County VSO Shares February Report

I have finished my first full month as your new Service Officer. It has been a whirlwind of appointments, new information, and each day I continue to learn more and more about the system. It has been an honor to continue to help veterans obtain the benefits that they so deserve.

In January the office received 99 phone calls and had 44 visitors in the office. The DAV vans were used over 30 times to take veterans to various appointments. We had our first veteran roundtable, where members of various groups in the county meet to discuss ways to better serve our local veterans. These groups include the DAV, DAR, American Legion, Y22, Veterans Memorial Park and the Veteran service officer.

What exactly is the role of the Service Officer? We are here to help our veterans navigate the VA system. Help them to fill out the proper paperwork in getting disability, death benefits or schedule a ride to a medical appointment. We help veterans with their education benefits, help find service records or just sit and listen.

If you, or anyone you know, need help with any of these services please call and make an appointment at (765) 361-4133.

Local attorney Dan Taylor continues to help veterans draft a will at no cost. You can call his office at (765) 361-9680 to schedule a time to meet with him.

Stay warm, spring is on the way.

Nicholas Kashon is the Veterans Service Officer for Montgomery County. You can reach him at Nick.Kashon@montgomerycounty.in.gov or (765) 361-4133. His office is located at 1580 Constitution Row Crawfordsville.