Veterans benefits not affected by state cuts

    Wednesday is Veterans Day, a day to honor those who served and to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Washington County Veterans Affairs Service Officer Sue Rich is pleased to serve veterans not just on Veterans Day, but every day of the year.

    ?I like to say it?s Veterans Day every day in my office,? said Rich. ?I serve the veterans every day. It should not just be one day per year that we honor them.?

    Rich helps local veterans secure veterans? benefits and other services they are entitled to. She said that in 2008, nearly $5.3 million in benefit funds was given to veterans and their families in Washington County.

    Rich said veterans would not be affected by the state budget cuts announced last month. She said her office received $10,000 from the state in July, and that money may be in jeopardy next year. However, she said that the $10,000 is for administrative services and will not affect the payments veterans receive.

    Rich said the benefits came in the form of compensation, pensions, educational rehabilitation, medical care and care for dependents and surviving spouses.

    Rich said that the $5 million figure is more than $1 million more than what came into Washington County the previous year.

    ?We are really proud of that figure,? said Rich.  ?That comes from us applying for benefits for our veterans.?

For the full story, see the Nov. 10 edition of The Washington Evening Journal