CareSource, Dragons Team Up to Honor Local Veteran

DAYTON, Ohio - CareSource and the Dayton Dragons will host United States Air Force veteran Melissa Weydert during the CareSource Veteran Salute Program on Sunday, August 14, 2022, at 1:05PM when the Dayton Dragons take on the Lansing Lugnuts at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. Sunday will be the final of five special CareSource Veteran Salute dates of the 2022 season.

The CareSource Veteran Salute Program provides veterans in the Dayton region with a once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate their service to their country. Each honoree has their story shared in front of the crowd at Day Air Ballpark, followed by a standing ovation in appreciation of the veteran's hard work and dedication both in military and civilian accomplishments.

Melissa Weydert’s Story

Melissa Weydert grew up in Tampa, Florida and decided to join the Air Force after hearing on the news that women were now allowed to join the Air Force Academy. In December of 1983, she was commissioned in the United States Air Force, launching her 30-year career. In January of 1984, Colonel Weydert was stationed to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, at the HQ Armament Division as an Engineer and Computer Programmer and later, a Protocol Officer.

In 1986, she was assigned at Clark Air Base in the Philippines serving as an F-4 fighter maintenance officer until 1990. She returned from overseas back to Eglin Air Force Base to work for the Wright Laboratory. In 1992, she transitioned from active duty into the Air Force Reserves, where she was a maintenance officer for AC-130 gunships in the 919 Special Operations Squadron, at Duke Field, Florida. While there, she supported Operation Just Cause, Operation Uphold Democracy, and several humanitarian deployments to Honduras.

Then in 1995, Colonel Weydert was stationed at March Air Force Reserve Base in California, as part of the 452nd Aircraft Generation Squadron, serving as a C-141 Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor. In 1998, she went to Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, where she held many titles working with aircraft maintenance. In 2005, she was stationed to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where she was assigned to HQ Air Force Material Command as the Reserve Advisor to the AFMC Commander and later as the Senior IMA to Director of Logistics.

In 2009, she took an assignment at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, where she worked with the HQ Defense Logistics Agency. In 2010, Colonel Weydert was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait as the Deputy Director to US Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center and supported the initial Iraqi Drawdown. She finished her career at Grissom Air Force Base in Indiana where she worked with the 434th Air Refueling Wing as the Wing Inspector General. She retired with an active-duty retirement in 2013 with many decorations including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.

Over her 30 years in the Air Force, Melissa learned that effective communication is paramount in anything that you do, and it is important to be a good listener and have empathy. Melissa continues to serve her community today as a realtor and helping those around her succeed in life as a Life Coach. She enjoys spending time with her husband and children, and her hobbies include SCUBA Diving, gardening, yard work, and home improvement projects.

To nominate a veteran in your life for the Veteran Salute Program, please visit daytondragons.com/veteransalute today.

CareSource's Veteran Salute program highlights five veterans' stories during the course of each season. Veterans who are chosen are honored at a Dragons game with an in-game ceremony and provided with VIP treatment during their special night. The program is an extension of CareSource's continued commitment to serving special populations and its new efforts to support veterans through innovative health and life services programs. For more information about the Veteran Salute program, visit www.daytondragons.com/veteransalute.