Elvis Welcomes Home Veterans

Memphis VAMC hosted its second Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) “Welcome Home Event” on May 10, honoring returning service members at Pat Thompson Conference Center, Millington TN. 

• More than 600 veterans and their family members attended the event.
• Atendees enjoyed the entertainment of four bands and Elvis, carriage rides and face painting for the children, and thanks to many service organizations - free food.
• Workstations throughout the Conference Center were set up to assist veterans with -
  • transition issues about employment
  • education
  • eligibility
  • health benefits
• More than 18 employers were present at the event and over 60 veterans applied for positions at the Memphis VAMC.
• Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Regional Offices of Nashville, Little Rock, and Jackson, as well as the Vet Center, several Veterans Service Offices (VSOs) and other organizations from Tennessee,  Arkansas, and Mississippi were on site.
  

  

• Five universities and technical colleges participated and provided information about educational opportunities.
• Employers included FedEx, Nike, Auto Zone, UPS, Pinnacle Airlines, Bernhardt, Lowes, Memphis Police Department, Schneider Trucking, Collierville Police Department, Mass Mutual, COMCAST, Motorola, H&R Block, and Kelley Services.
• The local mayor's office and the TN Department of Veterans Affairs participated in the event.

We hope everyone enjoyed this year's event and look forward to providing more events and services to our veterans in the future!

Photos provided by John Patterson.  Originally printed in the July 2008 issue of the Transition Assistance Advisors Newsletter, a National Guard & Department of Veterans Affairs Partnership.