As Veterans Day approaches, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by our nation’s heroes. On November 11, we honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, whether in times of peace or conflict. This day allows us to show our gratitude and appreciation for the selfless service of our veterans. The West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance is dedicated to providing support and resources to those who have served our country today and every day.
The best way we can truly honor our veterans is by ensuring that their needs and the needs of their families are taken care of to the best of our ability. And that is at the core of our mission.
The Department works year-round to connect veterans with services and benefits they may not currently access. We do not want our veterans to leave any benefits on the table, so we strive to explain every option available so we can connect our veterans to both federal and state benefits. These benefits include but aren’t limited to, disability compensation, non-service-connected disability pensions, VA survivors’ pensions, Montgomery and post-911 GI Bills, Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits, as well as dependency and indemnity compensation, Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Veterans Affairs and even burial benefits.
At the state level, these benefits include tax exemptions for certain veterans, education assistance, employment, veteran license plates, hunting and fishing licenses and financial assistance.
We have more than 136,000 veterans living in the Mountain State. Veterans living in this state have served in World War II and every conflict thereafter. They come from all age groups and generations.
Read more about Veterans benefits: Offering Support For Our Aging Veterans
To assist veterans across our state, our Department maintains 15 benefits offices where staff meet with veterans to address their needs at no charge to the veteran.
To support our aging veterans, WV Veterans Nursing Facility offers 120 beds in Clarksburg and is considered one of the best veterans-only nursing homes in the United States. The 120,000-square-foot facility also has a 20-bed unit reserved for residents in need of special care because of Alzheimer’s Disease or related Dementia. The cost of care at the West Virginia Veteran Nursing Facility is significantly less expensive than the national average.
Governor Jim Justice and the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to support aging West Virginia veterans in the southern part of the state and announced the future home of the Charles Calvin Rogers Veterans Nursing Facility. The 120-bed, state-of-the-art nursing facility in Beckley is estimated to take 18 months to two years to complete. The facility will be located on property adjacent to the Jackie Withrow Hospital. It will utilize what is known as a small home model where residents live in 12-to-15-person communities that feature common rooms, kitchens, dining areas, and other amenities designed to emphasize dignified and autonomous living.
To help address homelessness, the Department operates the WV Veterans Home in Barboursville. This 150-bed facility is a comfortable home for veterans in need. It is considered one of the country’s finest facilities for homeless veterans, and we take great pride in it. Veterans Day reminds us of the importance of the benefits we bring to our veterans.
The best way to honor our veterans is to appreciate them at all times, not just Veterans Day. There are many opportunities to volunteer your time to help veterans. Contact one of our Veteran Service Officers at a Benefits Office to learn more. You can find the closest Benefits Office here: https://veterans.wv.gov/field-office/Pages/default.aspx.