Thanks to Buzz Smith who is our Veteran Resource Navigator at Easterseals Crossroads for this article
Easterseals Crossroads is very proud of our service to veterans and veteran families. Not only do we help veterans reintegrate into their communities after serving our country, we offer programs that include support for military service members, veterans and their families.
Here are some things to know about our veteran services program.
Many of our veteran services staff members are veterans.
Our veteran services team consists of veterans from various branches of the military, including the Marine Corps, Army and the Navy. All veterans on our team served in Desert Storm. In addition to the veterans on our team, our team also has family members who fought in various other wars including World War II.
We help veterans in a variety of ways.
Our veteran services team works under the Federal Department of Labor Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program Grant (HVRP). HVRP has established two core objectives:
- to provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force
- to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans. HVRP grantees accomplish these objectives through a variety of core services.
We partner with other professionals in our community to provide quality services.
In addition to employment, our veteran services team partners with a variety of community partners to assure that our clients receive the supportive services they need, such as housing, training, transportation, education and anything else that will help them in their quest to become an asset to themselves, their families and society. The veteran services team brings in these community partners every other month to Easterseals Crossroads for the Joining Community Forces Indiana meetings. Some of the community partners are Veterans Affairs (VA), Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA), Indiana National Guard Family Programs (INNG), WorkOne, Indy Vet Court, Indiana Legal Services, Indiana Military/Veterans Coalition, Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR), HVAF, Operation: Job Ready Veterans (OJRV), Marine for Life (M4L) and many more.
We engage our community to support our mission of providing services for veterans.
One way that the general public can help support our mission is by increasing awareness through the Remembering Our Fallen from Indiana. This exhibit is an awe-inspiring, touring photo display of Indiana’s military who have died in a combat zone since September 11, 2001. The exhibit is available and can be scheduled in a variety of different venues. This memorial not only increases awareness, but also provides funding for services to our clients such as, work clothing, gas cards, tools and other items that will help them in their new job.
How everyone can help.
Understand the differences between memorial day and veterans day.
Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance and November 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead—but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.
Simply say thank you to those who have protected us and our country.
A simple “Thank you for your service” is generally accepted with most veterans. Some veterans do not like to be singled out and feel that their service to their country was their duty. Most feel honored to have served.
“Military Veterans who serve our nation are deeply deserving of our honor and respect. Whether in times of war or peace, veterans and their families devote their lives to the service of our country and the freedom and ideals we hold dear. The sacrifices they make are without parallel.
Easterseals Crossroads has served Veterans in a variety of ways for more than 20 years. Most recently, we have devoted a great deal of resources to serving veterans in need as they reintegrate back into civil life after a career in the military. We are honored to serve as a leader in the community in providing the supports necessary to help Veterans thrive.” – Bruce Schnaith, Vice President, Easterseals Crossroads
