The Texarkana Chapter 278 Vietnam Veterans of America received a pleasant surprise during their regular monthly meeting Sunday.
Of all the VVA chapters in the state, the Texas Veterans Commission awarded Chapter 278 the commission's annual Extra Mile Award.
"For years now, VVA Chapter 278 has gone the extra mile to provide financial assistance to help local and area veterans looking jobs and living resources," said Patricia Harris, veterans representative for the Texas Veteran Commission's Employment Service. "We, along with Kenda Watson, the former director of the local veterans clinic here, and Charles Jordan, the current clinic director, put together the nomination last January and the commission approved it in November."
VVA Chapter 278 President Greg Beck said the award seemed an unbelievable surprise.
"I just didn't believe it at first. We were all so proud that we got this,"Beck said.
The award's nominating requirements state that the recipient organization needs to demonstrate exemplary service to Texas veterans by showing an effort that go beyond excellence in providing positive results for improving the lives of veterans and their families.
Chapter #278 started in 1984 and was chartered in 1986 with 25 members. Today, it now has 143 members and 37 associate members that include other military service members from other time periods, spouses, friends and other family members.
For many years the organization has held fundraisers in order to buy transport vans for veterans needing to go to medical appointments. Within the last few years, it's raised more than $17,000 to aid local needy and disabled veterans with assistance in utility payments, rent payments, mortgage payments and home maintenance and repairs, as well as providing food year-round.
"I met these VVA members even before I started to work for the Texas Veterans Commission and they have been a big financial help for veterans for all the time I've been with them," Harris said.