Active members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and dependents are invited to Cameron University’s Military Veterans Resource Fair slated for Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 4-5. The annual event takes place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. both days in the McMahon Centennial Complex, located at University Drive and D Avenue in Lawton.
“Cameron’s Military Veterans Resource Fair will feature a vast array of resources for veterans, active military and dependents,” said Vicki Henson, assistant director of financial services and coordinator of CU’s Office of Veterans Affairs. “The event will help ensure that those constituents have access to a comprehensive list of services and programs.”
The event links participants with roughly two dozen services provided by community, state and federal organizations. Some services will only be on-site for the first day of the resource fair, Nov. 4. Those groups include:
• Health Watch Hospice, which provides hospice and home health care services.
• Military One Source, a 24/7 “first line of support” that provides access to information, resources and confidential assistance.
• M2VA, a transition patient advocate. M2VA case management programs help bridge the gap between the DoD and VHA to support transitioning service members & Post-9/11-era veterans.
• Muskogee Federal Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Processing Office, a source for VA educational benefits.
• Suicide Prevention Office/Peer Support, USDVA, providing suicide prevention resources and local veteran coffees.
• Veterans Affairs Eligibility and Enrollment, providing VA Health Care benefits assistance.
Organizations that will be on-site both days of the resource fair, and the services they provide, are:
• American Legion Post 6.
• Comanche County Veterans Council, which provides activities and partnerships to ensure uniform protective programs for veterans, spouses, widows/widowers, minor children and other veterans.
• Fort Sill Family Advocacy Program, covering the unique challenges of military life that put stress on relationships and families. The program exists to support soldiers and families through difficult times, whether it’s building stronger parenting skills, learning new ways to manage stress, or finding safety from abuse.
• Lawton Vet Center and Lawton Mobile Vet Center, which provide readjustment counseling and information resources to veterans, focusing on services that help veterans make the difficult transition between military and civilian life.
• Medicine Park Aquarium & Natural Sciences Center will be on-site from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. each day.
• Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs will have five specialists available to provide claims assistance and appeals with claims before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Lawton/Fort Sill Chapter of the Oklahoma Women Veterans Organization, which provides services for Oklahoma female veterans.
• Oklahoma Works American Job Network, providing veteran services.
• Paws with Love Therapy Dogs, Inc.
• Redlands Veterans Upward Bound program, a free college-prep program.
• Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic, Red Rock & Lawton representatives.
• Veterans Affairs Compensation and Pension Military Service Coordinator, Muskogee Service Coordinator at Fort Sill, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Department of Veterans Affairs VetSuccess on Campus Counselor and Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) representative, providing information on employment support and services to service members and veterans who have disabilities that were caused – or made worse – by active-duty service that limits their ability to work or prevents them from working.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts #1193 and #5263, both of which provide programs and services that ensure veterans receive entitlements.
Cameron University will be represented by these campus offices/organizations:
• George D. Keathley Department of Military Science, with its Army ROTC, Army Green-to-Gold program.
• Office of Student Support Services, offering academic support services to CU students who have academic or economic needs, are first generation, or who have disabilities.
• Office of Veterans Affairs, providing general information about utilization of VA educational benefits.
CU’s Military Veterans Resource Fair in open to everyone at no charge. Visitor parking is available east of the McMahon Centennial Complex.
PR#26-111
