East Texas is renowned for its natural beauty in the form of trees and hills. However, it also harbors a vibrant car community that seamlessly integrates with its veteran population. This unique blend creates a sense of unity and appreciation. "Car shows like this bring all of us together," said Eddie Pruett, an Air Force veteran and owner of Fast Eddie’s Hotrods. "I’ve been in countries where you’re not allowed to practice religion and you’re not allowed to talk about it. We have that freedom, and that’s from the vets."

Honoring Veterans and Celebrating Cars

On Saturday, the East Texas Veterans Association of Warriors joined forces with East Texas Locals to host a Veterans Tribute Car and Truck Show at South Spring Baptist Church in Tyler. The event, which showcased around 40 vehicles, paid tribute to local veterans while also highlighting a diverse range of cars.

Brian Hayden's Perspective

Brian Hayden, the managing owner of East Texas Locals, explained that the event serves two crucial purposes. It honors veterans by presenting them with awards for their service to the community and recognizes the best vehicles in the show. "We can never do enough for veterans," Hayden said.

Eddie Pruett's Story

Pruett, who served in Desert Storm, noted that veterans have been receiving more attention and appreciation in the past eight or nine years, which he is glad to see. He emphasized the reality of PTSD, as civilians often use the term loosely. He knows several veterans who struggled to adjust after returning home. Pruett shared a story about a friend who still gets triggered by fireworks, taking him back to the war. While he didn't experience it the same way, he understands everyone's differences. Pruett brought several of his own cars to the show, including a green 1973 Dodge Challenger RT with only 40,000 miles, a 440 Barracuda with a racing engine, a 1971 Chevy truck with a short bed, and a recently bought 1974 custom Corvette resto-mod. He mentioned that he has about 41 cars in total, stored in two large garages.

Yvonne Munn's Insights

Yvonne Munn, the secretary of the East Texas Association of Warriors, emphasized the importance of supporting veterans through events like these. Half of the proceeds raised go towards the association, which acts as a liaison to connect veterans with local services. "People come out, and they support veterans," she said. "These car shows are beautiful because you always see different vehicles, talk to the different vendors, and the love and support they show for veterans – it’s a good thing."

Anthony "Bonehead" Freeman's Passion

Anthony "Bonehead" Freeman, a car enthusiast from Tyler, shared his passion for creating car replicas and trophies using scrap car parts. He frequently donates his creations to veterans or other causes. For Freeman, working on cars has been a lifelong passion. "Growing up, I was always working on things with my dad and building models. I loved Hot Wheels, and that deepened my interest in cars and motors," Freeman said. But for him, it's not just about the cars; it's about the restoration process. He finds a sense of accomplishment in taking something old and broken and transforming it into something new and functional. "When people see a car at a show, they might not realize the work that went into it," Freeman said. "It’s hard to put a word on what it feels like, other than a sense of accomplishment to see something like that, that’s been done from scratch. Not everybody gets it. Unless you get dirty and get your fingernails dirty, put cars together and take them apart, you don’t really respect it."