MURFREESBORO — Approaching
graduation from MTSU in May, Kenny Williams attended the first Veteran and
Family Benefits Expo on campus because “my desire is to hook up with veterans.”
“This is a wonderful networking event,” said Williams, a
disabled veteran who is the Rutherford County NAACP president. “People don’t
know the services that are out there. Just the collaboration of the different
agencies is phenomenal.”
Williams knows a veteran when he sees one. That’s because he
is one, serving in the U.S. Army’s infantry division during Operation Just
Cause during the invasion of Panama in December 1989.
The benefits fair, which attracted more than 30
veteran-friendly vendors and more than 70 former servicemen and women, was held
Thursday, April 24, to bring information to the vets and their families. The
expo was held in the Campus Recreation Center portion of the Student Health,
Wellness and Recreation Center.
To view video from the expo, visit http://youtu.be/mX2dI7UuVqI.
“This is a wonderful, networking event,” said Williams, a
disabled veteran who is the Rutherford County NAACP president. “People don’t
know the services that are out there. Just the collaboration of the different
agencies is phenomenal.”
Williams added that seeing a mixture of older and younger
veterans seeking information was definitely a positive thing.
And Williams did not have to look far to see who earned the
oldest vet award.
Jacob McClenny, 93, of Murfreesboro, attended with his wife,
Bertha. Jacob McClenny, who arrived in a wheelchair, served in World War II in
the Army Air Corps.
McClenny said he came “just to see what’s available to
veterans. I’m just getting started, but I think it’s great.”
Emilee Ketron, Miss MTSU, attended, both as a favor to Malcolm
Stallard, one of the event organizers, and because she has a tender spot in her
heart for veterans.
As Miss MTSU, Ketron is involved in Freedom Fighters, a
volunteer-based organization dedicated to serving U.S. military personnel.
“I was supposed to be out front greeting people as they
walked in, but I wanted to be here (gym) for a few minutes and see all MTSU has
to offer,” the speech pathology major said.
Among those in attendance was alumnus Terry Ethridge,
director of joint staff, with the Tennessee National Guard.
Vendors included Veteran Benefits Administration, Tennessee
Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Tennessee Career Coach,
Tennessee Career Center and many more.
“We wanted to show that any resources and providers are all
in one primary location,” said Stallard, a student veteran who serves as
president of the MTSU
Blue Raider American Veterans Organization, or BRAVO.
Later, free food, entertainment and fun for all were
available outside the Student Union. The Nontraditonal Student Organization
sponsored this event, which drew families.
Other
expo sponsors included MTSU, VA VetSuccess on Campus, the June Anderson Center
for Women and Nontraditional Students, the Center for Student Involvement and
Leadership and Pinnacle Honor Society.
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