Same-day VA enrollment offered at Hamilton County veterans event

Hamilton County veterans who haven't tapped into their earned benefits can get enrolled in VA health services on the spot Aug. 15 at TQL Stadium, no hospital visit required.

The 3rd Annual Hamilton County Veterans Appreciation Day runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 15, at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. The free event is open to all Hamilton County veterans and their families, including those in Symmes Township and the Loveland-Milford corridor. Organizers expect 5,000 attendees.

The Cincinnati Veterans Administration will staff 11 to 12 tables covering programs such as veterans justice, military trauma and standard health benefits, according to WCPO 9 Cincinnati. Acting public affairs chief Chris Klug said an enrollment specialist will be on site to check eligibility and sign veterans up the same day, eliminating the need for a separate trip to the hospital.

More than 100 veteran resource organizations will be on hand, along with free food, free parking and family-friendly activities, according to the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission.

One veteran's story

Jim Groen, a Hamilton County veteran and former Marine Corps combat engineer, attended last year's event at Sawyer Point after a friend nudged him to go. He had spent 15 years trying to get his VA claims connected, submitting buddy letters from fellow Marines, his wife and his daughter without success.

"I was very apprehensive getting into big crowds, but I went down there and signed up, and they got the ball rolling for me," Groen said in an Aug. 10 interview with WCPO. After connecting with a service officer through the commission, he got his disability rating restored.

Commission expanding its reach

Executive director Glenn Welling told WCPO the event is about celebration and access. The commission uses heat maps built from 2020 census data to identify veteran populations by ZIP code and focus outreach on those who haven't yet connected with benefits, including in areas like Symmes Township and the Loveland-Milford corridor.

Since relocating to a new Bond Hill facility at 1701 Patricia McCollum Way in March, the commission has seen walk-in visits double, according to Fox 19. The 25-member staff includes a claims department that recently secured $25,000 in retroactive VA disability pay for a single veteran in one week.