Snell
Welcome to February! Here is what the local Veterans Service office wants you to be aware of this month.
Legislative issues
The Ensuring Veterans’ Smooth Transition Act has passed through the U.S. House and is currently at the Senate where it will be voted on.
If you are a member of this community and believe that veterans should have automatic enrollment to Veterans Affairs health care, please contact your congressman and advocate for them to vote on this vital bill that will help save veterans lives.
Right now, veterans have to submit a VA form to enroll in VA health care, but with this bill all eligible veterans will be automatically enrolled.
State benefits for veterans
Did you know that there is a military family relief fund that assists veterans who are experiencing a genuine financial hardship?
You can visit the website at www.in.gov/dva/about-idva/links/military-family-relief-fund/ or you can contact our office for more information. We also have pamphlets available at the Brown County Veterans Service Office.
VA visitation policy
The Indianapolis VA Medical Center and all Indiana VA outpatient clinics are changing their current visitation policy to address the surge of the COVID-19 omicron variant. They changed their policy beginning Dec. 28.
Contact Mark Turney at [email protected] and 317-224-8133 or Angela Taylor at [email protected] and 317-987-9052 with any questions.
Fostering thankfulness
We want to thank the Brown County Honor Guard for their hard work in honoring our veterans who have passed away.
They stand through the thick of it — in heat, rain, snow and everything in between — in order to give the final respects of our local veterans by honoring them one last time before their final resting place.
If you know of a Brown County Honor Guard member, thank them for their service. Not every county has an Honor Guard and these veterans continue to serve their community in such a loving way!
Ways to connect
Office Phone: 812-988-5600
Cellphone for call or text: 812-322-9086
Email: Chris Snell, Veteran Service Officer, [email protected]
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bcvso
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BC_VSO
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BCVSOIN/
Have a safe and warm February!
Chris Snell is the Veterans Service officer for Brown County. He can be reached at 812-988-5600 or [email protected].
