GREENE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCE VETERANS' OUTREACH News Release: May 27, 2011 Contact: Elizabeth Menhart, Communications Director/Tourism (724-852-5210)
WAYNESBURG, PA — As the nation pauses Monday to observe the Memorial Day holiday, the Greene County Commissioners have announced that the county will offer veterans' outreach programs at area senior centers. Outreach will be conducted on select dates at senior centers operated by Community Action Southwest in Carmichaels, Jefferson, Mt. Morris and West Greene, and at the Clarksville Senior Center, which is sponsored by the Clarksville Area Lions Club.
"The outreach programs are part of a continuing effort to connect our county’s veterans with the benefits and services that they are entitled to,” said Commissioner Pam Snyder, chair of the Board of Commissioners. "We have thousands of veterans and widows of veterans living in Greene County, and many of them are unaware of the government benefits that they can receive."
Greene County veterans have received more than $700,000 in benefits and other services since July 1, 2010, according to statistics released by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
The figures, current as of the end of March, show that $734,881 has been disbursed to county veterans who filed claims for compensation disability, pension for veterans and widows, retroactive benefits or other miscellaneous benefits through the Greene County Office of Veterans' Affairs. Of that total, $296,014 was for compensation claims, $105,856 was for pension claims and $333,011 was for retroactive benefits.
"There are so many veterans out there who don’t even know the benefits they can receive," said Dalene Watson, director of veterans’ affairs, noting that more than 4,000 veterans live in Greene County. Watson, who was hired in February, will also visit county nursing homes to conduct outreach with veterans and widows.
A 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force Reserves, Watson was enlisted for eight years and was an officer for 12. She served as a radio operator and medical technician during Desert Storm and was part of a Medical Crew that flew on a C-130, picking up Special Forces responsible for recovering downed pilots.
As a veteran herself, Watson understands the need to secure benefits for those who are entitled to them most and was excited about the opportunity to work in the county veterans' affairs office.
"When I decided to enlist in the military, I wanted to serve my country," she said. "Now that I’ve done that, I want to serve the veterans."
Click here for the current outreach locations and dates. For more information on veterans’ benefits, call the veterans’ affairs office at 724-852-5275, or visit www.co.greene.pa.us. Pictured above is Dalene Watson, Greene County director of veterans’ affairs (click on image to enlarge photo).
For general information, please contact the Information Services at 724-852-5399 / Toll Free: 1-888-852-5399. County Office Building, 93 E. High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
