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Douglas County Veterans Association Commission
Helps Veterans
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The Douglas County Veterans Association Commission
meets in the Douglas County Museum in Tuscola
on the last Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. |
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Background
The Douglas County Veterans Association Commission was organized on April 8, 1951. Meeting at the
Legion Hall in Tuscola were Howard Helmids, representing Tuscola American Legion; William Dilliner, Arcola
Veterans of Foreign Wars; Arthur Fleener, Villa Grove Veterans of Foreign Wars; Don Craig, Arthur American
Legion; John Pollock, Newman American Legion; and Lowell Sebens, Atwood American Legion. The following
officers were elected: Robert Childers, chairman; Howard Helmids, Vice Chairman; and Lowell Sebens as acting
secretary. The members voted to meet once a month with two (2) representatives from each of the Douglas
County veterans organizations.
Over the next 59 years, the Commission has worked to aid veterans throughout the county with funds for
numerous emergencies. These funds are collected through the property taxes of the citizens of Douglas
County. The current (Year 2010) levy is .829 percent. |
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Purpose
The purpose of the Commission is to promote the welfare of veterans of all wars and their families, and to
have general oversight of the distribution of all relief and supplies that may be appropriated for the benefit
of indigent veterans of all wars and their families, and to formulate such rules and regulations in the
commission that will enable it to carry out the purposes above set forth. An indigent veteran is one who
qualifies for Public Aid.
The Veterans Assistance Commission provides services to the veteran and his family that may not be
available from other agencies. The Veterans Assistance Commission can provide assistance in filing
claims to the Veterans Administration for such benefits as:
- service-connected compensation
- GI home loan
- educational benefits
- widow's pension benefits
- insurance conversions
- non service-connected pensions
- any other benefits that the veteran or his family may be seeking from the VA
The Veterans Assistance Commission also provides services to the veteran and his family in applying to the
proper State or Federal agencies for the purpose of obtaining benefits for:
- employment
- food stamps
- hospitalization
- public aid
- social security
- counseling
The Veterans Assistance Commission works closely with all veterans organizations and local, state and
federal agencies to ensure that the rights each veteran is entitled to have been granted.
Qualifications for Assistance
There are qualifications that the veteran must meet.
- The veteran must show his or her DD214 honorable discharge.
- He or she must have been in military service for 90 days or more.
- He or she must be a resident of the township for 30 days, resident of Douglas County for 60 days, and be
a resident of the State of Illinois for 90 days.
The plight of transient veterans was discussed at a meeting on July 31, 1951, at which time it was voted
that transient veterans would be helped to keep them moving. |
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Compensation of Commission Members
At the January 22, 1952 meeting, a motion was made that all members of the Douglas County Veterans
Commission are to be paid for:
- attending meetings
- case expenses
- attending county and state functions
Case expenses include taking a veteran to a clinic or doctor and paying for bills or groceries or whatever
the need may be.
The motion was voted on and passed. |
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Current Commission Members
- Chairman Beals, Arthur VFW
- Rick Cohen, Arthur American Legion
- Robert Mauck, Atwood American Legion
- Robert Smith, Atwood VFW
- Fred Reiter, Villa Grove VFW
- Carl Collins, Newman American Legion
- Joe Hunter, Arcola American Legion
- Phil Anderson, Arcola VFW
- Joy Stenger, Tuscola American Legion
- Jim Harbaugh, Tuscola VFW
- Harland Conner, Secretary
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Contact Information:
Veterans who would like assistance can call any of the members, attend the meetings, or go online at
lynnita@koreanwar-educator.org for further information. |
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