Many times, Veterans have a difficult time congregating in groups, dealing with crowds or dining in restaurants. But the Veterans attending the Midland Vet Center’s Open House right before Veterans Day obviously felt quite the opposite.
One by one, nearly 25 Veterans arrived and packed into the modest Vet Center—many flashing their most courageous smiles. They drove from as far away as Odessa, and several took time away from work to attend. They introduced themselves and, within seconds, they began sharing their branch of service, locations where they were stationed and era of service.
The event attracted Veterans from almost every branch of military service, and attendees represented the Viet Nam War, post-9/11 Veterans and recent conflicts. The friendly banter and laughter wafted down the packed hallway.
In preparation for the celebration, Vet Center staff had enthusiastically decorated the facility with a military theme, highlighting with red, white and blue.
PACT Act information shared
The delicious menu included cheeses, fruits, pasta, chicken salad, grilled chicken, pastries and of course, a Texas favorite—tender baby back ribs.
Before the group dug into the feast, the Vet Center’s office manager offered a blessing, gave thanks for the guests and then reminded everyone about the origin and history of Veterans Day.
The hour-long event spawned great conversations about service, information about VA programs and services, and details about the PACT Act.
Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers providing a broad range of counseling, outreach and referral services, free-of-charge in a safe and confidential environment to eligible Veterans, active-duty service members (including National Guard and Reserve) and their families.