Officials call for Bastrop-area veterans to reach out

Breaking it down

Swetnam said he and DuBose have found that veterans who were not recently discharged from the military are more likely to be unaware of the potential benefits they could be eligible to receive.

Some of those include:

• Caregiver allowances
• Compensations and pensions
• Education
• Filing disagreements or appeals with the VA
• Health care
• Home loans
• Obtaining discharge documents, medical records and decorations
• Survivor and burial benefits
• Tax exemptions

“We also have a mental health provider who comes to us once a week from Austin to do counseling,” Swetnam said. “It’s free and a very valuable resource. We are very fortunate that we have that because we are one of only two counties in the area that offers it—the other one being Williamson County.”

Those interested in learning more can call the BCVSO at 512-581-4006, or visit the office's Facebook page.

One more thing

DuBose said on Nov. 9, veterans are invited to attend the 20th annual Red, White & Blue Veterans Appreciation Banquet at the Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center.

Funds raised from the banquet will be distributed to local nonprofits, such as the Bastrop County Veterans Honor Guard, and the Bastrop and Elgin National Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

A portion will also be used to facilitate the Bastrop Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies.

Notable quote

“We’re both ex-military, and we’ve both done tours. DuBose was in the Air Force, and I was in the Marines,” Swetnam said. “We have an idea, personally, of what some of our veterans may be going through, and we want to help as many as possible. Anybody that needs help, give us a call. We’ll get you everything you need to know.”