WHEELING, W.Va. - The West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance (WVDVA) – an agency that brings in roughly $2 billion per year in cash and benefits to veterans and their families – is hosting a grand opening on Tuesday of its new field office in the Bethlehem section of Wheeling.
The grand opening, which will be held at the new office location – 1082 East Bethlehem Boulevard - will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. The ribbon cutting will be followed by an open-house event that will last until 1 p.m.
The event is designed to let veterans throughout the Northern Panhandle know of the WVDVA’s move of its field office from downtown Wheeling to the new Bethlehem location, a move that aims to give veterans easier access to the department’s Veterans Service Officers. The Wheeling office re-location is one of several upgrades to WVDVA facilities that will improve the level of services to our state’s veteran community.
“We have tremendous officers in every region of West Virginia, and they provide critical services to our state’s veterans. Although many veterans around West Virginia know about the great work that is done in our field offices, not every veteran knows we are here to serve them,” said West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance Cabinet Secretary Dennis Davis.
“We wanted to take this opportunity to let veterans know that we are opening this new Wheeling office. We also want to invite veterans in the Northern Panhandle to stop by and have a conversation with our service officers. Every veteran should make sure that he or she is taking advantage of all the opportunities and benefits that are available.”
The WVDVA operates 16 field and claims offices, as well as dozens of additional itinerant work stations in other Mountain State communities. The department assists veterans with receipt of federal and state offerings, such as medical benefits, education assistance and cash awards.
Among other ongoing initiatives, the WVDVA is seeking to make sure its offices across the state are in locations that make access as easy as possible, Davis said.
“Our veterans have served their country, their state and their communities,” Davis said. “Our mission at the Department of Veterans Assistance is to give back to our veterans. They served us. Now we should serve them to the best of our ability.”