MTSU Daniels Center, utility companies partner so employee-veterans find VA benefits’ opportunities

Sherri Sedgebear, left, who works in suicide prevention with Tennessee Valley Healthcare, provides information and swag for Consolidated Utility District of Rutherford County employees John Law, center, and Brandon Watts on Tuesday, April 23, during the partnership luncheon/information session for utility employee- veterans sponsored by Middle Tennessee State University and Middle Tennessee Electric. The event, held in the MTSU Miller Education Center on Bell Street in Murfreesboro, Tenn., assisted employee veterans with learning about VA benefits’ opportunities. Watts is an MTSU alumnus who already has gone through the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center process. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A growing friendship between Middle Tennessee Electric President and CEO Chris Jonesand Middle Tennessee State University’s Keith M. Huber led to 50 utility workers who had served their country coming to learn about veterans’ benefits they could potentially receive.

Veterans working for Middle Tennessee Electric, United Communications and Consolidated Utility District of Rutherford County met Tuesday, April 23, for a luncheon and information session in the MTSU Miller Education Center on Bell Street to learn about VA health care, cemetery options and disabilities and compensation.

Chris Jones, president and CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric in Murfreesboro, Tenn., welcomes utility company employee-veterans and others to the luncheon and VA benefits session Tuesday, April 23, at the Middle Tennessee State University Miller Education Center on Bell Street in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Attendees from United Communications, Consolidated Utility District of Rutherford County and Middle Tennessee Electric learned about VA benefits they could be receiving. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt) — Chris Jones, president and CEO of Middle Tennessee Electric in Murfreesboro, Tenn., welcomes utility company employee-veterans and others to the luncheon and VA benefits session Tuesday, April 23, at the Middle Tennessee State University Miller Education Center on Bell Street in Murfreesboro, Tenn. ***Attendees from United Communications, Consolidated Utility District of Rutherford County and Middle Tennessee Electric learned about VA benefits they could be receiving***. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

The effort, led by Middle Tennessee Electric and MTSU’s Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center, brought representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System and others to campus to share opportunities with the veterans. MTSU’s Daniels Center plans to work with other Midstate companies to share potential benefits with their veteran workforce.

“We want to use this momentum to say to a number of our veteran teammates that VA benefits are there to help others,” Jones said. “We want them to take advantage of the services offered here today.”

Huber, MTSU senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives and a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, said that “all veterans have VA benefits, but so few apply for them. I’m so thankful we have this platform to talk about benefits.

“The VA is the second largest organization in government. We deprive ourselves and our families of benefits we’ve earned, and we need to fix that. I know the VA cares. Here is an opportunity to get face-to-face with a VA counselor.”

Huber introduced World War II veteran Bill Allen of Murfreesboro to the audience.

Rod Key, left, a military veteran and MTSU military-connected students’ career counselor at the Daniels Veterans Center, chats with World War II veteran Bill Allen of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 23, in the Middle Tennessee State University Miller Education Center on Bell Street in Murfreesboro. They attended the luncheon and VA benefits’ information session for utility company employee-veterans working for Middle Tennessee Electric, United Communications and Consolidated Utility District of Rutherford County. Allen, who spent nearly 32 years working with Murfreesboro Electric before it merged with Middle Tennessee Electric, served in World War II and is one of 28 survivors on the U.S. Navy LST 523, sunk by an enemy mine during the invasion of Normandy, France, on June 19, 1944. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Keith M. Huber, MTSU senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives — Keith M. Huber

Retired after almost 32 years with Murfreesboro Electric and turning 99 in May,Allen was a U.S. Navy corpsman on the LST 523 carrying 145 military personnel that was sunk by an enemy mine June 19, 1944, off the beach at Normandy, France, in World War II. He was one of 28 survivors.

“I helped load casualties,” said Allen, who was part of a 2013 PBS documentary and has spoken hundreds of times about the events that day. “Why had I been spared? A life raft appeared at the last second. Was it luck? It was just God and myself. It had to be God, and we’ve been close ever since.”

Huber also introduced Rod Key, a veteran and MTSU military-connected students’ career counselor at the Daniels Center, who shared how a friend convinced him to pursue benefits.

For more information about the Daniels Center or veterans’ benefits, call 615-904-8347 or visit https://mtsu.edu/military/index.php. The center is located in Rooms 126 (main office) and 316 (transition office) in Keathley University Center, 1524 Military Memorial.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)