FAIRLEA Area veterans were honored Thursday with a reception at the Greenbrier Valleys WorkForce West Virginia office.
Among the honorees were several World War II veterans, who chatted with each other and posed for photos with WorkForce employees. One of those vets, Emory Boone, won a United States flag in a drawing conducted as the mornings events drew to a close. Presenting the flag on behalf of Rep. Nick Rahall was Larone Alexander from the congressmans staff.
Alexander also presented a Congressional Certificate of Recognition to Steve Ellison, who is a veterans employment representative with WorkForce West Virginia. In making the presentation, Alexander described Ellison as being a cut above the rest in providing services to the nations military veterans.
Ellison told The Register-Herald that one of his primary responsibilities is employer outreach telling potential employers about the tax incentives and other benefits of hiring veterans.
He noted, Our unemployment situation in West Virginia for veterans is better than in other states. We have a good response to veterans who are seeking jobs here.
Ellisons colleague, Alex Phillips, a disabled veterans outreach program specialist in Region I, explained that his own duties involve providing intensive services to veterans and reaching out to identify potential clients in places such as homeless shelters, VA medical centers, vet centers, military installations and among civic and service organizations.
Phillips said his clients include veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders and those who are low-income or homeless. They have a harder time finding employment, he said.
The many services Phillips provides include assessments of education, skills and abilities, as well as career coaching and pre-vocational services that help prepare the veterans to meet their career goals.
Another of the veterans attending the reception on Thursday was Sid Peters, who was a tail gunner on a B-52 during World War II.
Im told that Im the last living tail gunner, Peters said proudly.
The dapper 88-year-old pointed to his positive attitude as one key to his continuing good health and vigor. I say 40 affirmations every morning, Peters said.
As the former vice president of Walls Fine Art Gallery, which relocated to The Greenbrier resort in 2012, Peters said he has lived in White Sulphur Springs for the past 18 months.
Janet Shelton, manager of the Greenbrier Valley WorkForce West Virginia office in Fairlea, said the purpose of the recognition reception is simply to honor our veterans. In fact, her father, James Pyne, was one of the days World War II honorees.
The two-hour event included the presentation of colors by the JROTC from Greenbrier East High School, an MIA/POW ceremony and a luncheon with food donated by Rusty and Pam Arnold of Wallace and Wallace Funeral Homes.
For more information about the services offered by WorkForce West Virginia in the Greenbrier Valley, call 304-647-7410 or visit the office at the southern end of the Red Oaks Shopping Center in Fairlea.
