WELCOME

Since the beginning of man’s 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.