All military veterans have benefits but many haven’t signed up for them.
To this day, there are Vietnam War veterans who are not in the Veterans Affairs system in order to receive help.
Some veteran advocates have been here in Petersburg this week for the Welcome Home Celebration for the Vietnam Veterans held March 29. They’ve also been connecting with local veterans to make sure they are getting all the benefits they are owed. That can include everything from housing loans to disabilities and medical care to burial benefits.
Looking into these details is a free service for all veterans.
Verdie Bowen is the Director of Veterans Affairs for the State of Alaska and Brian Amirault is a Veterans Service Officer with the Vietnam Veterans of America.
They say veterans often don’t know the benefits that they qualify for. Sometimes it’s worth hundreds of dollars a month.
The paperwork can be daunting. Sometimes veterans receive forms in the mail that they don’t know what to do with. Amirault specializes in helping them go through any forms and records that are needed.
The two advocates spoke with KFSK’s Angela Denning. Bowen said the federal regulations can be intimidating and everyone needs help.
Below is the full 14-minute interview with Verdie Bowen and Brian Amirault:
Brian Amirault’s phone number is: (907) 707-7105. His email is: vvawasilla@outlook.com
Verdie Bowen’s office number is: (907) 334-0874. His email is: verdie.bowen@alaska.gov
Here is the link to the State of Alaska’s website for Veterans Affairs.
