From the front lines to power lines - York Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Electric co-ops care about veterans.

Electric co-ops have had a special affinity for veterans. Perhaps because they are both so closely aligned in outlook: focusing on service, mission and country. Maybe it’s because a disproportionate number of veterans come from rural communities and return to their hometowns following active duty. Or, maybe it’s due to the shared work ethic of teamwork, cooperation and a “get it done” attitude. Most likely, it is all of the above.

Network of caring

At YEC, we are among more than 900 electric co-ops across the country to support and honor our nation’s veterans of all generations. We are grateful to have veterans within our ranks, and we are proud to serve veterans and their families within our local community. In addition to providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity, we care for the veteran community in a variety of ways. Recently, YEC had the pleasure of hiring Brent Hollingsworth as a lineman. Brent served as Army Ranger, 1st Battalion, for over eight years. We are certainly thankful for his service to our country and to YEC!

We are not alone in our efforts to honor and serve veterans. As part of our national network of electric cooperatives, spanning 47 states and covering 75 percent of the nation’s landmass, there are countless programs that our family of co-ops has initiated. At the national level, we support the “Serve Our Co-ops; Serve Our Country” program, a nationwide initiative aimed at employing and honoring veterans, military-service members and their spouses. This program came with a great vision of forming a national coalition with the shared goal of hiring veterans into co-op jobs across rural and suburban America and setting them up for success in local communities.

Many programs, one purpose

Richard I. Damron, YEC member, was one of the many WWII veterans to participate in the Honor Flight sponsored by S.C. electric co-ops. *Photo: Porter Gable*

At the local level, electric co-ops across America have created their own programs tailored to the unique needs of their community. YEC, along with our fellow S.C. electric co-ops and like many electric co-ops, sponsored Honor Flights in 2012 at no charge enabling veterans from the Korean conflict and WWII to visit war memorials in Washington, D.C..

A commitment to supporting and caring for veterans is apparent at every electric co-op across this great nation. We at YEC are proud to be a part of the cooperative network that honors and supports veterans of all ages, ranks and branches of the military. And, we look forward to honoring our veterans who are members of YEC on Friday, November 10. Veterans who come into our offices with proper identification from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. will receive a $20 YEC bill credit and a special gift. Please help us spread the word to the veterans in your family and community.