While the official date of July 4th has come and gone, America’s 250th birthday celebrations are far from over. After all, community pride doesn’t have an expiration date.
So it is for Jessica, a care coordination specialist at NMC Health, who is also working hard behind the scenes on behalf of the Newton American Legion Post 2 to organize an upcoming community event on August 1.
To many, she’s the friendly voice on the phone working on your behalf to obtain authorizations from insurance companies prior to procedures. But her life story is a tapestry of service written in the uniform of her country, the rooms of healthcare clinics, and the traditions of the local American Legion post.
To understand why she is working so hard to bring Newton together for this late-summer party, you have to understand the journey of a woman who has always chosen to stand up for others.
From Navy roots to Army boots
Jessica’s military story began with a little bit of teenage rebellion. The North California native’s father and grandfather had both served their country. After becoming an EMT immediately following high school graduation, Jessica enlisted at the tender age of 19 years. But she took a different path from the men in her family.
“They were both Navy, so I was a disappointment when I went into the Army,” she smiles. “That good, old teenage rebellion.”
Jessica left for basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina. Next, she went to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Her first official duty station was in El Paso, Texas, where she served as a 52 Delta, or a generator mechanic. If a vehicle had wheels, she worked on it.
While living in El Paso, she met her now-husband, who was working as a track mechanic. They married a year later and welcomed their first child the following year.
When she hung up her active-duty uniform, the sacrifice didn’t stop. For 15 years, she packed up her home and her growing family (welcoming a second daughter along the way), and followed her husband’s military career posts. When he left the service, he put on another uniform, choosing to protect the public as a police officer. That final transition brought their family home to Newton in 2016.
“Loyalty, doing the right thing when nobody else is looking, integrity, and the courage to stand up for what you believe in. And compassion.”
There are not just words she memorized in basic training. These are the values that define how she treats every person she meets and the work she completes every day.
From corrections to healthcare
Transitioning from a structured military life to civilian life can be tough. Jessica found her way by continuing to serve the public. First, she worked in juvenile corrections, “trying to get kids on the right track before it’s too late.” Then she worked at a local detention center before returning to healthcare. She joined NMC Health in March 2026.
She fights a different kind of battle for our patients. She spends her days securing insurance authorizations for complex imaging and coordinating specialized medical care. To some, insurance paperwork is dry. To her, it’s a rescue mission.
“I always say the patients keep me going,” she says. “I really love helping the community. Insurance seems like such a small way to do it, but if we can find tips and tricks to help patients save a little bit of money, it feels good to be able to help. And making sure they’re getting good care, too.”
Guarding the memories of those who have served their country
When her shift ends at NMC Health, her devotion shifts to the American Legion Newton Post. As the post’s historian, she helps keep the history of the Legion alive. She’s also a member of the Color Guard.
It’s this respect that drives her desire to revitalize the Legion. She wants to shatter the stereotype that it is just a closed-door club for older generations.
“Not a lot of people know who we are, where we’re at, or why we do it,” says Jessica. “It’s a place where you can go and see familiar faces, where people are always laughing, having fun, and eating food.”
The Legion also pours resources back into the community by sponsoring local Boy Scout troops and the Newton Knights American Legion baseball team. Whether it’s through public bingo nights, community taco dinners, or opening Patriot Hall for weddings and funerals, the Legion gives Newton a place to gather.
Time to party
To honor the 250-year journey of the country she loves so deeply, she and a small, dedicated team have poured their hearts into organizing a family-friendly celebration.
“I love our country,” says Jessica. “It’s not perfect, and not everybody can agree. But seeing people come together is super important to celebrate how far we’ve come.”
She hopes the community will come together at their upcoming community event, featuring free activities for the whole family:
- Bouncy house
- Face painting
- National Guard rock wall
- Exhibits from the Harvey County Historical Museum
- Live music
- A VA benefits booth
Visit the Wayne G. Austin American Legion 2 Facebook page for a full listing of all the day’s activities.
Answering the call
For a woman who has spent her life looking out for others, the most beautiful part of planning this milestone has been watching Newton answer the call.
“The people have really amazed me,” she says. “Getting the volunteers, getting to know that people want to help.”
She hopes, when all is said and done, that the families who attend walk away with something permanent. She wants them to feel the comfort of knowing they belong to a community that cares for them.