Bellingham, WA – December 19, 2024: Classic Rock station KISM 92.9 in Washington State continued their tradition of awarding a vehicle to a deserving veteran. Now in its eighth year, “Vehicle for a Vet” culminates a season of giving at Cascade Radio Group in Bellingham.
The 2024 recipient is Skagit County resident and local veteran, Jason Thayer. Thayer spent 12 years in the U.S. Army Infantry from 2000 to 2012 and served two tours in Afghanistan.
The friend who nominated Jason described him as follows: “Jason was injured serving our country. He’s a loving husband and father to three children. The family has been struggling lately and has a vehicle that has also been struggling. Please consider this man for your gift. I feel it would really help out the family and take a lot of stress off Jason.”
KISM morning show hosts Brad Cash and John Reynolds typically receive more than one hundred submissions. The team then works with Dan Johnson, a local US Marine Corp veteran and our volunteer Veterans Committee to do the difficult task of selecting a finalist.
This year, an anonymous Whatcom County couple, the wife a veteran herself, donated a 2002 GMC Envoy. Bellingham Automotive and other local repair and automotive shops then stepped in and the Envoy was restored to like new condition just in time to be awarded
Thayer had this to say about being selected, “What this means to me is that we are going to have a lot more freedom and flexibility for my wife and kids for what they need to do throughout the day.” When asked about what more could be done to help veterans he said, “Connecting us with people that are looking to donate things or their time… trying to link with groups of veterans because I think that’s what we really need.”
“One of the great aspects of the Vehicle for a Veteran Program is that we’re able to facilitate Veterans helping Veterans. A Veteran received a refurbished vehicle that was donated by a fellow Veteran…and we assembled a Veteran’s Committee to review the nominations. We stand in awe of these great American heroes.” – John Reynolds, co-host of the Brad & John Morning Show, KISM 92.9
