{"id":3039,"date":"2018-11-14T14:27:20","date_gmt":"2018-11-14T14:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=3039"},"modified":"2018-11-14T14:28:14","modified_gmt":"2018-11-14T14:28:14","slug":"at-94-berkeley-area-coast-guard-veteran-among-oldest-shopping-online-with-new-army-air-force-exchange-service-benefit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2018\/11\/14\/at-94-berkeley-area-coast-guard-veteran-among-oldest-shopping-online-with-new-army-air-force-exchange-service-benefit\/","title":{"rendered":"At 94, Berkeley-Area Coast Guard Veteran Among Oldest Shopping Online With New Army & Air Force Exchange Service Benefit"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Edwin Perkins, now (left) and then (right)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

DALLAS \u2013 <\/strong>It\u2019s been more than 70 years since Edwin Perkins served in the Coast Guard prior to World War II, but he is still connecting to his military community through the Army & Air Force Exchange Service.<\/p>\n

At 94, Perkins is among the oldest of the 62,000 Veterans who have shopped the Department of Defense\u2019s oldest and largest military exchange service at ShopMyExchange.com in the first year since military exchanges welcomed home all who served honorably with a tax-free online shopping benefit.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great service,\u201d said Perkins, who lives in Berkeley, CA. \u201cThe Exchange has things I need that I can\u2019t find anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perkins\u2019s son, Lance, says the Veterans online shopping benefit has been a game-changer for his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cRather than go to a big-box store, Dad wants to check the Exchange first,\u201d Lance Perkins said. \u201cIt has become his first option for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

The younger Perkins helps his father place orders by pulling up ShopMyExchange.com on a big screen TV, which allows him to easily search for what he needs. In addition to essentials, such as mobility assistance devices and heating pads, Edwin Perkins has discovered the variety of food and snacks available online with the Exchange.<\/p>\n

\u201cDad is especially fond of ordering cheese,\u201d Lance Perkins said. \u201cHe even got some a few weeks ago in preparation for the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lance Perkins says his father knows that the Exchange is the place to go for quality products and service.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe trusts that the Exchange is only going to stock items that Veterans deserve,\u201d Lance Perkins said.<\/p>\n

The elder Perkins makes a point to let his fellow Coast Guard Veterans know about the benefit so they can take advantage of significant savings on low cost, name brand products, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe no-tax feature makes shopping the Exchange a no-brainer,\u201d Lance Perkins said. \u201cThis has been a wonderful benefit for him and all the people who have served our great nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

With 100 percent of Exchange earnings supporting the military community, including Quality-of-Life programs such as Army Child Development Centers and fitness centers and Air Force Outdoor Recreation activities, Veterans like Edwin Perkins are also reconnecting with their military family, remaining Soldiers and Airmen for life.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows he\u2019s supporting the new guys coming up,\u201d the younger Perkins said.<\/p>\n

Nearly 12 percent of Veterans who have been verified to shop with the Exchange are age 71-90, with the oldest Veteran being 98 years old. Veterans can determine their eligibility to shop at ShopMyExchange.com\/veterans.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis benefit truly thanks all who served our Nation, regardless of age or era of service,\u201d said Exchange Director\/CEO Tom Shull, a Vietnam-era Army Veteran who worked to secure the change in Department of Defense policy to give all honorably discharged Veterans shopping privileges at military exchanges online. \u201cIt is such an honor to serve them again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Facebook-Friendly Version<\/strong>: One year ago, military exchanges welcomed home all honorably discharged Veterans with an online lifelong shopping benefit. 94-year-old Coast Guard Veteran Edwin Perkins says the Exchange is now his first option for everything he needs and more. Read more:\u00a0https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-N1\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 61st-largest retailer in the United States. Its earnings provided $2.4 billion in dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs over the last 10 years. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at\u00a0http:\/\/www.shopmyexchange.com<\/a>\u00a0or follow us on Twitter at\u00a0https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Alexandra Pirkle, 214-312-2143 or pirkleac@aafes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n

Facebook:\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter:\u00a0 https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 It\u2019s been more than 70 years since Edwin Perkins served in the Coast Guard prior to World War II, but he is still connecting to his military community through the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. At 94, Perkins is among the oldest of the 62,000 Veterans who have shopped the Department of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":3040,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"At 94, Berkeley-Area Coast Guard Veteran Among Oldest Shopping Online With New Army & Air Force Exchange Service Benefit","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[25],"tags":[35,32,34,33,36,39,45,44],"class_list":["post-3039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press_releases","tag-military","tag-nobanner","tag-photography","tag-press-release","tag-public-affairs","tag-the-army-air-force-exchange-service","tag-veterans","tag-veterans-online-shopping-benefit"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2018\/11\/14\/at-94-berkeley-area-coast-guard-veteran-among-oldest-shopping-online-with-new-army-air-force-exchange-service-benefit\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"At 94, Berkeley-Area Coast Guard Veteran Among Oldest Shopping Online With New Army & Air Force Exchange Service Benefit","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2018\/11\/14\/at-94-berkeley-area-coast-guard-veteran-among-oldest-shopping-online-with-new-army-air-force-exchange-service-benefit\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2018\/11\/14\/at-94-berkeley-area-coast-guard-veteran-among-oldest-shopping-online-with-new-army-air-force-exchange-service-benefit\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/11\/edwin-banner-e1542204889316.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/11\/edwin-banner-e1542204889316.jpg"},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Marisa Conner"}],"creator":["Marisa Conner"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["military","nobanner","photography","press release","public affairs","the army & air force exchange service","veterans","veterans online shopping benefit"],"dateCreated":"2018-11-14T14:27:20Z","datePublished":"2018-11-14T14:27:20Z","dateModified":"2018-11-14T14:28:14Z"},"rendered":"