VLB Press Release Archive
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2011
Texas Veterans to get a Lone Star Final Salute
December 02, 2011(AUSTIN)—Jerry Patterson, Chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board, today thanked the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Texas for their gracious donation of 1,000 Texas flags to be used in the Final Salute Program. "These flags will be presented to the family of any Texas veteran who, at the time of ...more
One-of-a-kind Texas State Veterans Home open for business
November 09, 2011(AUSTIN)—Generations of veterans gathered today in Tyler to dedicate the newest and most down-home state veterans’ home in Texas. “Watkins-Logan-Garrison Texas State Veterans Home is a one-of-a-kind facility,” said Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, chairman of the Vetera...more
Voices of Veterans™ exhibit opens on Veterans Day
October 31, 2011(AUSTIN)—The Texas Veterans Land Board and chairman Jerry Patterson, will celebrate Veterans Day with the opening of a Voices of VeteransTM program exhibit at the Texas Capitol Visitors Center called "Every Veteran has a Story to Tell." The interactive, multimedia exhibit will open on Nov. 11 (11.11.11) at ...more
Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery dedication Dec. 7
October 17, 2011(AUSTIN)—Texas veterans and those who support them are invited to a December 7 dedication of the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery. The dedication will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the 54-acre site, located at 9974 Interstate 37 Access Road, Corpus Christi. Retired Army Lieutenant General Ma...more
Watkins-Logan-Garrison Texas State Veterans Home dedication Nov. 9
October 05, 2011(AUSTIN)—Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson today invited veterans and those who support them to the Nov. 9 dedication of Watkins-Logan-Garrison Texas State Veterans Home in Tyler. A ceremony to dedicate this one-of-a-kind long-term care facility will begin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 at ...more
Patterson welcomes VA settlement in Houston
September 26, 2011(AUSTIN)—Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson today welcomed news that Texas veterans and their families will once again be free to worship as they choose at the Houston National Cemetery. According to reports, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has agreed to settle a lawsuit over allegations of rel...more
One-of-a-kind Texas State Veterans Home gets a name
July 28, 2011(AUSTIN)—A one-of-a-kind long-term care facility being built in Tyler got its name today: the Watkins-Logan-Garrison Texas State Veterans Home.The Texas Veterans Land Board voted unanimously to honor three local heroes — two Medal of Honor recipients and a Tuskegee airman — in naming the...more
Wal-Mart buys leased Baytown facility from Permanent School Fund
July 14, 2011(AUSTIN)—Wal-Mart Corp. recently repurchased the 4 million-square-foot distribution center in Baytown that the retail giant had been leasing from the state's Permanent School Fund since 2005. "With this deal, the Permanent School Fund earned more than $40 million for Texas schools without raising ...more
Buy land, help Texas veterans
July 05, 2011(AUSTIN)—Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson today slashed prices on all tracts of forfeited land in the VLB's Type II inventory by 25 percent. The sale is open to the public and offered on a "first come, first serve" basis. "We may be late for all the Fourth of July sales, but what better way...more
Round Rock Express, VLB team up for Texas veterans
June 27, 2011(ROUND ROCK)—The Round Rock Express and the VLB have teamed up to help Texas veterans with a Military and Veterans Appreciation Night on June 27. Ken Wallingford, a former POW, will throw out the first pitch in a night dedicated to letting Texas veterans know about the VLB benefits they've earned through their ...more
107th birthday party planned at Bonham veterans home
June 14, 2011(AUSTIN)— In 1904, the United States began work on the Panama Canal, the first subway line in New York City opened and Ruth Moore Waterman was born in Minco, Indian Territory, Oklahoma. At 10 a.m. Thursday, staff and residents at the Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home in Bonham will throw W...more
62nd Army Band honors former band member, about to turn 99
May 19, 2011(AUSTIN)—The 62nd Army Band will perform a special tribute concert for Russell Peloquin at 2 p.m. Friday, at El Paso's Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home. Peloquin, a resident at the veterans' home and former trumpeter with the band, will be honored for his lifetime of service to our natio...more
Horse Cavalry Detachment, 1st Cavalry Division visits Temple's state veterans home
May 09, 2011(AUSTIN)—Residents at the William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home in Temple are set to witness a precision, military drill usually performed only for soldiers returning from Iraq. Fort Hood's First Cavalry Division's Horse Cavalry Detachment will perform at the Texas State Veterans Home at 1...more
Harker Heights chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart makes generous donation to William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home
May 03, 2011(AUSTIN)—The Harker Heights chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart will present a generous donation of $943 to the William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home, 1424 Martin Luther King Jr. Lane in Temple at noon, Wednesday, May 4. Jack Palmer, commander of Chapter 1876, and his wife of 41 years,...more
San Angelo benefits fair April 9 for Texas veterans
March 01, 2011(AUSTIN)—A free "come and go" benefits fair for Texas veterans will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the San Angelo Coliseum, 50 East 43rd St, San Angelo. The fair, targeting all Big Country veterans, is one of several throughout the state. Officials from the Texas Ve...more
“Held in Trust” 10 a.m. Saturday at El Paso Veterans Home
