Posted
Sponsored by: Board of Commissioners
Washington County Serves and Assists Over 38,000 Veterans
Though Veterans Day comes only once a year, Washington County works everyday to provide services and assistance to the over 38,000 veterans in our community.
On October 6th, under the leadership of our volunteer Veterans Committee, we held a "Stand Down" event to assist veterans with employment and service needs. This event reached out to provide veterans an opportunity to meet with employers, connect with many community resources, receive health screenings, meet with veteran benefit counselors, register with the VA hospital for medical care, receive surplus military clothing and supplies, and more. About 300 veterans were connected with services and received lunch; two-thirds of them accessed job-related services through the Oregon Employment Division. If you know a veteran who may not be receiving all the services he or she needs, please have them call Disability, Aging and Veteran Services at (503) 846-3060.
Next month, Washington County and the City of Hillsboro will dedicate the new Veterans Drive, formerly known as Grant Street Extension, in the southerly portion of the Washington County Fairgrounds. Veterans Drive will run through an area that includes the future site of a new National Guard readiness center, as well as a new Veterans Memorial Plaza at the Fairgrounds. The dedication event for Veterans Drive is scheduled for Tuesday, December 14, 2010, and will be a chance to honor all veterans in our community.
Throughout the rest of the year, Washington County Veterans Service Program works to ensure that Washington County veterans and their families receive all entitlements provided by federal and state law. Our Veterans Service coordinators help veterans file their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) claims, help them with necessary follow-up, and assist them in the appeals process as necessary. This program has provided services to over 7,100 vets or their family members in the last 15 years.
On behalf of Washington County, we thank our veterans and their families for their service to our country.
Chairman Tom BrianCommissioner Andy Duyck
Commissioner Roy Rogers
Commissioner Dick Schouten
Commissioner Desari Strader