VA Joins VFNH At Fall Fest

Fall Fest in East Wakfield celebrates community with its 6th fair.
After its inaugural success in 2013, the free family fun day initiated by VFNH Executive Director and associates at Woodman’s Corner with support from the Greater Wakefield Chamber returns again.

VFNH has taken a back seat over the years, but still maintains a presence at the event to meet its mission to Raise the Bar for Veterans service.

This year for 2018, VFNH invited Michael Bichrest from the Veterans Administration Outreach office to set up a table, consult with vets and distribute information.

Placed at the center of all the action, right at the entrance of Country Goods and Groceries, Bichrest was able to answer questions for several veterans and their spouses and send them in for some free ice cream.

“We helped four veterans begin the process of gaining their health care entitlements today and provided consultation and contacts for many more.” reports Bichrest.

Having a veteran service officer present at the Fall Fest has been a focal point for VFNH since they lead the charge in starting the event six years ago. “Helping veterans with VA benefits and entitlements, education, housing, employment and legal matters strengthens these military families and our community as a whole. If veterans can increase their household income, that can translate to more business in the marketplace.” says
Tara Sue Myers, Executive Director of the VFNH Veterans Law Project.

“We did more outreach during this small village event over the course of 4 hours compared to many events at larger, more populated venues.” reports Bichrest.

The Veterans Foundation of NH, Inc. has been leading the charge for veteran service in Carroll County, New Hampshire where there are more veteran residents per capita than anywhere else in the state.

“Unfortunately, Carroll County has the fewest veteran services available compared to all other NH counties.” reported, Joe Moncher, then Bureau Chief for Community Based Military Programs for the Department of Health and Human Services to VFNH.

“We are going to continue to network, build and use our creativity to raise awareness for the real issues facing veterans and deliver viable solutions.” Myers asserts.

“Unlike the days of my father’s return from the Vietnam War, Veterans are better received and at least vocally supported. Soldiers who returned from Vietnam and Korea were either disrespected or ignored. That doesn’t happen so often today. Still yet, with all the camaraderie towards veterans now, a lot gets lost and wasted. It seems like everyone wants to be on the helping side. But that help needs to be real, relevant and actually useful. That’s what makes our programs unique. We are combat military families and we know what is needed.

Tara Sue and husband Ross Myers have been leading the veterans movement since 2002 when they launched a no-cost Web service for any veterans service organization to help prepare for return from the front. In 2005 the couple began establishing Veterans Law Projects to answer the unique need for veteran legal assistance.

The Veterans Law Project helps hundreds of veterans every year with legal consultation, support and pro bono representation. Veterans in need are referred to the VLP by the VA, DHHS, VFWs, Legions, Air National Guard Readiness groups, Easter Seals, Veterans Count and many more.

“Everything we do at VFNH beats away at the veteran suicide rate, health issues, and engages families and community. And we do it with more wit and grit than with money.”

Learn more about the VFNH and its Veterans Law Project. Find support. Give support. www.vfnh.org www.veteranslawproject.org