September 14, 2009

Supermarket of Veterans Benefits reaches out to veterans, retirees and their families at Fort McCoy
Outreach event held on September 11, 2009 (Patriot Day)

(MADISON) – A large turnout of nearly 600 veterans, military retirees and their families attended a Supermarket of Veterans Benefits at the Wisconsin Military Academy at Fort McCoy on Friday, September 11, 2009, coming to learn about and apply for veterans' benefits and services. The outreach event was hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), in conjunction with the annual the Fort McCoy Retiree Appreciation Day.

The event at Fort McCoy was a collaborative effort by WDVA, along with other agencies such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to include the Tomah VA Medical Center and Madison Vet Center, TRICARE, Wis. Dept. Workforce Development, Wis. Dept. of Military Affairs, Fort McCoy Retirement Services Office, Western Wisconsin Technical College, County Veterans Service Officers, veterans service organizations and more.

Since 2000, WDVA has been hosting veterans outreach events, including Supermarkets of Veterans Benefits under the "I Owe You" program across the state in an effort to draw federal, state, and local agencies together in one convenient location to assist veterans in learning about and applying for the benefits and services that they have earned. The Supermarket of Veterans Benefits at Fort McCoy was the department's 36th such outreach event, with over 45 information provider booths present.

Planning is already in place for next year’s event to be held on September 10, 2010.

For more information about veterans’ benefits and upcoming events, visit the WDVA website at www.WisVets.com, contact a local County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) or Tribal Veterans Service Officer (TVSO), or call WDVA toll-free at 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387).