Photo By Keith Hayes | Sergeant Major Sergio MartinezRuiz, base sergeant major, Marine Corps Logistics Base...... read more read more
More than 400 veterans converged on the Veterans Resource Fair staged at the Apple Valley Community Center in Apple Valley, California, to get first-hand information about VA benefits and help in applying for them, May 30.
Sponsored by San Bernardino County First District Supervisor Robert Lovingood, the 6th annual Veterans Resource Fair featured more than a dozen county, local, state and federal agencies handing out advice and help to those military personnel just getting out of the service and those whom have been out for a while.
The staff of Scott Wilk, the 21st District state senator for the region, was on hand to offer assistance, as well as Apple Valley Town Mayor Larry Cusack: retired state senator Bob Dutton, now with the SBCO Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk’s Office; Eric Faulkner with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Experience Office and Supervisor Lovingood.
Sergeant Major Sergio MartinezRuiz, base sergeant major, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., also spoke, telling the gathered veterans to take advantage of all of the information amassed in the room.
“I’ve spoken on this subject many times at different locations, including Japan,” the sergeant major said. “This is the first time I’ve spoken at the Resource Fair. I’m looking forward to passing on information that can help veterans find a solution to their problems.”
MartinezRuiz went on to recount the story of a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, Kent, who was involved in a crash that killed his co-pilot. That experience resulted in severe PTSD for Kent, which eventually affected his wife and baby daughter when he returned home.
After threatening his wife and child with a handgun, Kent put the weapon to his own head and kept it there for two hours before collapsing. His wife sought help from the Army but received no support. She and her child had to hide out at a domestic violence shelter for 12 days to avoid him.
“No veteran should feel alienated,” the sergeant major said. “I want you to know that you are not alone. I ask each and every one of you to take advantage of the information here. If nothing else if you believe you don’t need the information provided here, make a point to stop by at least one or two tables, because the information you receive here today might help to keep someone else from becoming a statistic.”
Another impactful speaker at the event was Evita Yniguez De La Cruz, president of the Veterans Suicide Awareness Project.
The former U.S. Air Force tech sergeant told the crowd that she founded the organization five years ago in honor of her husband. The two had met during a deployment to Iraq. He was suffering from the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, when he committed suicide in front of her as she held their 19-month-old daughter in her arms.
“The biggest problem for veterans having suicidal thoughts is asking for help,” De La Cruz told the crowd. “That is a big issue among veterans, especially men, because they see that as a sign of weakness. It’s not;, it’s actually a sign of true strength.”
She said her organization has helped more than 2,500 veterans across the country since it was found. There are branches of the Veterans Suicide Awareness Project in Texas and Missouri.
Eric Faulkner, Veterans Experience Officer with Veterans Affairs, talked about the literature they had on hand at the event.
“You’ll find the VA welcome tool kit,” he said. “It walks a veterans through the lifecycle of applying for benefits. It explains education benefits. It even has the process for applying for burial benefits for the families of veterans.”
Representatives with Disabled American Veterans Bill Kinnard Cchapter #92 were at the fair as well, offering to help those applying for medical disabilities.
“The Veterans Administration is very good at what they do, they just aren’t good at explaining what they do,” Daniel Floyd, DAV Bill Kinnard #92 commander said. “The DAV helps you navigate those waters.”
Homeless veterans were also being offered a help in the form of the SBCO Department of Housing, which offers several programs to help not only veterans but ordinary citizens apply for housing assistance.
“We coordinate with the federal government in the form of HUD-VASH program,” housing service specialist Kimberly Modica said. That is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing.
The age range for fair attendees ran from the mid-20s to the late 70s.
“I’m here today to file a claim because I lost my hearing and I also have (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) due to asbestos,” 77-year-old Karl Kessnich said. The former Vietnam War Army and Navy veteran was in the audience. He had served aboard the landing ship dock USS Alamo off the coast of Vietnam. “I came to the last Resource Fair but didn’t really get involved.
This time I’m starting applications for medical disability.”
For more information about the Veterans Suicide Awareness Project go online at http://veteransuicideawarenessproject.org/, or on Facebook at Veterans Suicide Awareness Project, or call them at (760) 713-4471.
To register online with the Department of Veterans Affairs eBenefits Website sponsored by the Department of Defense go to https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage.
| Date Taken: | 06.13.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2019 13:15 |
| Story ID: | 327262 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 60 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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