December 21, 2024
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Veterans: meeting with a VSO officer is about to get easier

Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Office opens Aug. 23 in Lockport

By Denise M. Baran-Unland

Veterans are honored at Lockport East High School before the COVID-19 pandemic. Veterans who live in and near Lockport will soon have easier access to a representative from the Veterans’ Service Office when a Lockport location opens on Aug. 23.

Will County veterans who’d like to meet with a Veterans Service Officer close to home will have that opportunity starting Aug. 23.

That’s when a new Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Office will open at 1463 S. Farrell Road in Lockport, according to a news release from Lockport Township. Hours for the Veterans’ Affairs Service Office will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, except on state holidays, the release said.

Veterans Service Officer Anthony Hernandez is now taking appointments by email at Anthony.hernandez@illinois.gov. Hernandez is an expert on federal, state and local benefits and programs and can assist with providing current information, answering questions and preparing and filing claims for benefits, the release said.

Hernandez can assist with compensation benefits and document assistance, survivor and burial benefits, employment benefits, educational benefits, real estate and permits and referral assistance ofr VA health care and counseling and applying to addmissions to one of the four Illinois Veterans homes, the release said.

To contact Veteran’s Services when the office is not open, use the“Stand Up and Be Counted” online tool at veterans.illinois.gov or call 800-437-9824.






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