Community Builder | Military & Veteran Services Advocate | Founder, People Who Serve and Support
#WomenWhoServeAndSupport | #CommunityWhoServeAndSupport | #FamilyWhoServeAndSupport
Denise Price-Giesbers has spent more than twenty-five years working alongside military members, veterans, and their families. Her connection to the military community began early in life through family members who served in the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Those relationships helped shape the deep respect she carries for individuals connected to military service and the communities that surround them.
Over time, that respect grew into a lifelong commitment to supporting the military and veteran community through education, outreach, and community partnership. Denise’s work has focused on creating environments where service members and veterans feel understood, respected, and supported as they navigate both military and civilian life. During her time at Pacific University, Denise has been a central force in developing programs and partnerships that support student veterans and military-connected students as they navigate the transition into higher education and civilian life.
Several moments across her life stand out as particularly meaningful along that journey. As a student, Denise won the Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy oratorical competition, reflecting an early commitment to civic engagement and honoring those who serve.
Years later, she participated in the Defense of Hawaii Tour: A Salute to World War II Veterans during the 50th anniversary commemoration of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. During that tour, Denise had the deeply moving experience of standing on the USS Arizona Memorial during a wreath-laying ceremony honoring those who lost their lives on December 7, 1941. The moment left a lasting impression, reinforcing the gravity of sacrifice and the importance of remembering those who served.
Her professional work has also brought her alongside military families during moments of both celebration and challenge. One of the most significant community moments came when she helped support the send-off and mobilization ceremony for the 2-218 Field Artillery Battalion of the Oregon National Guard, an event that brought together more than a thousand soldiers, families, and community members as they prepared for deployment. The ceremony reflected the power of community support and the role civilians play in standing beside those who serve.
Another meaningful full-circle moment came when Denise had the honor of singing the National Anthem for the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps for the State of Oregon. Having grown up surrounded by military history and service, the opportunity to contribute to such a milestone celebration was both personal and deeply meaningful.
For Denise, service is not about recognition—it is about presence. It means showing up, listening deeply, and supporting individuals without expectation of anything in return. Some of the most meaningful moments in her work have come when veterans have trusted her with stories they had never shared before. Being a safe place for those conversations is something she does not take lightly.
She believes civilians have an important role to play in supporting those who have served. Regardless of personal opinions about war or politics, Denise emphasizes the responsibility to learn about the experiences of service members and veterans, to listen without judgment, and to support them in ways both large and small.
Throughout her career, Denise has remained guided by a simple belief: when people know you genuinely care, they will open up. Sometimes that support looks like connecting someone to resources. Other times it may simply mean sitting beside someone in silence, checking in, or walking alongside someone through a difficult moment.
Her dedication to this work has been recognized through honors such as the U.S. Field Artillery Association’s Molly Pitcher Award and a commendation from the American Legion. Yet for Denise, the most meaningful recognition comes from the relationships she has built within the military community—many of whom she now considers family.
That lifelong commitment ultimately helped shape the vision behind People Who Serve and Support, a storytelling initiative that recognizes that military service is never carried by one person alone. Behind every service member are families, friends, educators, advocates, and community members who stand beside them. By honoring both those who serve and those who support them, the initiative reflects the community Denise has spent her life helping to build—one rooted in respect, connection, and shared responsibility.
QUOTE
“I am part of your team and will walk alongside you every step of the way. Together, we can accomplish anything.”
