WELCOME
Since the beginning of mans
history, all great nations have honored, respected, and provided certain benefits for
their veterans, realizing that had it not been for the sacrifices of the men and women who
fought their battles, the nations themselves would cease to exist. Enlightened persons know that veterans have made
many sacrifices for their country which are not demanded of the majority of citizens. For this reason, veterans are a special group who
have earned special consideration.
The United
States of America has, on a broad scale, been most generous in providing for the care of
its millions of veterans. Its program is of
necessity, vast and complicated. As a result,
the individual veteran is lost in a maze of forms, letters, and red tape. It is necessary, therefore, that he be properly
counseled and advised as to his rights and benefits.
Every state in the United States has recognized this need and has provided a
Division of Veterans Affairs or similar organizations to care for its veterans. Even the government
of the United States has created such an agency in the District of Columbia. This fact alone, indicates that a State Division
of Veterans Affairs is an absolute necessity to ensure all veterans that they will receive
all benefits to which they are entitled.
Many uninformed
people are prone to use the words, duplication of effort when referring to the
work of a State Division of Veterans Affairs. Nothing
could be further from the truth. This is
comparable to saying that a lawyer who represents clients and a court of law are
performing the same function. A State
Division of Veterans Affairs to a veteran seeking benefits from the US Department of
Veterans Affairs can well be compared to a lawyer who represents a client in court. The
aim of the US Department of Veterans Affairs is to pay a veteran exactly what he asks for
when he is entitled, and no more. The aim of
a State Division of Veterans Affairs is to obtain for a veteran all he is entitled to, to
tell him when he is entitled and to help him obtain and prepare the evidence which will
prove his entitlement.
The State of
West Virginia is and has always been foremost in providing its sons and daughters for the
defense of our country. The patriotism of West Virginians is a matter of history. By the same token, the State of West Virginia has
been foremost in caring for those who have served. The
West Virginia Legislature in its wisdom in 1945 created the West Virginia Department of
Veterans Affairs (later named WV Division of Veterans Affairs) to provide a service to its
honored veterans which cannot be and is not duplicated by any other state group or agency
currently in existence. |