National homeless veteran advocate in Palm Bay helping those who serve on Veterans Day

Ohio woman walks across America for 16 years to help veterans

PALM BAY, Fla. – For Kim Denmark, it was a calling to honor those who serve when she left everything and walked away from her hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Sixteen years later she's still walking to help homeless veterans.

"I ended up leaving everything and walking for something greater than me," Denmark said.

This Veterans Day, Denmark, 56, passed through Palm Bay where on Palm Bay Road where she teamed up with local homeless advocate, Tom Rebman.

Rebman is also a veteran and a Getting Results award winner, who voluntarily spent 100 days on the streets.

This upcoming winter, Rebman is the top advocate for the opening of the city's first cold-night shelter.

"You never feel safe when you're out on the streets," Rebman said. "There's lots and lots of crime."

"I've met men and women who have served two and three tours and they're homeless," said.

On Monday, Denmark and Rebman took two homeless veterans to lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse on Palm Bay Road where management paid for their bill.

Denmark says on Tuesday she will go with another veteran to the Social Security office to advocate for receiving his benefits.

"I would not have missed this for the world," Denmark said about getting results for veterans on Veterans Day.

Denmark said she continue walking until she reaches Washington, D.C. where she hopes to have a conversation with federal officials to address veteran homelessness nationwide.


About the Author:

James joined News 6 in March 2016 as the Brevard County Reporter. His arrival was the realization of a three-year effort to return to the state where his career began. James is from Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Penn State in 2009 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

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