WHITE SALMON — Gorge native and former Army medevac pilot Lacey Szekely was appointed Secretary of the Board of Directors for Nation’s Finest last month, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans across California, Arizona and Nevada.
Providing housing, mental health, employment and other critical support services to more than 3,500 people annually, its diverse staff of ex-military personnel tailors its approach to the individual, helping them achieve a life of dignity, independence and a newfound sense of purpose post-service.
Szekely’s purpose: helping people get back on their feet — whether literally, rescuing and transporting downed soldiers in Afghanistan, or altruistically, aiding underserved veterans back home.
Born and raised on a Husum-area farm, Szekely was surrounded by aviation throughout adolescence, securing her private pilot’s license in Hood River. She adored it. But it wasn’t until she participated in an incentive helicopter flight that her future in the skies solidified. “I was sold; this is what I wanted to do,” Szekely said. “Aviation is challenging, but so rewarding and so much fun.”
Her subsequent route to the military came in the blink of an eye, plunging head on into flight school. “As soon as I signed the dotted line, I went to Fort Rucker for a year, and then straight overseas.”
Szekely flew in the Army for eight years, including two in Afghanistan, and one each in Egypt and Israel, before separation in 2012. Her primary role was medical evacuation, or medevac, providing suppressive fire, picking up the wounded and heading back to base. Day in and day out, she developed and exercised a “leave-nobody-behind” mentality that would persist throughout all her future endeavors, both personal and professional.
“We picked up everyone, even those who didn’t make it,” Szekely said. “It’s not always fun — one of those jobs where you’re in the trenches, surrounded by things that are hard to witness.”
A familiar reality for service members across the board, leaving the military and transitioning into civilian life was a challenging intermediate period for Szekely. “I expected it to be rainbows and butterflies — this dream that I built up in my mind,” Szekely said. “But I went through kind of a rough patch, torn between aviation and what’s next.”
Turning to what she loves most, Szekely became a personal trainer, using fitness as a form of therapy. In 2019, she opened her own gym, Swët Fitness, in Reno, Nevada, envisioning a community space similar to the military. By offering structured classes, Szekely could mold an arranged routine reflective of Army life. “Veterans struggle the most with the lack of structure in civilian life,” Szekely said. “It’s why people turn to medication and alcohol…it’s hard to cope in those situations.”
However, upon a recent move back to the Gorge, Szekely sold the business to a friend, with whom her vision remains strong.
Now, after being selected as Secretary of the Board of Directors at Nation’s Finest, Szekely can contribute to a broader range of veteran communities, tackling the most pressing issues affecting individuals across three Western states.
The board’s number one priority is providing a one-stop shop where individuals have access to multiple forms of emergency aid simultaneously, including housing, hot meals, hygiene products and clothing.
As a nonprofit, appropriate fundraising is the ticket to success. “It starts with accountability,” Szekely said. “Holding staff accountable so we can plan strategically moving forward.”
One of the organization’s primary initiatives is rural outreach via a mobile service unit, which supports veterans who are often overlooked, meeting them where they are and providing services for substance abuse, mental health, telehealth and other resources that are rarely available in rural areas.
For those facing non-critical situations, Nation’s Finest can provide a roadmap pointing them in the right direction. For instance, helping them navigate government benefit systems or achieve a sense of purpose. “Purpose is everything,” Szekely said. “If you have no purpose, you’re not getting out of bed in the morning.”
Szekely credits her committed efforts to her experiences overseas, where she had to prioritize others’ lives over her own. “Whether it’s a soldier that you’re trying to bring home or someone on the streets, it’s not too late,” Szekely said. “I’m going to fight for them, and I don’t take no for an answer.”
Moving forward, Nation’s Finest hopes to expand its mobile service unit and extend services into more states, including Oregon and Washington. In the meantime, Szekely urges everyone to consider donating to nonprofits that offer support services for veterans.
“You see people out on the streets; they are people too,” Szekely said. “If they are willing to sacrifice everything, people should be willing to help get them back on track.”
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