Vet Fest connects Veterans with valuable PACT Act information
Local Veterans received valuable information and forged vital connections with Milwaukee VA staff during a weekend event at the Milwaukee lakefront.
Vet Fest, which took place at the War Memorial Center, provided resources and education to Veterans about the PACT Act and the expanded benefits available to those service members who were exposed to toxins.
“It was a great event,” said Duane Honeycutt, director of the Milwaukee Regional Office of the Veterans Benefits Administration. “We saw approximately 200 Veterans over both days.”
Honeycutt said about 50 of those Veterans started the “intent to file” process.
The event, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, coincided with the Milwaukee Air and Water Show, and the venue was crowded with Veterans and civilians alike keeping their eyes to the skies — particularly for performances by the Blue Angels.
Representatives from VBA as well as the Milwaukee VA Medical Center and the Vet Center manned a row of tents near the War Memorial Center’s beer garden, with food and refreshments provided by Kegel’s Inn.
A brief downpour early Saturday afternoon did not deter the event as crowds continued to grow in anticipation of the Blue Angels, who flew between 3 and 4 p.m.
Troy Czaplewski with the VBA said Veterans trickled in and out throughout the day on Saturday, many looking to get more information on the PACT Act.
“We’ve been encouraging them to file for claims, and we have been putting in intents-to-file for them,” he said, noting there were plenty of questions as well as inquiries about the status of claims.
VBA has been doing extensive outreach regarding the PACT Act, setting up booths at numerous events in the state throughout the summer, Czaplewski said.
VA is pushing to get Veterans to file PACT Act claims prior to Aug. 9 because any claims filed by that date would be retroactive to Aug. 10, 2022 — the date the act was signed into law.
Veterans can learn more about the PACT Act by going to www.va.gov/PACT. They are also encouraged to contact the VBA, their county’s Veterans service officer or any Veteran service organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans.
PACT Act information wasn’t the only thing available at Vet Fest. Other groups in attendance included peer support and homeless prevention programs, Compensated Work Therapy, the Minority Veterans Program and Whole Health.
Nurse recruiters from the Milwaukee VA Medical Center were also on hand as the hospital — like health care organizations across the country — continues to grapple with a nursing shortage.
Nurse recruiter Jennifer Scott said she received a few inquiries and leads on some good candidates Saturday. Those interested in nursing careers at the Milwaukee VA can learn more here.
Others at the event reported positive interactions with Veterans, noting that any opportunity to get the word out is always good.
The Milwaukee event was part of a nationwide outreach initiative designed to connect Veterans with information about the PACT Act.