A plan which drew nationwide applause to help the surviving spouses of the Fort Hood shooting came from humble beginnings.
A Facebook post by a Waco nurse inspired Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson to treat the spouses of those killed in the Fort Hood shooting rampage as if they were survivors of combat fatalities.
The call to action came from Bryan Page, a nurse at Hill Regional Hospital in Waco, which took in many of those shot during the November 2009 terrorist attack on the military base in nearby Killeen.
Page will be honored for his practical solution at this year’s Texas Veterans Conference at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 400 N. Olive St., in Dallas.
“Mr. Page’s idea was one of those ingenious answers to problems that don’t flow as easily out of state government offices in Austin,” said Patterson, who oversees the Veterans Land Board (VLB) and welcomes feedback from the citizens he serves. “We’re grateful for his expert opinion.”
Texas VLB Deputy Commissioner Bill McLemore will present a Texas flag previously flown over the state Capitol, a framed certificate, and a letter of appreciation from Patterson to Page.
Texas veterans benefits are the best in the nation. To qualify for VLB benefits, veterans must be honorably discharged, must have served at least 90 days of active duty and must live in Texas. The Texas Veterans Land Board serves more than 1.7 million Texas veterans of all ages. The VLB offers below-market interest rate loans for land and home purchases, as well as for home improvements. The VLB operates eight Texas State Veterans Homes that serve more than a thousand veterans and their families needing long-term, high-quality care. For more information call 1-800-252-VETS (1-800-252-8387), or visit www.texasveterans.com.
