ANNISTON, Ala.--An Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Supermarket of Benefits held in conjunction with Anniston Army Depot's Suicide Prevention Fair on Sept. 11 at the Anniston Meeting Center was a success not only for the 49 vendors who participated, but also for the 1,043 veterans and their families who came through the doors.
"The veterans in the community received a lot of good information they didn't know was available to them," said Jeni Cline, the depot's coordinator for the event.
Many of the veterans, like Jack Reid and Bennit Hinds, were looking for answers to specific questions. The two lifelong friends were hoping to learn about benefits available when they are unable to care for themselves.
"We live alone, our kids are gone and we were concerned about having to go to a nursing home in the future," said Hinds.
Annette Rainge, who served 21 years in the Army, came to the event in a browsing mood. She spent her time going from table to table talking to everyone and gathering brochures.
"I came and wanted to see if there was anything I didn't know about," she said. "I may not need it today, but I may need it tomorrow."
Rainge said she was most impressed by the Women's Army Corps Veterans Association because of all the community service activities they are involved with. She now plans to join the association and volunteer her time.
The Army's focus on suicide prevention played a large role in the event's planning, since it was held during Suicide Prevention Week. Angie Durant, suicide prevention coordinator for the depot, said it is important that veterans and returning Soldiers get the treatment they need not only for their physical wounds, but the emotional and spiritual ones as well.
"The wound that affects a Soldier's mind can be the hardest to heal," said Durant. "The military has responded to this by giving counseling to help them handle and work through what they have seen and endured."
During the opening ceremony, each of the speakers touched on the importance of the day chosen for the event.
"It's a tough day for me, personally," said Lt. Col. Andrew Herbst, commander of the Anniston Chemical Activity, during his welcome to the crowd. "I lost some folks that were dear to me on 9/11."
Retired Rear Admiral W. Clyde Marsh was the keynote speaker for the opening ceremony. He was attending a class in Montgomery, Ala., when the attacks occurred eight years ago. His office in the Pentagon was destroyed by fire and water that day.
Since 2005, Marsh has served veterans as director of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.
"Today is about you, the veterans," he told the group. "There are so many that don't know that you qualify for benefits and services just by virtue of your service to our country. This is an attempt to get the word out to those who don't know."
Kathryn Moore, veterans service officer for Calhoun County, said there are more than 400,000 veterans in the state of Alabama and about 12,000 in Calhoun County, and many of them don't realize the extent of the benefits and services they deserve.
"People that have been out of the service for a long time think because they have been out for a long time they are not entitled to benefits. That's not so," said Moore.
She said two of the most overlooked programs are the Veterans Affairs pension program and the Alabama GI Bill scholarship program and urged those who could not attend Friday's event to call or come by the Veterans Affairs office. The office is located in the Calhoun County Administration Building at 1702 Noble Street, and their phone number is 241-2950.
"We never turn anyone away in our office. If we are unable to provide veteran's benefits for our veterans, we try to point them in the right direction to get help," said Moore, adding they often work with federal, state and local agencies to provide services to those who have served.
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