February 18, 2011(AUSTIN)—Bob Sneed will perform excerpts from his one-man play, "Held in Trust," 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 at the Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home, 9650 Kenworthy Street, El Paso. The public is invited to this free performance. The play tells the life story of West Point's first black gr...more
Pasadena benefits fair March 26 for Texas veterans
January 25, 2011(AUSTIN)—A free "come and go" benefits fair for Texas veterans will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at the Pasadena Civic Center, 7902 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, 77507. The fair, targeting all area veterans, is one of several throughout the state. Officials f...more
Dallas benefits fair Feb. 26 for Texas veterans
January 10, 2011(AUSTIN)—A free "come and go" benefits fair for Texas veterans will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Dallas Market Center, 7050 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas. The fair, targeting all Dallas area veterans, is one of several throughout the state. Offici...more
2010
VLB organizes airlift of more than 80 wounded Warriors to Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
December 28, 2010(AUSTIN)—More than 80 wounded warriors will watch SMU faceoff against Army at the 2010 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Thursday, thanks to an airlift organized by the Texas Veterans Land Board. This is the fifth year the VLB has brought soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan...more
All who served and live in Texas now Texas veterans
December 16, 2010(AUSTIN)—The 1.7 million veterans living in Texas - regardless of when they moved here - will qualify for benefits from the Texas Veterans Land Board as of Dec. 21. "A veteran is a veteran, and this change opens up VLB programs to all who served and now call Texas home," said Jerry Patterson, chairman of th...more
Patterson sends Pearl Harbor survivors back for anniversary memorial
December 01, 2010(AUSTIN)—Two Texans who fought back the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 69 years ago will soon be headed back for special memorial services, thanks to the Texas State Veterans Home in Temple where the old heroes live. Once shipmates aboard the USS Phoenix, Albert Kamenicky and Ben Russell each wat...more
Veterans Land Board undergoes corporate rebranding
October 27, 2010(AUSTIN)—After 64 years of faithful service, the Veterans Land Board - or VLB - has a new look to spread the word that veterans benefits in Texas aren't just limited to land anymore. "The VLB offers Texas veterans more than just a land loan nowadays," said VLB Chairman Jerry Patterson. "From low-c...more
McAllen Texas State Veterans Home celebrates five years serving the Valley
October 13, 2010(AUSTIN)—The Alfredo Gonzalez Texas State Veterans Home in McAllen celebrates five years of serving Rio Grande Valley veterans at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 14. Dolia Gonzalez, mother of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez, will be the featured guest at a luncheon honor...more
Texas State Veterans Homes open to all Gold Star parents
September 29, 2010(AUSTIN)—Jerry Patterson, Chairman of the VLB, today welcomed news that the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill sponsored by Congressman Mac Thornberry expanding access to Texas State Veterans Homes for all Gold Star parents. A Gold Star parent is someone whose son or daughter died while s...more
Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home celebrates five years in El Paso
September 28, 2010(AUSTIN, TX)—Jerry Patterson, Chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board, will join veterans at El Paso’s Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, to celebrate five years of serving those who have served our nation. “The El Paso veterans’ community h...more
El Paso veterans home hosts annual Wii bowling tournament
September 23, 2010(AUSTIN, TX)—Residents from nursing homes and assisted living centers all around El Paso will converge on the Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, for the Third Annual Wii Bowling Tournament. Residents from 13 area facilities are expected to join Texas veterans in a fun-f...more
Patterson hears widow’s plight, changes policy overnight
August 30, 2010(AUSTIN)—Jerry Patterson, Chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board, today announced a change in policy that allows the surviving spouse of any Texas veteran killed in action an additional full 50 basis point discount on a home loan. The benefit - which allows Texas veterans to borrow up to $325,...more
Home loans for Texas veterans hit an all-time low: 4.3%
August 17, 2010(AUSTIN, TX)—Home loans for Texas veterans hit a record low rate today of just 4.3 percent for a 30-year, fixed rate, announced Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson. “This is great news for Texas veterans,” Patterson said. “Rates this low help those who served buy homes now and ...more
Valley benefits fair Oct. 16 for Texas veterans
August 16, 2010(AUSTIN)—A free "come and go" benefits fair for Texas veterans will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16 at the McAllen Convention Center, 700 Convention Center Blvd., McAllen. The fair, targeting all Rio Grande Valley veterans, is one of several throughout the state. Officia...more
Corpus Christi benefits fair Oct. 30 for Texas veterans
August 13, 2010(AUSTIN)—A free "come and go" benefits fair for Texas veterans will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30 at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center's Corpus Christi Room, 402 Harbor Drive, Corpus Christi. The fair, targeting all Coastal Bend veterans, is one of several throughout t...more
Work begins on Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery
July 23, 2010(AUSTIN)—Work began today on turning 54 acres of donated land into hallowed ground as hundreds of veterans joined Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and numerous state, federal and local elected officials to break ground for the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery. Now an open field off Inte...more