Giving Back To the Community: Steve Johnston

BY JULIA CHRISTENSEN

GUILT FOR NOT SERVING, startling statistics regarding veteran tribulations, and an interest in war history, as well as the impressive resume of Eric Greitens.  These are the things that drove Steve Johnston to volunteer with The Mission Continues.  Johnston, a Janet McAfee Real Estate agent, has been involved with the organization almost since its inception. He met Greitens at a lunch, and “after the lunch was over, I told Eric I thought he was amazing…and basically said, anything I can do to help out.”  Since then, he’s witnessed the rapid growth of the organization. Johnston, who now serves as the leadership committee chairman for the annual gala, guesses there were 200 people in attendance at the first event—the number has since more than doubled. 

 “Mike Mullan, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the guest speaker at the gala two years ago,” says Johnston. “He told the whole crowd from the podium that Eric and The Mission Continues were the model for the future of our veterans coming home; when you get it coming from [him], you’ve got something special going on.” The Mission Continues’ fifth annual Veterans Day Gala will be held on Nov. 1 at The Chase Park Plaza.

Johnston is involved with more than the gala; he has worked with The Mission Continues on a variety of projects, including a fellowship orientation and volunteer day with the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club, during which the organization completed tasks such as building picnic benches and painting.  “It’s great when you get the community together with the veterans,” he says. “There’s nothing better than us saying, thank you so much for your service. And for them to say: Thank you so much for coming out today and helping us.”