September 20, 2007 - Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz, in conjunction with the City of Corpus Christi, will hold his Annual Congressional Veterans Summit on Saturday, September 22, 2007, from 9am – 3pm at American Bank Center’s Bayview Ballroom (2nd floor).
General Ricardo Sanchez will deliver the keynote address. The summit is free of charge for area veterans and their families, and will provide a wide array of services and information unique to veterans and their families. RTA will provide free transportation to the event for veterans with proper identification.
“This summit provides an excellent opportunity for area veterans to meet with people who can offer detailed explanations of the services available to them in the Coastal Bend, and to get a number of free medical screenings, and even door prizes,” Ortiz said. “One of our high priority projects right now is to compile a more complete counting of veterans residing in South Texas to counter the claims of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that our population here is insufficient to support a regional Veterans hospital.”
Following the Opening Ceremony, featuring Keynote Speaker General Ricardo Sanchez, the summit will have two parts:
• WORKSHOPS – VA representatives from Washington, DC and Texas will provide an update on current veteran issues (including benefits/enrollment, business, education, health and mental health, Transitional Assistance) and they will answer veterans’ questions directly.
• EXHIBITS – A Veteran’s fair including community-based organizations from the area that provide services to veterans for: employment, education, health care, social services, business, housing, and transportation. The fair will offer a Job Fair and Health Fair offering free glaucoma screenings (provided by Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation), free blood pressure screenings, and many other services for veterans.
“I am deeply grateful to the committee of area organizations and the City of Corpus Christi that are helping my office put together the services that will most help area veterans,” said Ortiz. “These people are doing God’s work for the men and women who risked life and limb in the service of our nation.”
WHEN: Saturday, September 22, 2007
WHERE: American Bank Center/ Bayview Ballroom/ 2nd Floor
1901 N. Shoreline, Corpus Christi
TIMES: 8:00am (Doors Open); 9:00am – Opening Ceremony with Keynote Address by General Ricardo Sanchez 10:30am – Break Out Sessions on Education, Benefits, Health, PTSD, Transitional Assistance and Business; Exhibits Open
Media Point of Contact: Denise Blanchard (956) 371-3311 cell
|
