LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Veterans across Kentucky came to Louisville for a three-day event to connect with health care benefits, services and job opportunities.

What You Need To Know

  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hosted three-day veterans event to connect people with health care benefits, services and job opportunities

  • The event is called Kentucky Veterans Experience Action Center and was held at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center

  • According to one veteran, it's important for soldiers after their service is over to stay connected with people and with the resources offered to them

  • Another large-scale event is planned for Louisville this fall

For three days, the city’s West End was mission headquarters. The event is called The Kentucky Veterans Experience Action Center.

“It’s time well spent, especially if you were hurt or have an illness or injury from the military,” retired Marine Thomas Rierdon told Spectrum News 1. He gave a rundown of the many resources spread across the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center.

Rierdon is a veteran of the First Gulf War. Medically retired, he struggled to connect with the veteran benefits and services available to him for some time. Now, as a member of Veterans Club Incorporated, he’s guiding other retired soldiers to the resources offered to them.

“We like to keep veterans from isolating in their houses or in their apartments. To isolate a vet is a dangerous thing. The suicide rate goes up with isolation. General health goes down with isolation,” Rierdon said.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hosted the event with over 30 participating agencies.

“Success looks like taking care of our veterans and I am so pleased to see not only from the Federal level but also from the state level, the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs is here supporting at the local level but, most importantly, the community,” James Wartski of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said.

The Kentucky Veterans Experience Action Center is a pilot program organized by the VA, equipping local agencies with the training to guide veterans applying for first-time benefits, checking on a claim or connecting with employers looking to hire vets.

“Bringing all these people together in one place that gives us as representatives the time to meet people who are providing services, get their contact information and make sure if somebody comes to us…we can find assistance for them in other ways,” said Johny Allen, who works for the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs.

And this event is not “one and done.” Another large-scale deployment is on the books for this fall.

“If it wasn’t for Veterans Club, I don’t think I wouldn’t be here today,” Rierdon said. This soldier hopes to meet more veterans to help them find success in their post-military service.

According to Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, over 370,000 veterans call Kentucky home.

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