Operation Rebound Recognizes Brian Weiner
/By: Michael D. Boll
When we created the Operation Rebound racing team, the New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) was the first organization to join up and provide their full support. Since then, we have had a great partnership and work on some great programs together. Last year, during the state convention, our teammate Brian Weiner was elected as the New State VFW commander in Atlantic City NJ. Unfortunately, Brian was elected during the COVID pandemic and had to cancel countless programs and events. However, Brian was able to focus on helping veterans and their families get through these difficult times. He spent countless hours planning and working on necessary programs and proposed better legislation for our veterans.
During the pandemic, several veteran nursing housing facilities had extremely high COVID rates that resulted in numerous deaths. Immediately, Brian spoke out on this issue and did whatever he could to make sure our older veterans were safe and provided a better quality of life.
In the next few months, we are going to launch our statewide anti-suicide and PTSD Awareness campaign and the VFW will be playing a major role in implementing this groundbreaking program. Brian is a huge veteran advocate and will continue to help our veterans in New Jersey live a better way of life.
Brian’s life changed when he enlisted in the Navy in 1994, serving onboard the USS Shreveport in the Adriatic Sea in support of Bosnian operations and then later onboard the USS John F Kennedy in support of Operation Southern Watch in the Persian Gulf. Brian has been awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy-Marine Corp Achievement Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Sea Service deployment medal, and the Navy Good Conduct. Brian was meritoriously promoted to the rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer as an Electronics Warfare Technician and was later selected as the Senior Enlisted Intel Officer for the Commander Carrier Group Six in Mayport.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Brian became a member of the Atlantic City Fire Dept. Brian is a 20-year veteran with the department and has received numerous commendations and awards during his time there.
As a VFW member, he has held several offices from post chaplain to Department of New Jersey commander. He has held several positions in the organization to include department community activities chairman, state legislative team member, and national legislative team member to mention a few.
Brian joined the VFW at Brigantine Post 6964 in 2000 immediately upon being discharged from the Navy and is a member of Post 8098 in Egg Harbor Township.
He currently resides in Egg Harbor Township with his wife, Louanne , and their daughters Kelly and Jayla. Brian’s son, 2nd Lt. Collin Wiener, is a West Point graduate stationed in Fort Bliss, TX as an Engineer with the 1st Armor Division. His daughter, Breana, is a sergeant in the USMC serving currently in New Orleans with the United States Marine Corps Band. His father Norman was military police in the Army and served in Korea, his uncle retired from a Navy career as a senior chief and his brothers were in the USMC reserves.
Brian currently serves as the New Jersey department commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
