Trinity County Veteran Services

05/26/2026

I am thrilled to share that over the weekend the Texas Veterans Commission officially published the list of the FY27 Fund for Veterans Assistance (FVA) Grantees. Among those listed is this office with 2 grants awarded totaling almost $300,000! That is the most that we have ever received from the Commission and we could not be more excited about the opportunities ahead.

What this means:

We have been awarded 2 grants: Financial Assistance & Housing for Texas Heroes.

Financial Assistance ($189,000)- This grant allows us to ease the financial burden on veterans and their families experiencing financial hardship by covering the cost of food and utilities. This year we are also hoping to include other services such as transportation, childcare payment assistance, and burial payment assistance.

Housing for Texas Heroes ($100,000)- This grant is entirely new and very exciting for our Veteran residents. For those who qualify, we will be able to cover the cost of essential home repairs, weatherization, and modifications.

There are a lot of finer details that still need to be worked out between this office and TVC, but when those details are available, that update will be shared as well.

**Please remember that these are needs based programs intended to assist Veterans, dependents, and surviving dependents in true financial hardship. This is not an entitlement program based solely on Veteran or dependent status.

**Funds for these programs do not open until September of 2026. No applications will be accepted until that time.

**Below is a full list of all grantees. It may be beneficial to look over the lists as there may be someone you know living in another area where funds were awarded who would benefit from the programs.

Polk, Harris & Montgomery County, DETCOG, Semper Fi & America’s Fund, and Salvation Army- Lufkin are just a few among the grantees as well!! Some of these ALSO SERVE TRINITY COUNTY VETERANS.

Full List of Grantees Below
https://tvc.texas.gov/grants/fy27-fva-grant-awardees/

05/22/2026

The Groveton Community Association would like to invite all who are able to join them for a time of prayer and remembrance this Memorial Day at 10:00am.

**This office will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 25th but will reopen the following day.

We are endlessly grateful to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of this great nation.

05/15/2026

What a great event we had yesterday at The Riata in Groveton, Tx where we gathered to celebrate and commemorate the military community of Trinity County. I want to thank those who came out to share stories, resources, and ideas which will only serve to create a better future for these service members and their families. I would also like to thank those who took part in the planning and preparation of this event.

We were fortunate to have members from Houston County- Marine Corps League & the VCSO, Tyler County VFW, Trinity County VFW, and the Trinity County Wall of Honor Society in attendance.

Thank you to Groveton’s Mayor, Hayden Lee, & 401 Nursery for allowing us to use their plants as part of the set-up. Thank you to Mrs. Devona Sharp for providing the delicious food which we all enjoyed. Thank you to Rebecca Scuillo for the artwork used as the backdrop in our photobooth which I will now be able to display in my office and to Miranda Wooten for allowing us the use of the photobooth itself. Thank you to Lisa Sharp & Altus Hospice for helping to coordinate this event and all that you do for our Veterans as they transition into continuous in-home care after receiving a terminal diagnosis. Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Page for allowing us to use such a beautiful venue. Thank you to my family (especially my mother and children) for decorating and dealing with me as I stressed over the final details of this event! And as always, a most sincere thank you to the servicemembers of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It is my honor to now serve you.

It has been my goal for the last year to spread awareness about the existence and functions of this office. When I started, most people in Trinity County did not know that they had a local representative accredited with the VA to represent their interests. It is my hope that through this page, word of mouth, and the last 6 events that I have been a part of, that has changed. I am looking forward to turning my focus back to submitting claims and working directly with Veterans and their families. There are exciting new opportunities coming down the pipeline for the Vets in our county which I will share here and on the county page when I am able.

As always, please reach out to this office with any Veteran related needs at (936) 600-2774 or [email protected]

05/14/2026

Looking forward to seeing those who are able to make it today!

We would be honored for you to join us for this commemorative lunch on May 14 from 11-2 at the Riata in Groveton in observance of National Military Appreciation Month where we will share a meal, memories, and stories about the Veterans and current Servicemembers we know and love. We look forward to seeing you there!

