Agency’s El Dorado event to focus on veterans’ benefits

EL DORADO — Officials with the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs will host a public meeting Saturday to help veterans understand their benefits.

The meeting will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion Post 10, 105 Christian Drive, El Dorado. Doors will open at 2 p.m. to allow veterans time to write down and submit questions to be answered during the event.

Questions written by veterans before the meeting will be answered without identifying the people who wrote the questions, said Gina Chandler, assistant director of veterans services. If submitted questions are not answered during the event, Chandler said, officials will get back to the veterans with the answers afterward.

She said the goal of the event Saturday is to inform veterans of what the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for and what the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for, as well as to educate them on what benefits are available. For instance, the federal agency is responsible for veterans’ health care, while the state is responsible for veterans’ nursing homes. Both agencies run cemetery operations.

The meeting is not just meant for veterans, however. State officials are encouraging dependents and family members to attend, as well.

Veterans service officers also will be on hand to consult with individual veterans as needed.