(Sherman, TX) It's official. Each year, the third Tuesday in September will be known as "Keep Veterans Smiling Day" in the City of Sherman and across Grayson County, Texas.

At a regular meeting of the Grayson County Commissioners Court, County Judge Bill Magers and all five commissioners voted unanimously to recognize that September 20 is a day of giving back to the county's U.S. Military Veterans. Representing the City of Sherman, Mayor David Plyler proclaimed reaffirmed the date in his municipality.

Seven years ago, Sherman dentist Dr. Sam Nechamkin held the first "Keep Veterans Smiling Day," and has since provided over $240,000 in donated services and materials to local Veterans. "I started the private foundation in 2016 with the idea that my practice would contribute an entire day to providing a filling, an extraction, or a cleaning to any local U.S. Military Veteran who showed up that day," said Nechamkin.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, poor dental health can contribute negatively to a number of other serious health concerns. Ten percent of Veterans are without private health insurance and less than 10 percent of that number have coverage under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).

"Each year, we have increased the number of Veterans who have taken part in the one-day event," said Nechamkin. "We want to increase awareness of this no-cost opportunity and service as many Vets as possible."

Learn more about how to take advantage of this year's "Keep Veterans Smiling Day."

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A RESOLUTION OF GRAYSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT
OF THE STATE OF TEXAS TO PROCLAIM THE THIRD TUESDAY IN SEPTEMBER
AS KEEP VETERANS SMILING DAY IN GRAYSON COUNTY

 

WHEREAS, Grayson County is home to over 10,000 U.S. Military Veterans;

WHEREAS, 10 percent of Veterans are without any private health insurance and less than 10 percent of that number have the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA);

WHEREAS, Medicare does not pay for most dental work and supplemental programs are unaffordable for many Veterans;

WHEREAS, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services poor dental health can contribute negatively to a number of other serious health concerns;

WHEREAS, Dr. Sam Nechamkin established a private foundation “Keep Veterans Smiling” in 2016 to provide dental procedures for Grayson County Veterans who have no insurance coverage, or cannot afford to pay privately;

WHEREAS, donations from private individuals and local business owners have supported the “Keep Veterans Smiling” program, and Dr. Sam and his staff have provided no-cost dental procedures for nearly 600 Grayson County Veterans since 2016, representing a value of over $240,000 in donated materials and services;

WHEREAS, the third Tuesday of September each year is designated as “Keep Veterans Smiling Day” at Dr. Sam Nechamkin’s Premier Dentistry in Sherman and this will be the 7^th annual event;

NOW, THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Grayson County Commissioners Court hereby proclaims the third Tuesday in September, as Keep Veterans Smiling Day in Grayson County, Texas.

Adopted this the 6^th day of September, 2022, at a regular meeting of the Grayson County Commissioners Court.