Chautauqua County Executive Gregory J. Edwards was honored by two chapters of the Vietnam Veterans of America for his outstanding record of improving veterans' services in the county at an event held at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena on Monday, Oct. 19.
Edwards was presented with plaques from the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter No. 865 of Jamestown, and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter No. 978 of Frewsburg. The presentations took place prior to a meeting involving Jim McDonough, director of the state division of veterans' affairs.
"The event was scheduled to provide valuable information to Chautauqua County's veterans about new programs we will be rolling out with the New York sSate Division of Veterans' Affairs, so the awarding of the plaques were complete surprises," Edwards said. "It is difficult to express how honored I am that they chose to recognize me."
Chautauqua County Veteran's Service Agency Director Troy Smith said both chapters of the Vietnam Veterans of America presented the county executive with a plaque because of his repeated support for the veterans of Chautauqua County and their families.
"The veterans of Chautauqua County feel they have a county executive that cares about veterans and does what he says he will," Smith said. "He keeps his word to them."
Edwards has made it his goal to do all he can for area veterans. Some of his accomplishments include the hiring of Troy Smith as Director after the retirement of Jim Hurley, the purchase of a veterans van to transport patients to the Buffalo and Erie VA Hospitals, and the relocation of the Veterans Services office to 610 W. Third St. in Jamestown to be co-located with the local New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs office and the VA Outreach Clinic. The major accomplishment was, and still is, getting fast responses for veterans and their families to the many questions and challenges they face dealing with several different organizations, including the VA, so they can get the benefits they earned with their service to the nation.
"One of my top priorities as County Executive is to strengthen the relationship between the county and our veterans," Edwards said. "That was the reason behind the meeting in the first place."
At that meeting, veterans heard from McDonough, who spoke on "How to Build on Success Pathways to Even Better Veterans' Services."
Deputy Director Ed Simmons was also in attendance. The New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs was created in 1945 as part of the Executive Department with the task of assisting World War II service men and women with readjustment from the military to civilian life. Their current mission is to provide quality service, advocacy and counseling for all New York veterans and their families to ensure they receive benefits.
