You have all heard the right stuff when talking about Jim Chancellor. His Purple Heart, and Heroism medal, his tour in Vietnam as a door-gunner, his high-energy, dedication, passion and commitment to all veterans is well documented. But now we want to share with you the "good stuff" about Jim and how he has constantly given back...time and time again.

Jim began giving his time freely when he returned from Vietnam. He coached Pop Warner football in the 70's. He has been involved with Special Olympics for the last 10 years. The last 8 years he has also found time to coach at Lowell High School as the assistant varsity softball coach. He has taken the softball team to a local old folks home for a pizza party and dance. Chancellor and the team work with some less fortunate families in the area, delivering food baskets and gifts during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. He also took the softball team to the Adam Benjamin Outpatient Clinic in Merrillville, Indiana to give out Christmas gifts to our veterans. Jim says, "Coaching is giving them something to take with them into life...not just about teaching them how to play softball."

Everyone at the American Veterans Collection is involved with the community. Regina Esenberg, the Executive Director, ran the 26.2 mile marathon in Lake Tahoe last year to raise money for Matt Dunn and Opportunity Enterprises. OE does great things with people who have disabilities. Their motto is "We are in the business of amazing people" and they do. She is now in training to run in this years Chicago marathon for Matt, and all the dedicated people at Opportunity Enterprises. If you would like to sponsor Ms. Esenberg in the run, or make a donation to either OE or Lake County Open Special Olympics please contact her at regina@patriotcollection.com.

Jim's true passion in life is to educate people on the effects war has on its veterans. It started back when Chancellor first returned home from Vietnam. He felt this need to tell people about war. Unfortunately the war wasn't the most popular thing to talk about, and it often fell on deaf ears. He then went to the veterans, but quickly realize he was "singing to the choir," for they already knew about war. Jim realized that it was today's youth that needed to know about war. Today's students could be tomorrow's decision makers. The better they understood what they are asking of our veterans when we send them off to war, the better decisions they could make. So his journey began, and continues today's.

Please see our PTSD link for further information.

A portion of each ring sold will go to support Jim's workshops and to both Opportunity Enterprise and the Lake County Open Special Olympics