Meet Brian Daniels of Eaton Rapids

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Daniels

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Lansing, MI. My home life as a kid was a struggle. I’m the 4th of 6 kids and lived in an abusive household. My mother left my dad when I was in second grade in an attempt to give us a more peaceful childhood. Unfortunately, it led to instability, hardship, and chaos. We faced a series of hardships that left us homeless when I was 11.

A friend of my mom’s told her she should apply to live at the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids, MI. Like so many people, we’d never heard of it, but we qualified because my grandfather was a Veteran. We moved into the National Home in late 1997. Two of my older brothers were already out of the house so my mom, myself, and my 3 sisters moved into the “Wisconsin House” on the VFW campus. Every family lives in their own house here on campus. These homes are supported mostly by donations from the VFW posts from around the country by Veterans who wanted to give back out of the goodness of their hearts.

I had never felt that level of stability before, but that’s what the VFW National Homes does.

The VFW National Home is a non-profit that began in 1925 helping widows, orphans, and descendants of Veterans get their lives back on track. Over the years the program moved from helping the widows and orphans to assisting military, veterans, and their families with children, by creating a foundation of services and resources to achieve their personal and family goals in order to move forward in a positive, safe, and healthy environment. The National Home provides a hand-up, not a hand-out. For my family, it changed everything. Being able to safely play outside and be a part of a community that helped one another made living at the National Home a dream for me.

While living at the VFW National Home, my mom met the Post commander of a nearby Post, and they got married a month after meeting and were together until he passed away from cancer caused by Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. Once they married, we moved to Grand Ledge, MI in late 1999 where I finished my schooling.

From a young age I knew I wanted to join the military to give back the time afforded to my family. I joined the US Army in December of 2004. I was assigned to the 1/320th FAR out of Ft. Campbell, KY. I was a kid but lucky enough to be surrounded by some of the greatest men I’ve ever met. We deployed to Iraq in early 2005. On November 15th, 2005, I was the sole survivor of an IED attack in Taji, Iraq, just north of Baghdad. My foot was blown off and I suffered burns on my face. After 12 surgeries my foot was reattached. It took me a year to learn to walk again.

I wish I could say I knew why I was alive. Like so many Veterans, I’m still haunted by the event, and like so many it took me years to find a new sense of normal. I ended up In New York City and became a personal trainer. I met the owner of a boxing gym called Work Train Fight. I mentored under him until one day someone quit and I was asked to teach a boxing class. I walked into the class and instantly knew this is what I should be doing with my life, helping others find their strength and voice through fitness.

In January of 2013, my son Gabriel was born. I didn’t want him to grow up in New York City so I moved back home to Michigan. I worked at a few gyms in the Lansing Area until, while on a road trip to visit the graves of guys in my truck, I decided I wanted to open my own gym. And that’s what I did. emPOWer Lansing opened in June of 2018 and it was a dream come true. This opened other doors for me, including the opportunity to serve as the 1st Ward Lansing City Counsel Rep in 2022. Giving back to my community and helping empower others was truly a gift. During this time of running my own gym I met my future wife Maggie, and we were married in March of 2021.

In 2023, emPOWer closed and I found myself lost again. And again, The VFW National Home saved me. I’d been fundraising for them during my years at emPOWer. When they heard emPOWer closed, they called me with a job offer. I started March of 2024 as the Community Development and Alumni Engagement Manager. It feels surreal to work for a place I once called home, yet at the same time it feels like this is where I’m meant to be. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to give back to an organization that has meant so much to me and my family. I hope to continue to grow the organization and spread the mission of the VFW National Home.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been an easy one for me. Growing up in an abusive household and then dealing with homelessness made it difficult for me to find a place I belonged. I’m grateful for the stability that came from the VFW National Home but there were still wounds that are still healing from that part in my life. Being a sole survivor of an IED attack was also a hardship that I have faced. The trauma physically of numerous surgeries to reattach my foot and learning to walk again, and mentally with PTSD and survivors guilt. After I felt like I was in a good place with owning my gym and doing what I loved, COVID took that away. I was devastated. However, that’s what brought me back to work at the VFW National Home. I may never understand why these things happened, but I have learned that all of these moments (as hard as they were) made me into the man I am today and has given me a unique perspective to do what I do now. I can relate to the families who live at the VFW National Home, I can support the veterans that we serve, and I can advocate for the National Home because I know how important the mission is. It’s like life has come full circle.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Doing what I do now professionally gives me the opportunity to share my story to let others they are not alone as well as inform others the importance of organizations like the VFW National Home. My story has not been an easy one, but I’m proud of myself. I don’t say that to come across as conceited, everyday I’m learning and growing to become a better man. I recognized that all the hardships and trials in my life I could very easily have just become another statistic. It’s not easy, there have been times when giving in is easier than continuing the fight. But when I look at my son, or serve along fellow veterans, I know that my life has purpose. In the Army they instill the values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. I chose to live my life by these values. My hope is when others see me then that is what they see.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is making a positive impact in the world. I want to live a life that honors those who didn’t make it home. I do this throughout my personal and professional life. From being a trainer, representing the VFW National Home, to being the best husband and father I can be. Serving others and bringing light to the darkest places is my life’s mission. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to do what I think is most important, showing and preaching that “thank you for your service” isn’t just a phrase, it’s a call to action.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vfwnationalhome.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vfwnh
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vfwnationalhome
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/vfwnhc