Tyler seeks Texas Veteran-Friendly Community designation

Published 5:45 am Tuesday, November 19, 2024

In Tyler, veterans are met with more than thanks — they find opportunities to thrive in a city that cares.

“It is veteran friendly, according to the research that I did, in every way,” said Dr. Marilyn Young, a UT Tyler Hibbs Institute Fellow and professor of management. ”There’s so much that Tyler [Metropolitan Statistical Area] has done.”

With the help of Young’s research, the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Veterans Committee has applied for a Texas Veteran-Friendly Community designation with the East Texas Council of Governments.

This program officially honors communities that have prioritized and worked to create a veteran-friendly environment. Being designated as veteran-friendly not only recognizes a city’s commitment to veterans but also sets a standard for others to follow. It can enhance local pride, attract new residents and businesses and strengthen the overall sense of community.

The criteria for the Veteran-Friendly Community designation include the economic environment, community support, employment opportunities, healthcare, educational and career resources, quality of life and future plans for veteran services.

In the meantime, Young created a brief highlighting several initiatives where the community goes above and beyond to honor veterans.

In the last decade the Greater Tyler area has received several military recognitions, including being named a Purple Heart City in 2014. The University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College are both recognized as Military Friendly Schools, with UT Tyler earning Silver and Tyler Junior College earning Gold.

Tyler and surrounding communities support veterans through various special initiatives and youth programs. The Brookshire Grocery Company’s Hero for Flight Program honors veterans with flights to historical sites, while the City of Bullard hosts the Texas Veterans Military Show, and the City of Whitehouse has dedicated the Veteran Memorial Highway.

For youth, programs like Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas’ “Red, White & BBQ,” Boy Scouts of America, Junior ROTC at Tyler Legacy and Tyler High School and the Rose City Young Marines engage the next generation in honoring veterans and fostering patriotism.

“At first, I didn’t know how much the community supported veterans, and then I got into it and it was overwhelming, daily, weekly I found something new,” Young said.

Dozens of organizations in Tyler provide crucial support for veterans.

CampV coordinates resources for more than 700 veterans each month and sponsors the annual Homeless Veterans Stand Down event. Starbrite Therapeutic Equestrian Center offers therapeutic services, while the Marine Corps League and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) provide additional assistance and advocacy for those who have served.

The Veteran-Friendly Community designation offers official recognition from ETCOG, including a certificate and use of the VFC logo. It boosts the city’s profile, highlighting its commitment to veterans and can attract veterans and their families to live, work and invest in the community.

The results for the designation will be announced on Jan. 2, 2025. The application will be compiled into a report and made available in spring 2025 on the Hibbs Institute website.