Published: November 11, 2007 03:02 am      

Benefits available to veterans, their families

FAIRMONT — Veterans and their families have many opportunities for different kinds of help.

Different benefits are available through the state and federal government as well as various online support groups.

“We are blessed in this state to have a real strong VA presence,” David Allen, acting director of the Veterans Administration Huntington Regional Office, said.

Just for starters, the state has four medical centers in Beckley, Clarksburg, Huntington and Martinsburg, as well as seven veteran centers, a national cemetery and a veterans home in Barboursville, Allen said. Each of the medical centers and veterans centers have satellite offices, which bring veteran care and benefits to those who have served and their families in every part of the state.

Allen said all the state and federal veterans officials work together, which ultimately benefits the veterans. A VA representative can pick up the telephone and call other organizations to benefit their veterans, he said. If someone is in a real hardship situation, such as terminal illness, a dire emotional state or if they’re homeless, the veterans organizations can provide help.

“In West Virginia, we work together like no other state,” Allen said. “The facilities, congressional delegations, veterans’ organizations and community service organizations, we all know each other and work together.”

While the federal government offers lots of different benefits, the state Veterans Affairs office is there to fill in the gaps.

Joe Thornton, deputy cabinet secretary for the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, said the state organization provides benefits both large and small. The state programs include the state veterans’ home in Barboursville, educational programs and simple things like Valentines for hospitalized veterans.

Some veterans are entitled to free hunting and fishing privileges, he said. Those that lost a parent during certain conflicts may be eligible for a tuition and fee waiver at state-supported colleges.

Both the state and federal governments also provide guarantees on home loans for first-time home buyers.

“They guarantee a portion of the amount borrowed to the lending agency,” Thornton said. “Lots of people may not get a home loan otherwise.”

Everything done at both the state and federal level is done to honor the veterans and their service, Allen and Thornton said.

For a state with many, many veterans, the holiday is a big deal.

“Veterans Day is one of the biggest days we observe in this country. If not the biggest, it’s the most important, other than Christmas,” Allen said. “In West Virginia, the veterans’ community tries to make every day Veterans Day.”

For help with accessing or understanding your veteran benefits, call the state office of Veterans Affairs in Charleston at (304) 558-3661.

E-mail Katie Wilson at kwilson@timeswv.com.