From left, Jodi McCullah, director of SAFE, Tennessee; Senator Mark Green, MD; and Col. (retired) Kent Crossley, U.S. Army and executive director of Centerstone Military Services.
Paying tribute to Tennessee's veterans, Tennessee Senator Mark Green, MD kicked off the specialty automobile plate sales program to assist with funding mental health services for military veterans.
"Our men and women make an incredible sacrifice to serve our nation," said Senator Green. "The specialty tag program allows Tennesseans to salute their service each day, not just on Veterans Day, while assisting in funding mental health services for those suffering from the hidden wounds of war. Senator Green is a U.S. Army Veteran whose district is home to Fort Campbell, which houses the world's only Air Assault Division, the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles.
Leaders from Centerstone Military Services and SAFE (Soldiers and Families Embraced) joined Senator Green at Centerstone's Nashville office to unveil the program that will feature four vanity plates containing the emblems of the Combat Infantry, Combat Medic and Combat Action Badges, as well as a plate with the logos of these two administrating charities.
"As a recipient of the Combat InfantryBadge, I appreciate the work Senator Green continues to provide so those veterans awarded these badges can display their unique service in combat," said Colonel (retired) U.S. Army and Executive Director of Centerstone Military Services Kent Crossley. "The wounds of many who were in direct combat, however, are too frequently unseen and go untreated."
Enabling legislation, SB 0049, sponsored by Senator Green was included in Tennessee's transportation omnibus bill to create this program to generate funding directed toward counseling and intervention services for service members, veterans and their families.
"Soldiers And Families Embraced is grateful to Senator Green for the chance to raise awareness of the increasing need for mental health services for military families after a decade and a half of continuous war," said Jodi McCullah, director of SAFE. "Initiatives like this will assist in offering the services our military families need to find hope and healing."
Tennessee veterans awarded one of the badges may purchase the tag for their award; however, all Tennesseans may purchase the charity logo specialty plate. The price for both is $35, with renewal each year, ordered online initially at the Centerstone website, www.centerstone.org/vetplates
Additional information may be obtained regarding the mental health services provided at Centerstone by visiting www.couragebeyond.org and for SAFE by visiting http://soldiersandfamiliesembraced.org.
From left, Col. Crossley, Senator Green and Ms. McCullah.