Local Veterans Honored for a Different Kind of Sacrifice

Volunteers who drive wounded, ailing and aging veterans from Carteret County to the VA Hospital in Durham were honored at a ceremony in Pine Knoll Shores Tuesday.

By: Philip Jones | WNCT
Published: November 26, 2008

They served our country and now some local veterans are winning special recognition for serving each other.

Nine On Your Side's Philip Jones explains how their efforts are drawing national attention.

“Serving those who served.”

It's a phrase emblazoned across the front of the Carteret County Veterans Transportation Van and in the hearts of dozens of people who gathered at the Country Club of the Crystal Coast Tuesday morning.

That’s where local and national leaders honored two dozen volunteers who give up their own time to take care of the people who gave up so much for all of us.

“This … has really been a celebration of how the vets care for the vets,” said Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-NC), who represents North Carolina’s 3rd District.

Rep. Jones and Rep. Pat McElraft (R-NC 13th District) were on hand in Pine Knoll Shores to help dole out state and federal recognition for the folks who drive vans from Carteret County to Durham to take wounded, ailing and aging veterans to appointments at the Veterans Affairs hospital.

The volunteer drivers have logged more than 140,000 miles since 2006 and have worked five days a week to carry more than 1,000 veterans to their appointments.

“Some of these guys aren't physically able to make the trip to Durham,” said Jim Taylor, a former Army combat medic and now a volunteer driver. “To be able to get them get them up there to get quality health care and pay back what they've given me, although I’m a veteran, they're a veteran, and we're all in this together -- one brother helping another brother.”

Taylor is one of the folks who received recognition Tuesday -- and says there's always some good-natured ribbing going on when veterans from different branches hop in the van and head to Durham.

“Yeah, we kid each other,” he said. “But when the dust settles we're side by side and we fight the battle.”

And even if the battle has changed, the brotherhood hasn't.

The Carteret County Veterans Transportation Network started in 2006.

In addition to all the miles they've covered since then, volunteer drivers have put in more than 4,000 hours making sure veterans get to their appointments.