MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - State officials are hoping that job fairs in about a dozen cities across the state will help some of Tennessee's 31,000 unemployed veterans to find work.

On Thursday, the Paychecks for Patriots event in Memphis attracted hundreds of people.

Army veteran Christopher Wells told The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/S0aDwC) that he landed a job in June only to be laid off in September. Wells said he has been looking for work at jobs fairs, on websites, and at Electrolux.

Eighteen employers attended the Memphis event, including Dollar General Corp., AutoZone, Corrections Corporation of America, Estes, FedEx, HCA, Nike and Titan Transfer.

Mark Breece, with the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs, said veterans make good employees because the military has already taught them to be leaders and self-starters.

Information from: The Commercial Appeal, http://www.commercialappeal.com

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