“Liberty and freedom and democracy are so very precious that you do not fight to win them once and then stop. Liberty and freedom and democracy are prizes awarded only to those people who fight to win them and then keep fighting, eternally, to hold them.” — Sgt. Alvin York, Medal of Honor recipient
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Saturday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. When the holiday falls on a non-workday such as Saturday this year, federal and state offices are closed Friday, Nov. 10.
Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day. It commemorated the anniversary of the end of World War I. The war formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. In 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day. It was President Dwight D. Eisenhower who issued the first Veterans Day proclamation.
Many confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day. While both are federal holidays, Veterans Day honors all veterans of all wars for their patriotism, love of country, willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Memorial Day is the time we honor those who died in service to their country.
CHANGES AT MCLEOD COUNTY VETERAN SERVICES
It was Benjamin Franklin who said, "... nothing is certain except death and taxes." Another certainty to add to the list is change. And change has come to McLeod County Veterans Services.
Molly Blake, administrative assistant, retired in February, and James Lauer, the department head and lead Veterans Service Officer, or VSO, retired in May. Taking over Lauer's position is Cassandra Carrigan.
"We did not replace Molly’s position, but instead created another full-time Service Officer position, so our two new Assistant Veterans Service Officers are Brianna Lauer and Grant Christensen," Carrigan said. "Bri is not brand new to our office as she filled in for me for a year while I was deployed in 2021. She has been assisting veterans in various Veteran Services Offices between Minnesota and Missouri for about five years now. Grant is a brand-new service officer and is still working on obtaining accreditations with the various veteran service organizations, so he can fully represent veterans, but is still a nice addition to our office."
This said, you might wonder: What is a Veteran Services Officer? A VSO is trained and accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This means they are qualified to provide assistance to veterans, their dependents and survivors. VSOs can assist in applying for local, state and federal benefits, as well as provide information about available resources including disability compensation, low income pension, health care access, education and training programs, employment, burial and survivor benefits, housing, transportation and obtaining military records.
In the event a claim is denied, a VSO can help file an appeal of that decision. It's important to note, there is no charge to work with a VSO. They are county employees and provide these services to residents.
TO BEGIN, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
To begin the process in McLeod County, a McLeod County veteran makes an appointment with Cassandra Carrigan, department head and lead VSO officer or Assistant Veterans Service Officers Brianna Lauer and Grant Christensen by calling 320-864-1268. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the McLeod County Government Center, 520 Chandler Ave. N., Glencoe. Appointments are also available at the Environmental Services Building, 1065 Fifth Ave. SE, Hutchinson.
In Meeker County, a Meeker County veteran would make an appointment with Tim Steinert, VSO, by calling 320-693-5445. The office is in the Family Services Center, 114 N. Holcombe Ave., Suite 120, Litchfield.
For the appointment, the veteran is encouraged to bring his/her DD Form 214, which is the document of the United States Department of Defense issues upon a military service member's retirement, separation or discharge from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. If the veteran doesn't have a DD214, the VSO can help obtain a copy. It is an important document because the VSO uses it to determine a veteran's eligibility for all benefits.
WHAT BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE?
Federal Benefits: VA health care, VA long-term care facilities, VA service-connected disability compensation, VA non-service-connected veteran’s pension, TRICARE health insurance, Veteran Readiness and Employment, VA home loans, GI-Bill, burial benefits including burial at a federal veterans cemetery or a government provided marker to be used in a private cemetery, burial flag, burial and plot allowances
State Benefits: Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, or MDVA, State Solders Assistance Program, or SSAP, dental and optical Assistance vouchers, MDVA SSAP Veterans Relief Grant, MDVA SSAP Subsistence Grant, MDVA State-run Veterans Homes, Minnesota GI-Bill, Post 9/11 Service Bonus, burial benefits including burial at a state Veterans cemetery and a Bronze Star Flag Holder for burials in a private cemetery in Minnesota.
McLeod County Benefits: Transportation to VA scheduled medical appointments, including VA Community Care appointments. We currently have 10 drivers and 5 vehicles (4 regular passenger vehicles and 1 handicapped accessible van. McLeod County Veterans Association Assistance Fund, free advocacy and help from McLeod County Veteran Services
Meeker County Benefits: The Veterans Service office assists veterans and their families with apply for VA benefits and state benefits through the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. Within the county government system, we interact with Social Services, as well as Court Services, County Recorder, County Treasurer and County Public Health Nursing Services. It also provides a van service that takes Meeker County veterans to VA doctor appointments. The service is free of charge to veterans. This program is made possible through the Meeker County Veterans Council, which generously donates the vans.
VETERAN NONPROFIT RESOURCES
In addition to federal, state and county benefits, Veterans Service offices may reach out to veteran nonprofit organizations including:
- Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, Chapter 37: The Hutchinson chapter provides rides to medical appointments for veterans and their family members. They also have a medical equipment warehouse full of items such as walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, lift chairs and so on for use by veterans and their family members.
- Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, or MACV: Focuses on housing, employment, and legal services for low-income veterans. The largest part of this is the prevention of veteran homelessness.
- Lutheran Social Services, or LSS: Provides free, confidential professional services for veterans and their families including individual, family, and couples counseling, deployment and reintegration counseling, anger and stress management counseling, financial and debt management counseling, addiction counseling, abuse and other types of trauma counseling, respite care and caregiver support.
- Folds of Honor Scholarships: This program awards scholarships for spouses and children of veterans who have a service-connected disability.
- Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund, or MMAF: Grants are available to Minnesota veterans who have served in a Combat Zone since September 11, 2001.
"We can also make referrals to local nonprofits that are not veteran specific such as the United Community Action Partnership, or UCAP, Common Cup Ministry, McLeod Emergency Food Shelf, Crow River Habitat for Humanity and so on," Carrigan said.
VSOs can also help surviving spouses, depending on their circumstances, with possible benefits, many of these are the same as what are available to veterans:
- VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (survivor benefit for spouses of veterans who died of a service-related condition)
- VA Survivor’s Pension (survivor benefit for spouses whose medical expenses are consuming their income/assets)
- TRICARE Health Insurance
- CHAMPVA Health Insurance
- VA home loans
- MDVA SSAP Optical and Dental Assistance vouchers
- MDVA SSAP Relief Grant
- MDVA SSAP Subsistence Grant
- MDVA state-run veterans homes
- McLeod County Veterans Association financial assistance grants
For more information or to make an appointment with McLeod County Veteran Services, call 320-864-1268. In Meeker County, call 320-693-5445. For best assistance, appointments are highly recommended. Information is also available at www.mcleodcountymn.gov/departments/veteran_services and www.co.meeker.mn.us/198/Veterans-Service.
