A free, one-day veterans benefits "supermarket" and health fair is set for veterans and their families in Whitfield and surrounding counties, organizers say.
Dalton Mayor David Pennington said thousands of area veterans are long overdue for the Dec. 7 event at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center. It's the fourth benefits "supermarket" held in Dalton but the first since 2000, officials said.
"We've had two wars over that period of time," Pennington said. "We want to give them the benefits they rightfully deserve."
Veterans of all ages should attend to learn about available services, whether they need them now or not, he said. Tennessee and North Alabama veterans also may attend.
"It's somewhat disconcerting how many are not receiving the benefits they're due," Pennington said. Most veterans "just don't know that these services are available."
IF YOU GO
The Veterans Benefits Supermarket and health fair will be Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center in Dalton, Ga. Exit Interstate 75 at Walnut Avenue and travel west about one-quarter mile to the convention center.
The event includes seasonal flu shots and free medical screenings for veterans, along with information from agencies such as Military Retirement Services, Social Security Administration, Small Business Administration, the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety, state and federal departments of Labor, state Department of Human Resources, state Department of Natural Resources and a medical facility representative, organizers said in a news release.
"The 'supermarket' will provide Georgia veterans and their family members with an opportunity to acquire information and assistance from more than 40 municipal, state and federal agencies about various benefits," Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler said during a Nov. 16 organizational meeting in Dalton.
"In this one-day session, we will place every agency that has any connection whatsoever with veterans benefits within easy reach of those eligible veterans and their family members," he said.
The benefits "supermarket" events began in January 1966 in Columbus, Ga. More than 5,000 people attended, and 4,000 claims were filed on the spot, officials said. Since then, more than 165,000 veterans and family members have attended the events.
Ben Benton is a news reporter at the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He covers Southeast Tennessee and previously covered North Georgia education. Ben has worked at the Times Free Press since November 2005, first covering Bledsoe and Sequatchie counties and later adding Marion, Grundy and other counties in the northern and western edges of the region to his coverage. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Tenn., a graduate of Bradley Central High School. Benton ...
related articles »
DALTON, Ga. — The line snaked down the hall and up the stairs, as hundreds of military veterans and their ...
DALTON, Ga. -- Volunteer coordinators in Dalton say they will need about 1,500 volunteers to step up this weekend for ...
Not a single resident showed up Thursday for a two-hour public meeting held to explain a controversial 1 percent regional ...
DALTON, Ga. -- The City Charter in Dalton is designed to give the mayor limited powers. The top elected official ...
Or login with:
New Account