Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation (VA&R) Commission
“to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow,
and his orphan.”
President Abraham Lincoln
The Four Pillars Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation
CALIFORNIA VA&R Mission
The Veteran Affairs & Rehabilitation (VA&R) Commission’s mission is to regularly assist veterans and their families with direction and guidance in acquiring benefits they have earned (benefits, health care, memorial affairs). In other words, put them in touch with the right qualified individual who can assist them. Secondly, volunteer to serve at or visit VA facilities and California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) Homes to ensure that quality care for veterans. Third, keep the veteran community updated with the latest news releases concerning benefits, health, and national cemeteries. Lastly, assist and or serve communities in times of emergencies and disasters. (Wildfires, floods, riots, etc.) Further, the Commission commits to providing fair, honest, and objective advocacy for veterans, in an ethical manner, while displaying the highest standards of conduct. Most importantly, the Commission and its representatives must consistently demonstrate compassion, care, concern, and understanding in every encounter with clients/customers. The relationship between the Commission and Department Service Officer must be a cooperative one because it is essential in helping veterans acquire benefits. The VA & R program operates with an annually approved budget developed by the Department’s Finance Commission and approved by the Department Executive Committee (DEC).
California VA&R Foundation (CALVAR)
The California Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Foundation is a California Charitable Corporation and tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) Corporation established to seek and collect tax-deductible donations that will be used exclusively to fund the Department of California Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division.
“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive how the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.”
Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division
from The American Legion on Vimeo.
VA&R Division Director Mario Marquez gives an overview of The American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Programs.
County Veterans Service Officers
There are several office locations throughout California where veterans can meet with County Veterans Service Officers to get questions answered, assistance with completing and filing forms, and a wide variety of information on benefits and services offered to qualified veterans. County office locations, hours and contact information can be found on the CALVET website here.
Veteran Resources
VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS (VSO)
Veteran Service Officer Web Page
Accredited American Legion Service Officers are specially trained to provide expert assistance, free of charge, to veterans and their families. While the majority of a service officer’s work involves an application for VA disability benefits, these compassionate professionals also provide information, referrals, and resources on education, employment and business, death benefits, and other important topics.
If you have been told your military records are lost, call the VA at
(844) 531-7818.
Burial Benefits
The following information on Burial Benefits is from the CalVet website.
About CalVet
The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) works to serve California veterans and their families. With nearly 1.6 million veterans living in the State, CalVet strives to ensure that its veterans of every era and their families get the state and federal benefits and services they have earned and deserve as a result of selfless and honorable military service. CalVet strives to serve veterans and their families with dignity and compassion and to help them achieve their highest quality of life.
CalVet Veteran’s Homes
Last update dated January 2020
Hugh Crooks: West LA Home
MRHEC@msn.com
Ed Campbell: Lancaster & Ventura Homes
edcampbell@usa-arc.com
Zoe Dunning: Barstow Home – Located in Area 5
zdunningsf@gmail.com
John Busterud: Yountville Home – Located in Area 1
j.w.busterud@gmail.com
Not assigned yet: Redding Home – Located in Area 1
Todd Trotter: Fresno Home – Located in Area 3
todtrotter@aol.com
Robin Umberg: Chula Vista Home
rumberg@ao.com
Department Bylaws
VETERANS AFFAIRS AND REHABILITATION: The rehabilitation program of the department shall be carried on under the supervision of the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission throughout the entire department. There shall be a Department Service Officer who shall be responsible for supervision of the Department’s Service Program. They shall act in advisory capacity to the Commission and shall coordinate the work of the staff in such other cities as may be designated by the Commission. The Department Service Officer or designated members of staff shall be official contacts and representatives of The American Legion, Department of California with the Veterans’ Administration at Regional offices and Veterans Administration Hospitals. The duties of the service officer and staff shall be generally that of prosecuting claims and protecting the rights and privileges of all veterans, their dependents and survivors and to handle such other matters as may properly be considered service work. The Service Officer and staff shall cooperate with County Service Officers, the Los Angeles County Service Department and the State of California Department of Veterans Affairs. It shall be the policy of the Commission to encourage Posts and Districts to select qualified and able members to serve as post and District Service Officers and to provide assistance to help them carry out their duties.
