Annville, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) will hold a veterans resource fair and in-person benefits discussion called “Let’s Talk, Vet 2 Vet” on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023 at Penn College’s Professional Development Center, One College Avenue, Williamsport PA 17701.
The resource fair will kick things off from 1-3:30 p.m., followed by the panel discussion from
4-5:30 p.m. The event is a collaboration between DMVA, the Lycoming\Clinton Veterans Coalition and Penn College. This is the third such event that the DMVA has held across the commonwealth this year.
A featured topic during the panel discussion will be on the new federal Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The Act expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. The discussion will provide veterans and their advocates with a convenient platform to learn and ask questions about eligibility and applying for benefits related to the PACT Act.
“As we continue to spread the word throughout the commonwealth about expanded benefits due to the PACT Act, it is easy to see from our interactions how valuable this information is to veterans, service members and their advocates,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “Our expert panelists can answer questions about the PACT Act and any other benefits offered on the federal and state levels. We want to see those who served and currently serving take advantage of everything they earned while in uniform.”
This free informational event is meant for former and current members of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard and Reserve components, and their family members, survivors, and caregivers. Attendees do not have to register for this in-person event.
Brig. Gen. (PA) Maureen Weigl, DMVA deputy adjutant general, Veterans Affairs, will provide opening remarks. Samantha Cossman, DMVA regional program outreach coordinator, will moderate.
Panelists for this event are:
- Mark Askey, Harrisburg Vet Center veteran outreach program specialist,
- Jeff Croak, Clinton County veterans service officer,
- Chip Gilliland, DMVA’s chief of the Division of Reintegration and Outreach,
- Ann Kwiatkowski, Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center whole health program manager,
- Mike McMunn, Lycoming County director of Veterans Affairs,
- Albert Pritchard, Veterans Benefits Legal Administration specialist, and
- Lydia Speciale, Pennsylvania National Guard family programs specialist
For more information and to listen to recordings of the previous discussion events, click here: Let's Talk Vet 2 Vet Discussion Events.
Learn more about the DMVA online at www.dmva.pa.gov or follow us at www.facebook.com/padmva or www.twitter.com/padmva.
MEDIA CONTACT: Joe Butera - jobutera@pa.gov
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