Texarkana College holds grand opening for veterans benefits claims office

Tiffany Griffie, Claims Benefits Advisor for the Veterans' Benefit Claim Center at Texarkana College, talks to the audience about how the office is open to all veterans of the Texarkana community at the opening ceremony on campus at the Truman Arnold Center on Monday, November 11, 2019, in Texarkana, Texas.
Tiffany Griffie, Claims Benefits Advisor for the Veterans' Benefit Claim Center at Texarkana College, talks to the audience about how the office is open to all veterans of the Texarkana community at the opening ceremony on campus at the Truman Arnold Center on Monday, November 11, 2019, in Texarkana, Texas.

The Texarkana College Stallions ensembles seemed to gallop gracefully into the lyrics of "America the Beautiful" as they sang Monday during the grand opening ceremony for the college's newest office.

The office, which officially and fitfully opened on Veterans Day, is the Veterans Benefits Claims Office, housed inside the college's Truman Arnold Student Center.

"Many of us here today either have family members or had family members that served in the military," said TC President Dr. Jason Smith. "Today, our military serves as a beacon of light for fighting for freedom around the world - and many other nations around the world would like to fight to stay free. Today, we want to provide a place for our military servicemen and women to go when they need the help that they deserve."

Smith then turned the ceremony's speaker presentation over to Tiffany Griffie, who is now the new center's veterans' claims advisor with the Texas Veterans Commission.

"What my heart wants to do is provide one of the best places for veterans to go to get help with their benefits," she said. "I'm a veteran, I'm from Texarkana and I want to put veterans on my back so we can all cross the finish line. It's my job to help all veterans get what they rightfully deserve."

Texarkana Chamber of Commerce President Mike Malone told a group of veterans at the ceremony that he came from a family of veterans dating back to World War I.

"Throughout this century and well before it, our veterans have served us so well - and so it's time to serve them well," Malone said. "We all salute you and I want to salute you just for allowing me the chance to serve you."

Smith closed the ceremony's speaking session by welcoming the college's new partnership with veterans.

"We are eager and excited to start this new partnership with you and we are looking forward to future partnerships. which could help veterans with employment."

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