ABA YLD

Veterans Day – Bar Activities to Serve our Veterans
By:  Victor A Flores

In 1938, Armistice Day was established to commemorate the end of the “war to end all wars” (World War I). However, in 1954, after World War II where America mobilized its largest number of servicemen and women, “armistice” was replaced with “veterans” to honor veterans of all wars. Since 1954, the U.S. has also deployed troops to engage in the Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and War on Terrorism (Afghanistan and Iraq). Every generation has sent young men and women to serve its country’s call, no questions asked and no glory sought.

As a country we have a history of thanking our servicemen and women in different ways. The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, State Bar of Texas, and Texas Young Lawyers Association have offered their thanks by consistently working to offer free or low-cost legal services to the veteran community. The ABA YLD created Project Salute: Young Lawyers Serving Veterans that partnered volunteer attorneys with veterans to share information on available veteran benefits and assisting them with obtaining those benefits.

Recently, the Texas Access to Justice Foundation raised the bar on serving our veterans with the creation of the Joe Jamail Endowment for Veteran Legal Services, ensuring veterans have access to free legal help they need to successfully integrate back into civilian life and secure the rights and benefits for which they risked their lives.

The Texas Young Lawyers Association is working with the State Bar of Texas to help promote the foundation’s “Remembering Our Heroes” campaign that allows individuals to make donations to the endowment in the name of a veteran, living or deceased, or active service member. Proceeds will be invested into the endowment fund to ensure a continued source of free legal help for our Texas veterans.

As the Texas liaisons to the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, the Texas Young Lawyers Association asks that all Texas young lawyer affiliates join/support a veterans legal clinic in November and share the “Remembering Our Heroes” initiative with friends and colleagues. Help us show the rest of the country how we take care of our veterans and challenge other states to do the same for theirs.

Victor Flores is Deputy City Attorney for the City of Denton – City Attorney’s Office. He is the TYLA/ABA YLD District 25 Representative. He can be reached by email at victor.flores@cityofdenton.com.