA hospital’s Welcome Home at the Zoo, which fed about 2,000 veterans and their families and was with the USO at WCOL’s Red, White and Country.
“We have a social media campaign called Flex for the Forces (#flex4forces) and I took pictures of the concert goers flexing in front of our USO back drop and also worked our tent,” Bobby said. “Then I was given the opportunity through MSAG to help out with the deed transfer for Cpl Jamie Bowshier at Country Concert 17. I actually did the home dedication for him three years ago in Dayton. Then I was with the USO again and helped out with Brady Quinn’s 3rd and Goal Foundation that helps vets in several aspects including helping homeless vets get back on their feet upgrading housing for wounded soldier and their newest endeavor with Notre Dame creating the Warrior-Scholar Project. I would love to try and get involved with an organization called Oscar Mike or the Travis Mills Foundation. Both involve helping wounded vets.”
Bobby is the son of Christa Walsh of Coshocton and Bob McCormick of Florida.
“Someday I hope to have my own nonprofit,” Bobby said. “I even have the names narrowed down to My Brother’s Brothers or DTRT short for Do The Right Thing. Volunteering is an opportunity to help others and in a way they are helping you more than you are helping them.”
Category: People & Places
