Brenda LaVarnway of MVAS in her Army uniform in the late 1980s, with service weapon on one shoulder. She stands in an on-base apartment Germany, holding up a coffee mug and smiling, before departing for guard duty.

In honor of Veterans Day 2026, Mystic Valley Aging Services (MVAS) is highlighting some of our team members who’ve served in the U.S. Military. This is the first in our series of staff profiles.

Name: Brenda LaVarnway

Service History: U.S. Army, 1986-1990, Rank E4

Role at MVAS: Brenda will celebrate her 20th year with Mystic Valley Aging Services in the spring. As an Intake Care Manager, she helps people when they first connect to MVAS, getting to know each person and identifying the programs that will best support their needs.

The Choice to Serve

Brenda LaVarnway of MVAS stands outside a base in Germany in the late 1980s, with a male and female soldier on either side. All three wear Army dress uniforms and have their service weapons over their shoulders.

Brenda comes from a military family. Her father was an Air Force “lifer” and her brother was an Army medic. She knew she wanted to see the world — and even considered the Peace Corps — but ultimately decided to serve her country. An Army recruiter suggested the Delayed Entry Program, which allowed her to finish her Associate’s degree. It also enabled her to choose where she served. Brenda had always wanted to travel in Europe, and with the Cold War underway, she was able to serve in Frankfurt, Germany.

Life in the Military

Basic Training was an incredible challenge, but Brenda made it through boot camp and headed to Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana for training. She was then sent to Germany with the Army’s Fifth Corps. Assigned as a clerk for the Company Commander, Brenda handled administrative tasks and tracked requests. Brenda and her fellow soldiers were responsible for guard duty, manning 12-hour shifts. She also fulfilled her dream of traveling around Europe, from the Eiffel Tower to Checkpoint Charlie.

“It’s a good way to see the world,” Brenda says of the Army. “I made the most of it. I saw everything.”

Lessons Learned From Service

Brenda completed her last years of service at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and headed home to pursue her bachelor’s degree through the GI Bill. She started a family and found her way to the Aging Services field. Brenda says her military experience helps her connect with people at MVAS — each person is an individual with unique needs, deserving of empathy and support.

“You meet all kinds of different people from all walks of life,” she says. “You learn to meet people where they are.”

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