There are a lot of veterans in Murfreesboro. As the center of the state and home to the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center, it just makes sense. Therefore, there are several groups, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion in town for prior military members.
Those who have served, men and women, young and old, have shared experiences. Many times, those stories are shared with one another, and whether they are humorous or harrowing, there’s a sense of familiarity in almost all of them. In short, veterans are family—though there is always bragging as to what branch of service is the best!
There is a sense of comradery among members of veterans groups, and it is important to have a common gathering place. But locally, various different organizations were paying individual rent payments in order to meet. That hurts a chapter’s ability to plan for future activities and best serve its members.
So, the need for a Rutherford County Veterans Community Center has become evident over the past few years. One central area would be good, not only to hold standing meetings but to offer other services as well. Two men who had the idea of establishing a community center and took the initiative were Brian Morris and Keith Prather.
Brian Morris currently serves as the executive director of the Rutherford County Veterans Community Center. He handles the day-to-day operations of the organization as well as the facility itself. Mr. Morris is a veteran of the U.S. Navy with over 20 years of service.
Morris enlisted in the Navy in 1992. There, he served for several years as a Corpsman, or medic, who was attached to different Marine units. Brian has deployed to every continent except Australia and Antarctica.
After several years, he attended the Military College of South Carolina, commonly known as The Citadel. Morris graduated in 2005 and earned his commission to serve in the Navy once again, but this time as an officer.
Keith Prather serves as the chairman of the board for the Rutherford County Veterans Community Center. He enlisted and rose through the ranks of the U.S. Army. Eventually, he was promoted to warrant officer, and went on to rise through the ranks of that system.
Chief Prather was a Public Affairs officer in the Army for about 10 years before working with the Office of the Judge Advocate General. With JAG, he used his conflict resolution skills to serve as a mediator in Iraq. Keith spent over four decades serving our nation.
After retiring, he devoted his time to several civilian federal positions. He was the homeless veterans outreach coordinator, the minority veterans outreach coordinator, and served as a benefits counselor for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He has also served as an administrator for the Tennessee VA.
Both men are highly distinguished, but their passion now rests with serving those who have served the United States of America. They are devoted to the upkeep of the local veterans center and were instrumental in its formation.
Last year, the two men approached Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron to speak at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall that was brought to Barfield Crescent Park. During the meeting, they mentioned their intention to create a permanent home base for vets in the area. As luck would have it, Mayor Ketron had just received a letter stating one of the county’s buildings was about to become vacant.
The facility is located at 439 Rice St., Murfreesboro, just off of Memorial Boulevard. With over 2,800 square feet, it offers a couple of large meeting rooms as well as other offices.
Besides meetings, the RCVCC will serve as a place for receptions, professional workshops and maybe even the occasional yoga session. Currently, it is open from noon to 3 p.m., weekdays and vets are welcome to stop by.
The facility also houses Rutherford County Veterans Services Officer Dominick Grimaldi. Grimaldi is someone who can help vets have better understanding of what their benefits are. Whether its counseling services, vocational aid or applying for health services, it’s good to know someone is just down the hall.
The RCVCC had its grand opening in July. But everything takes money. While there is no rent payment, utilities and updates for a commercial building add up to a significant expense. Members of the public may contribute by visiting rutherfordvetcenter.com. All donations are appreciated.
