It's a Wednesday morning in Carthage. Janice Gravely is at her local VFW hall, helping serve brunch to local veterans, their families and community members.

“We’ve discovered that many people in the community may not necessarily have the food that they need. So at least once a week, we can make sure they have a healthy meal,” Gravely said.

Whether it is helping provide a meal, or stopping to say hello and share some old stories, Gravely said she has always lived by one motto: service over self. It's a philosophy she said she learned from her mother.

“If you do the work, you work hard, you will be rewarded in some shape, form or fashion,” she said.

Gravely spent 28 years in the United States Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. After retirement, she took on the task of supporting fellow veterans.

“We represent less than 1% of the population,” she said. “It is vital that people understand what our veterans give and what they sacrifice."

Gravely is the first Black woman to ever command the Carthage American Legion in its more-than-100-year history.

"It just brings everything together, because I have different forums that I can use to fight for our veterans where their voices will be heard,” she said.

During Fort Drum’s recent Veterans Day ceremony, Gravely was the guest speaker. She was also recently appointed as the ambassador for the Army Reserve for New York.

From those causes to the ones at the VFW, Gravely is always there with a helping hand — so much so that she became an EMT.

At VFW brunches in Carthage, she's also providing veterans with health care checks.

“You find out because you do the checks, and you're able to go and get help before it's a problem,” she said.

Gravely is set to serve as the Army Reserve ambassador for three years, but that could be extended if both sides want it to be.