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Fair to guide veterans to post-military services

Huntsville Item - 6/20/2017

June 20--Military veterans have been able to pursue higher education degrees through the GI Bill since it was created following World War II.

What veterans who are residents in Texas, enlisted in the service in Texas or claimed the Lone Star State as their home of record upon signing up for the military may not know is that their immediate family members can take advantage of similar benefits as well. The Hazlewood Legacy Act allows for eligible veterans to pass along any unused hours (up to 150) of tuition exemption to state public colleges or universities to children and spouses.

There is an event in Huntsville this weekend where veterans can learn more about benefits and programs like the Hazlewood Act that are available to them once their service is over.

Veterans Services of Tri-County, the Walker County Veterans Service Office and the HEARTS Veterans Museum are hosting a free Veteran Resource Fair at the Veterans Conference Center, located next to the museum at 463 State Highway 75 North in Huntsville, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"We have one goal and that is to put veterans in contact with organizations that can serve them and help them navigate the benefits that are available to them because they are veterans," HEARTS Museum executive director Mark Robinson said. "So many times veterans do not know what is available to them and we want them to get started on what is available to them. I have talked to veterans who do not know their is an iPhone app called the 'Texas Veterans' app and they do not know it exists.

"When most veterans are getting out of the service, someone talks to them about it, but they are not listening most of the time because they are just thinking about getting out. Then they don't know what is available or where to go for help."

Service providers who will have information booths set up at the Veterans Resource Fair are the Texas Veterans Land Board; Marriage Management; Worklife Institute; Wounded Warrior Project; Texas Veterans Commission; Vet Center, Veterans Affairs Third Party Administrators, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veterans Affairs Healthcare for Homeless Veterans, American Legion 618, Learning RX, ClearCaption Telephone, Humana, Memorial Herman Medical Center, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Veteran Peer Network and Path-Partners Resource Network.

Fair organizers encourage veterans to bring their families Saturday. There will be a bounce house and castle, rock climbing wall and refreshments provided free of charge. Admission to the museum itself will be half off for adults and free of young people 16 and under.

"We wanted to make this a family friendly event because we want their families to know we recognize they are a big part of the process," Robinson said. "We will show our appreciation to them, plus we are hoping that since it is a family event it will bring more veterans out."

For more information, contact the museum at (936) 295-5959.

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(c)2017 The Huntsville Item (Huntsville, Texas)

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