Veterans shuttle gets $7000 gift

Left to right: Gordon Brett, DAV Commander Chapter 63, Joyce Stark, DAVA District III Sr. Vice Commander, Allan Ayo, President, Viet Nam Veterans of America. Joyce is holding $7000.00 check donated by Philip Blumberg of Americans Veterans to the DAV Van Fund. Contributed photo If you read The Horse's Mouth column, or have noticed the donation jars scattered around town, you will have learned that the Disabled American Veterans is in need of a new van to transport our veterans from the VA clinic in Palestine to the VA hospitals in Waco and Temple. Well, a few weeks ago a wonderful man, Mr. Blumberg, a stranger to the area, was just passing through town and stopped at the Pitt Grill. He noticed the jar that I had sitting on the counter near the cash register. Handing the waitress his card, he asked her to give it to me so that I could call him about a donation as this looked like something he would be interested in.

I looked at his card, didn't give it much credence, why would this man from Florida want to help us instead of somebody in his area? But, why not, stranger things have happened. So I gave him a call, we talked a while and he requested that I send more information to him. He told me that he had founded an organization called Americans for Veterans and that this looked to be a very worthy cause. There were a few more calls, more like playing telephone tag and then silence from him. Oh well, I had explained that there were VA clinics all over the U.S. that all needed vans on a regular basis so I just thought that he decided to help in his area. Boy was I wrong!

He called, he asked how much we needed and when I told him he said, "You got it". "You're kidding, you're joking, you're not serious". I was crying and babbling like an idiot, but he was serious. And Monday I turned over a check for $7000.00 to the Commander of the DAV. Yep, that's not a typo it was seven thousand dollars. I still get all teary eyed every time I think about it or try to talk about it, oops and now even writing about it. I told my husband that I was turning into the biggest crybaby in Texas, but at least it was happy tears.

Philip Blumberg, you are truly an angel and you will never be forgotten.

During my campaign for funds I have discovered that there are many veterans in the Buffalo, Centerville and Jewett areas that are unaware of the VA clinic in Palestine. If you need to get registered the VA clinic is on Loop 256 and Hwy 19 in Palestine in the old mall just down from where Penny's is located. Just remember that the VA is slow and it may take a while to get into the system if you are not already in it so go now before you need it. And don't forget that you can always go to the Emergency Room at the Olin Teague Veterans Hospital in Temple.

I also discovered that many veterans just didn't want to or couldn't go all the way to Palestine to ride the van. And veterans that had their primary care doctors in Bryan did not know that the van was available to them. Well folks, listen up. To ride the van you must have a doctor’s appointment between 10:30 am and 1:00pm at either the Waco VA Hospital or the Olin Teague Veterans Hospital in Temple, and you must call the VA clinic in Palestine at 903-723-9006 to make a reservation on the van, even if your primary care doctor is in Bryan. We will pick you up at Brookshire Brothers parking lot in Buffalo between 8:30 am and 9:00 am. You won't even have to go to Palestine! Be sure and tell the clinic that you want to be picked up in Buffalo.

Your appointment is at 9:00 am or 2:00 pm? No problem. It’s not written in stone. The appointments are computer generated so when you get your appointments letter, just call the number on the letter, talk to a real person and change your appointment. It's that simple.

On behalf of our veterans I would like to say thank you to all the folks that dug deep into their pockets and dropped their donations into my donation jars. A few pennies or a $20 dollar bill, it all adds up and we do appreciate it. Your support means so much to us.

I would like to thank Buffalo Industrial Supply, Ryder Oil, Napa Auto Parts, The Horse's Mouth, Billy’s Custom Auto Repair, Larry Lynch and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Ashley for their generous donations. And thank you , Pitt Grill, Napa Auto Parts, Mickey’s Pizza, The Horse's Mouth, Buffalo Sporting Goods, Anthony's Restaurant and Rancho Viejo for allowing me to put my donation jars in your places of business. Be assured that when I am driving the VA van I always point out all the businesses that have made donations or allowed me to leave a donation jar in their place of business.