ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - An evening at WellQuest of Elk Grove celebrated Steve Reed, 78, a Vietnam War combat veteran and volunteer, for his ongoing commitment to supporting fellow veterans, many of whom reside at the senior community.

WellQuest management and staff surprised Reed with a dinner in his honor on Jan. 22, recognizing his dedication as a volunteer who consistently supports veteran residents.

For about a year, Reed has served as a steady source of support for local senior veterans, helping them with everything from rides to doctor appointments at the Veterans Affairs hospital to navigating benefits and filing paperwork.

Drawing on his own experiences as a Vietnam War veteran, Reed understands the process firsthand and has long advocated for fellow veterans. In a 2016 interview with the Sacramento Public Library titled “Valley to Vietnam: Steve Reed,” he said many veterans just need “their hand held” and someone to walk them through the process with care, something he said he’s been good at.

From left, Honor Flight Bay Area members Pons Gonzalez, Ron Reanu and Steve Reed at the celebration dinner at WellQuest. Courtesy photo

The event welcomed guests from American Legion Post 55, Honor Flight Bay Area, senior residents and local Girl Scout Troop 584, who greeted veterans and Reed as they entered the dining hall.

“What Steve does goes far beyond volunteering,” WellQuest Executive Director Elena Cuevas said at the dinner. “He listens. He cares. He reminds our veterans that they are not alone, and that matters more than words can express.”

Cuevas told the Elk Grove Citizen that WellQuest houses a large veteran population, a point of pride for the organization, and wanted to honor Reed for volunteering his time and efforts. 

She said the dinner was the first of many planned by the five-year-old senior living community to honor local partners like Reed and celebrate occasions that foster togetherness among residents.

“For the last year and a half, Steve has helped over 20 of our residents with veterans’ benefits, driving them to and from Mather. He’s just been an incredible asset,” Cuevas said. “This our small way of saying, ‘We appreciate you.’”

 

Local Girl Scout Troop 584 greets a veteran resident at WellQuest, assisted by fellow veteran and community volunteer Steve Reed. Photo courtesy of Well Quest

As a token of appreciation, WellQuest presented Reed with a custom coin during the dinner, a nod to his own tradition of giving coins to veterans in thanks for their service. He received it for helping fellow veterans with “honor and heart.”

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Reed moved to Sacramento with his family in June 1961 and enrolled as a sophomore at Bella Vista High School in Fair Oaks. After about a year from his graduation, Reed volunteered for the Army, serving in the 4th Infantry Division as part of a Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol during the Vietnam War in 1967 and 1968.

After returning from Vietnam, Reed attended American River College and Sacramento State, earning a degree in communications in 1972 before going to build a long career in public service. His work included teaching in the San Juan Unified School District, serving as a Sacramento police officer and heading security at Arden Fair Mall.

Though retired professionally, Reed has continued to serve the community by helping local veterans in need for several years. His connection to WellQuest began when he helped Cleve Cushing, a 99-year-old veteran at the time, secure residency there, and led to his involvement with the broader veteran population at the senior community.

 

WellQuest Executive Director Elena Cuevas toasts veteran volunteer Steve Reed at his honorary dinner on Jan. 22. Courtesy photo

Cushing, turning 101 this year, is one of the veterans Reed has assisted for the past eight years. Reed said he is just a phone call away for other veterans at WellQuest whenever they need a ride or help filing for benefits.

“I love these guys, these veterans, and a lot of them didn’t have an advocate,” Reed said. “I’m an advocate for them; that’s my job now.”

Ron Reanu of Honor Flight Bay Area attended the dinner and is a longtime friend of Reed. They met at a veterans center in Carmichael and later served as ambassadors for Honor Flight Bay Area, a nonprofit organization that takes World War II veterans to visit the memorial in Washington, D.C.

Reanu reflected on the night, noting it was great to see Reed honored for his community service as a vet and for veterans. 

“It’s very rewarding,” Reanu said. “It’s what I like to call giving back.”