New van thrills Marine vet at Expo

Staff photo by Mary Kemper
Disabled Marine Corps veteran Jason Picaro, along with his wife, Melisa, and their children Kalena, 8, and A.J., 4, pose in front of a custom van given to them via a donation to the Veterans Council of Indian River County. The presentation of the van was made at the Military Expo held Feb. 6 at the Indian River County Fairgrounds.
Staff Writer
There was a thrilling military re-enactment and a local celebrity —singer and entertainer JessLee —singing the national anthem at the Feb. 6 Military Expo at the Indian River County Fairgrounds.
But the real star was Marine Corps veteran Jason Picaro, Vero Beach, who was given a custom van donated to the Veterans Council of Indian River County.
“We went through a nominating and vetting process,” said council member Curtis Paulisin, who is a member of the Italian American War Veterans, who headed the campaign. “We had a number of criteria each veteran had to meet in order to be given the van, and Jason met them all.
“We’re very happy that he and his family will make good use of it.”