For the Moto family, DAV was a reminder of service and a pillar of support

When Hawaii resident Brian Moto signed documents naming DAV as a beneficiary of his estate, he felt like a rich man.

“I felt a sense of happiness,” said Moto, the son of wounded World War II Army veteran Kaoru Moto. “For the Moto family, Disabled American Veterans was an important organization.”

The elder Moto, a longtime member of the now-defunct DAV Chapter 2 in Maui, received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism after being wounded in Italy in 1944. In 2000, the award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor and presented posthumously to the Moto family.

Although his father rarely spoke of his time in war, the local DAV and its members were constant reminders of his service and bravery. Moto said he was also a recipient of a DAV scholarship that helped provide him with an education and career. He chose to name DAV in his will as a way to say thank you and to support the organization’s continued work for disabled veterans and their families.

“I also think it’s important that the veterans themselves hear stories like mine and of my family,” Moto said. “Because I think it’s a story of encouragement and hope.”

Learn how you can create a will that protects your family and helps America’s veterans access the care they need by visiting www.freewill.com/DAV today.