Reaching out to veterans

Midwest City hosts VA event promoting veterans’ benefits

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

Local veterans received assistance with a variety of military benefits during a Veterans Affairs outreach event on July 9 at the Nick Harroz Community Center in Midwest City.

“It’s an all-encompassing event where we can provide resources to our veteran community and let them know about some of the stuff that is going on,” said Wade Vlosich, director of Oklahoma City VA Health System.

More than 100 people attended the event.

The Midwest City event was open to veterans, their spouses or caregivers, veteran widows, and active-duty military personnel nearing retirement. Attendees were able to get information about the

Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, VA eligibility, toxic exposure screening, healthcare benefits, file service connection claims and get answers to their questions.

Several organizations were represented including Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, Muskogee Regional Office, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mayor Matt Dukes said he was interested in hosting an event in Midwest City.

“It just makes sense because there are a lot of veterans in Midwest City,” he said. “And there are a lot who never applied for benefits. The benefits are allocated, and the money is sitting there for them. But that’s just the veteran mentality.”

The PACT Act spurred on community events like this one.

“It wanted to focus on expanded eligibility and benefits for our veterans,” Vlosich said.

The Oklahoma City VA is hosting outreach events across the state. This year’s outreach program is to focus on Veterans to talk about their medical care concerns, or help navigating the VA Health Care System, Veteran Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Association and assist Veterans with resources and benefits.