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Last week, a Veterans Service Office officially opened in Lanett, giving local veterans a place to get information about the benefits they’ve earned and how to receive them.

It’s been 12 years since Chambers County had a VSO after state spending cutbacks during the 2008 recession.

The Chambers office was the first of 10 offices to reopen around the state, and the hope is to eventually have a VSO in all 67 Alabama counties. We’re thankful that the first office to reopen is our local office, and we suspect it’ll be busy helping veterans right from the start.

State Rep. Debbie Wood estimated during the VSO ribbon cutting that there are over 2,400 veterans in Chambers County. It’s a tedious process for veterans trying to get benefits, and it’s often confusing and long, which is why the VSO will serve as an in-between to help them earn those benefits.

“Many vets don’t know about the benefits they have earned by just being in the military. We are basically the liaison between the veteran and the VA,” said District Manager Rogers Wilson in a press release. “The VSO will make sure they receive the support, benefits and recognition they earned as service members.”

The office’s operating hours will start as Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Once a full-time veterans service officer is hired and trained, the office will be open five days a week.

We encourage veterans to stop by the office and see what they can do to help out.