Opening ceremony held for 'Operation Coal Country Medical Misson'

The kick-off and opening ceremony for 'Operation Coal Country Medical Mission' was held at Eastern Kentucky University's Manchester campus on Wednesday.

The ceremony included more than 150 military personnel.

The Air Force Reserve Command training mission is to provide no-cost medical services and resources in four counties across Eastern Kentucky. Those four counties include Clay, Knox, Jackson, and Leslie.

The US Department of Defense and the US Military Reserve Forces partnered with the Kentucky Department for Local Government applying for a grant to provide this health care.

The Army, Air Force, and Navy will use this training to prepare for future deployments.

"This operation pretty much brings on the best of the best. We really want our most elite and experienced folks to be out here servicing the community. And it is a great opportunity for us to engage in training for our readiness capabilities," said George Bates a US Air Force Captain.

These clinics will provide medical screenings, dental exams which can include extractions, optical exams and one pair of single-prescription glasses at no cost to the patient.

Even though these personnel travel across the country the responses are still overwhelming said Jonathan Polos a US Air Force Mission Commander. "I could not see you provided me a pair of eyeglasses. I can now read books again. My child can now see the whiteboard at school."

Assistance will be provided on a first come first serve basis.

The clinics will begin on August 3 and go through August 10.

Times and locations are listed below:

Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

CLAY COUNTY:

EXCEL Building:

86 Muddy Gap Rd

Oneida Community Church:

14897 KY-66

Oneida, KY 40972

KNOX COUNTY: