Now available: Benefits for the Brave

July is a great month to give some thought to how we honor our returning troops.
In East Texas, one woman stands out for leading the charge when it comes to connecting our returning troops with much-needed resources.
Julianne Sanford started Lone Star Military Resource Group to create a way for returning heroes, veterans, and their families to find the resources that are already out there.
First, combining her 20 years experience as a military wife and Family Readiness Trainer, she collaborated with ACCESS, Anderson Cherokee Community Enrichment Services, to publish a thorough listing of services available to military personnel in Anderson and Cherokee Counties. This listing, called Benefits for the Brave, includes state and federal agencies, along with Texas and US nonprofits and businesses with grants. As far as I know, it is the only listing like it in our state or perhaps the nation.
Benefits for the Brave is a massive accomplishment in and of itself.
However, almost before the ink was dry, she and ACCESS
Chief Administrative Officer Kate Pate decided to host a symposium called “Caring for all who Serve” in Jacksonville as part of a week long series of events which happened just this past May.
The one-day symposium brought together a brain trust of folks in our area who are making a difference in the lives of our heroes.
For example, Lori Thomas and Karl Little from Andrews Center, Tyler, were there. Lori and Karl are quietly connecting vets with services in Smith County, including launching the just opened Green Zone.
The Green Zone is a place where our veterans can find fellow-heroes who understand the challenges they face. Lori and Karl offer have an impressive combined experience and network of people available to help.
With them was JD Collette who is single handedly traveling around East Texas setting up peer groups to support veterans and returning warriors in many ways, but in particular, giving our heroes a safe place to address any PTSD symptoms they may still be dealing with even after years of civilian life. Traveling to a different small town each evening, JD has quietly established peer groups all over East Texas.
Jacksonville’s conference was the largest gathering of service resource folks in our area that I know of so far.
All the experts at the conference that I spoke to agreed that the best progress is made when all Americans step up to show their gratitude. Locally, Welcome Home Soldiers and Patriot Guard came to mind.
With the success of the Jacksonville events, more such opportunities likely to happen throughout our region.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.