Marquette hosts veterans expo at Superior Dome
Veterans had the opportunity to experience a one-stop shop for all of their needs today at the Superior Dome in Marquette.
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency hosted the U.P. Veterans Expo where veterans and family members could learn about education and employment opportunities, receive health screenings and speak with benefits counselors.
The expo served to raise awareness and give service providers the opportunity to connect and network with each other.
Jeff Barnes, Director of the Michigan VA Agency, said, “The Vietnam era veteran has had over 50 changes to eligibility in the past 10 or 15 years, so if you’re not looking back to the VA full time, chances are you’re probably missing out on some of the things that you could take advantage of.”
There is a lot of conversation and collaboration between the Michigan VA Agency and the federal VA and the goal is to make sure that veterans don’t have to make long commutes to receive care.
“We have five VA medical centers across the state the size of Iron Mountain,” Barnes said, “and then another 17 community-based outpatient clinics, which usually allows the veteran to access services within 40 miles of their home.”
The U.P. Veterans Expo continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature a job fair for veterans seeking employment.