Attorneys with the Chattanooga Bar Association are providing low-income military veterans with free advance directives for health care and basic wills.
The first annual “Wills for Veterans” will take place Monday, Nov. 12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Court Building, 600 Market Street.
The CBA is hosting the event with the support of the Chief John Ross Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Chattanooga Area Veteran’s Council, the Southeast Tennessee Veterans Coalition and the Vascular Institute of Chattanooga.
The Vascular Institute will provide to the first 100 veterans arriving a free carotid ultrasound test, to be done by appointment at their convenience.
“Veterans are our nation’s most important citizens. Their service to this country is why America is the great place it is,” says Tracie LeSar, director of marketing and community outreach at the Vascular Institute. “We’re excited to help ensure our veterans remain healthy for years to come.”
“Once veterans leave the military, they often overlook estate planning since they don’t perceived it as an immediate need,” says retired U.S. Navy Capt. Mickey McCamish on behalf of the Southeast Tennessee Veterans. “An estate planning clinic like this will eliminate many unnecessary problems.”
Speaking for the Chattanooga Area Veteran’s Council, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Chris Dolley says the council is grateful to Judge Alex McVeigh and his colleagues at the CBA for doing the wills clinic.
“We’re blessed to have so many supporters willing to help veterans and their families,” he says.
“We have nearly 23,000 veterans in the greater Chattanooga area. These patriots can use this event to get their affairs in order and prepare for the future.”
Lynda Hood, executive director of the CBA, praises veterans for thinking of others first and putting the good of the country before themselves.
“They devoted their lives to serving our country, prepared to pay the ultimate price in the line of duty. We want to give back,” she says.
Linda Moss Mines, historian for the Tennessee Society Daughters of the Revolution, says she owes a debt of gratitude to the men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces.
“Each of them stood on the line for me, and I take that debt seriously,” says Mines. “We in the Chief John Ross Chapter of the Daughters of the American Resolution consider it our privilege to assist our veterans in planning for the future.
“We understand the cost of freedom, and this is one way we can say thank you.”
“None of us want to think about end-of-life decisions, but each of us needs to make those decisions for ourselves” says Wills for Heroes participating attorney and Chief John Ross Chapter regent Jessica Dumitru.
“As the daughter of a veteran, I’m thrilled to be able to serve those who have served my community and nation.”