05/07/2026

Just 1 week away! I can't wait to see everyone and celebrate the men and women of our military.

We would be honored for you to join us for this commemorative lunch on May 14 from 11-2 at the Riata in Groveton in observance of National Military Appreciation Month where we will share a meal, memories, and stories about the Veterans and current Servicemembers we know and love. We look forward to seeing you there!

05/07/2026

For the Month of May, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Brent Wars, will be the focus of the Trinity County Veterans in Business series. Brent, a Groveton, Tx native, joined the Marine Corps in 2010 as a Landing Support Specialist but was later trained as an 0331 Machine Gunner in preparation for the ongoing War on Terror in the Middle East. By Christmas of 2011, Brent was in Afghanistan where he would spend the next 9 months. Over the course of four years, he also spent time in Japan, Korea, Romania, Spain, Italy, Hungary, and Lebanon. In 2014, 1st Lt. Sophie Funderburk described Sgt. Wars as respectful, professional, and one of the best Marines she had under her command in an interview covering the Black Sea Rotational Force that year.

Brent ended his active-duty service in 2014 and made his way back to East Texas. Since leaving the service, he attained the ranks of Husband and “Girl Dad,” both of which he proudly fulfills with the same devotion and dedication he showed while in the service. In the last 12 years he has worked in the Texas oil industry and as a supervisor for the well-known Ball Corporation.

At the beginning of this year, Brent decided to make a quiet dream of his a reality. He is now the proud owner of Prime Flow Oil and L**e, a mobile oil change service for customers in and around the Trinity County area. As a client of his, I can personally attest to the quality, efficiency, convenience, and professionalism of the oil change service he offers. His dedication as a business owner and technician is just as noteworthy as the dedication noted in the roles he previously held.

Please join me in congratulating Brent Wars on the launch of his business, wishing him much success in this venture, and thanking him for his faithful service to Country and Corps. We are fortunate to have this Veteran as part of our community.

If you would like to read the article mentioned in this feature, it is listed below:

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/506762/face-defense-us-marine-earns-kudos-romania
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/9148034/marine-sergeant-prepares-load-passengers-and-gear-onto-hercules-aircraft-romania

If you would like to schedule an oil change with Brent (which I highly recommend) you can reach him at:

(936)676-0465 or [email protected]

If there is a Veteran that you would like featured as a part of this series, please reach out to this office at:

(936)600-2774 or [email protected]

04/22/2026

We would be honored for you to join us for this commemorative lunch on May 14 from 11-2 at the Riata in Groveton in observance of National Military Appreciation Month where we will share a meal, memories, and stories about the Veterans and current Servicemembers we know and love. We look forward to seeing you there!

04/17/2026

04/16/2026

With tensions high around the world, those on Active Duty and in the Reserves are in the forefront of my mind. I want to take a moment to recognize those in our community who are actively protecting the freedom, and safety we enjoy as United States Citizens.

Please remember that when deployed or otherwise abroad, these servicemembers leave behind spouses, children, parents, and other loved ones. Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.

Feel free to leave a comment with the pictures or information of other Trinity County Servicemembers that you know and love. These are just the few that I could easily obtain pictures of.

Please join me in thanking these brave men and women for their faithful and continued service and sacrifice!

04/14/2026

Though the turnout was not huge, I consider this event a success! One Veteran served today is one more than yesterday, and that is always a win in my book.

I am grateful for the new friends I met and for the familiar faces who came by simply to support this effort.

Again, I am incredibly grateful to Richard Steptoe, Trinity County PCT 4 Justice of The Peace, and his staff for allowing me to use this space.

I look forward to the next outreach event this Saturday, April 18th, in Trinity at the Community Center from 10 am to 3pm. I hope to meet many more Veterans and build an even larger network of likeminded people looking to serve our Trinity County Heroes.