CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) On the day before Veterans Day, the William O. Beach Civic Hall was filled with around 130 people, most of them veterans, attending the SAFE fundraising breakfast on Thursday. The theme of the organization’s annual breakfast and ongoing theme for the year is “Lighting the Way Home”.
SAFE, Soldiers and Families Embraced, is a non-profit group based in Clarksville that offers free, confidential, and professional counseling to active duty military, veterans and their families. The organization’s mission is to serve as a resource for the community to ease the readjustment and reintegration of members of the military returning from current wars and their families, as well as veterans from previous eras.
Tennessee State Senator Mark Green, was recognized with the Community Hero Award. Green along with being a retired U.S. Army Veteran, is also a physician and CEO of Align MD, a hospital and emergency room staffing company he founded. Green was presented the honor by the 2015 recipient of the award, SAFE board member, Phil Harpel.
Guest speaker for the breakfast was Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett. “I think most of you know that I have a heart for our military. I enjoy working on finding opportunities to make life better for those who serve and I’m fortunate to work with many organizations that have the same mission,” said Durrett.
Durrett talked about the Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization (VSO) that serves 10,138 veterans, which he said is a number that is growing by the minute. The mayor added they are working to add staff to the VSO to shorten wait times and help more veterans. He also mentioned the Veterans Network of Care website which features resources to assist those who serve.
You’ll find SAFE at 510 College Street in Clarksville and their office is open Monday-Friday from 9 am-4 pm. To learn more or to make a donation to support the continuing work of the organization, visit www.soldiersandfamiliesembraced.org or call 931-591-3241.