Korean War Veterans Association donates to local veteran support groups

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press 

The Korean War Veterans Association recently gave away some of the proceeds from a recent car raffle and paid it forward to two other veterans’ groups, last weekend. 

The Area Veterans Advisory Committee (AVAC) held its monthly meeting at the American Legion Post 223 in Killeen, with Operation Stand Down Central Texas director Joann Courtland and Bring Everyone in the Zone director Maureen Jouett in attendance. 

Eddie Bell Sr. is the president of the KWVA for the state of Texas, and several years ago established an internment fund to help assist the families of veterans with no way to pay for burials. At that time, Bell reached out to all the organizations in the Area Veterans Advisory Committee (AVAC) to assist with raising funds. 

Operation Stand Down Central Texas, along with Bring Everyone In the Zone (BEITZ) answered his call, with OSDCT also providing a full suit for one of the veterans being buried. 

On Saturday, not only were OSDCT and BEITZ receiving donations, but their giving came full circle. 

Both organizations were presented checks for $1,000 by Bell, from part of the proceeds for the car raffle. 

“The AVAC monthly meeting was a great opportunity to recognize two of our outstanding Veterans Support organizations here in our Texas communities,” Bell said. “This is the way I understand we as veterans’ support organizations should work together. When they have veterans’ support requirements/needs, we need to come to their aid and provide all the support we can. 

“When the Department of Texas, KWVA needed support with the Veterans Internment program, they were there and provided that much assistances. I will continue to provide support to them. This is a true example of organizations having each other’s back so they can meet veterans’ support requirements in our communities.”

For Courtland, this gift is very timely, as the Copperas Cove-headquartered Operation Stand Down Central Texas is preparing for its 6th annual Fall Stand Down for Homeless Veterans and Community Triage, set for Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Killeen Community Center from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. 

Last fall’s Stand Down was the first time OSDCT joined forces with the Central Texas Homeless Coalition, during which the homeless are provided a hot meal, haircut, clothing, and given medical and dental screenings, with agencies such as the VA and Texas Veterans Commission on hand to get the homeless connected with services. 

“We are humbled and blessed for the support and truly have a partner in his organization,” said Joann Courtland, OSDCT’s director and founder. “We can make his donation stretch as far as we can. It is also nice to see an organization do what they say they will do.”