WWMT: Coldwater U.S. Army veteran honored as 'Veteran of the Month'

A Coldwater U.S. Army veteran was awarded 'Veteran of the Month' for the month of May by State Representative Tim Walberg (R) on Monday.

Charles R. Scott served in the Army from 1979 to 1992, reaching the rank of staff sergeant, completing tours in Korea, Germany, and serving in several U.S. bases across the country.

Scott earned several medals during his years of service, including the Army Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal, among several others.

After his honorable discharge, Scott returned to Coldwater to work as a veteran service officer for 22 years and an Army recruiter for four. He has since retired.

Scott told News Channel 3 he has helped raise more than $30 million for veterans' services in Branch County.

He has also created a transportation program, enabling veterans to get to VA hospitals.

Scott is also responsible for having a veterans' memorial park established in front of the Branch County Courthouse.

Walberg began the 'Veteran of the Month' program around a year and a half ago, largely with the help of his Green & Gold congressional aide, Dean Wetzel.

Wetzel travels to veterans organizations, discovered Scott in Coldwater, and Walberg presented Scott with a proclamation and an American flag on Monday afternoon.

"The many awards he received for his military service when he came out with education opportunities, and then taking on the Veterans Affairs Coordinator here in Branch County for 22 years, he was a pretty easy person to say, 'We'll do it for him this time,'" Walberg told News Channel 3.

Scott was grateful to Walberg for giving him the award for the month.

"To give back to the people who served our country, like myself, was just something that God sent me to do," Scott told News Channel 3.