Statement by Bonham Mayor H. Compton

The Sam Rayburn VA facility is so important to our community for several reasons.

1. It provides valuable services to our military heroes.

2. It provides jobs for our friends here in the community that allows them to make a living here.

3. It honors one of the greatest statesman that ever served our country.

There was a time when the leadership at the local VA took pride in putting on display what our military might was all about, with troops showing up with planes, helicopters and other military equipment.

Retired USAF Brigadier General Karen S. Rankin addresses students from Fannin County in 2009. For approximately two decades, Bonham was fortunate to host one of the four Regional Veterans Day Observance programs in Texas.

This has not happened in quite some time. Many young adults were fascinated with this display and joined our armed forces, some making a career of the service.

I believe this display is sorely missed.

photos by Allen Rich

North Texas e-News is encouraging concerned residents to contact all their elected representatives to discuss the recommendation to reduce veterans services at the Bonham VA.

Governor Greg Abbott - (800) 843-5789 - Information and Referral Hotline (for Texas callers)

(512) 463-1782 - Information and Referral and Opinion Hotline
(for Austin, Texas and out-of-state callers)

(512) 463-2000 - Office of the Governor Main Switchboard
(office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST)

Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick - The Texas Lieutenant Governor Message Line: (512) 463-5342

The Texas Lieutenant Governor Office Line: (512) 463-0001

Office of the Lieutenant Governor
P.O. Box 12068, Austin, Texas 78711

Senator John Cornyn - Main: 202-224-2934, 517 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510

Senator Ted Cruz – Central Texas – Austin (512) 916-5834, 300 E. 8^th, Suite 961, Austin, TX 78701

North Texas – Dallas (214) 599-8749, Lee Park Tower II, 3626 N. Hall St, Suite 410, Dallas, Texas 75219

Senator Bryan Hughes – Texarkana (903) 223-7958, 5411 Plaza Drive, Suite D, Texarkana, Texas 75503 / Marshall (903) 923-0404, 201 West Houston Street, Suite 106, Marshall, Texas 75670 / Austin (512) 463-0101, P.O. Box 12068

Rep. Reggie Smith – Sherman (903) 891-7297, 300 N. Travis St., Suite 3
Sherman, Texas 75090 / Austin (512) 463-0297, Room E1.312
P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768

Cong. Pat Fallon – Rockwall (972) 771-0100, 6531 Horizon Road, Suite A, Rockwall, TX  75032 / Sherman (903) 820-5170, 100 West Houston Street, Suite 14, Sherman, TX  75090 /

Washington DC (202) 225-6673, 1118 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC  20515