By JC Sullivan
In May 1886, after the Civil War was over and the US was in the period of reconstruction, the Ohio Legislature created the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Relief Commission. The state legislature felt a need to repay the debt owed to Ohio’s Civil War veterans, along with concerns for their families, and formulated this set of laws to provide financial assistance for Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and their dependents or survivors.
The Soldier’s Relief Commission functioned for nearly sixty years, providing for Ohio veterans’ needs, with little change, and each Soldier’s Relief Commission acting as a separate entity.
The Mission of the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission (LCVSC) is dedicated to delivering the finest quality of help and service to their veterans, dependents, and survivors. LCVSC is a county agency funded by Lorain County taxes. The Commission works closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Human Services, Social Security Administration, and various other Federal, State, and local agencies.
In conjunction with their 2nd Annual Race to End Veterans Suicide, DD214 Chronicle caught up with Executive Director Jacob Smith, himself a U.S. Army Veteran. When asked why more veterans in Lorain County don’t call the agency, he believes veterans don’t know it exists. “Each county has a Veterans Service Commission, so they don’t think to call us here in Lorain. Another reason they don’t is because there are so many veteran benefits out there, and they think, ‘Well, I don’t qualify for anything.” But actually, there are many veterans that qualify for benefits from VA that they don’t even know about themselves. So, for us to draw attention to the very important topic of veteran suicides, they need to know, not only are we somewhat one-of-a-kind in Ohio, but nationally as well.” Smith kindly referred us to the person who was inspired to start the Suicide Awareness Program, Kristol Mayer, a Lorain County Veteran Service Officer and U.S. Navy veteran.
“I noticed that American mental health crises were so close to home that I felt the need to do something within our community,” said Mayer. “Not only does PTSD affect those returning from combat, but we also saw them having issues like anxiety and depression that cause them to end up in a crisis. Veterans’ suicide isn’t always related to combat. This was something I wanted to bring to veteran awareness. When they are sole providers and are adjusting to civilian life, they have a lot of pressure and weight on their shoulders. “We think sometimes veterans once they leave the service maybe had a bad experience and don’t want to go back to that environment.”
“The veterans who don’t know about the Lorain County Veteran Service Office can be walked through the agency to connect them with the resources each may need. Further, they can be introduced to benefits they can take advantage of through the Department of Veteran Affairs (aka VA). If they have questions about anything related to their service, we can help. We also ask that they call (440-285-4625) so we can give them the information. Additionally, they can find us on https://www. facebook.com/LorainCountyVeterans/ or on the website LorainCountyVeterans.com. We can help them apply for these benefits and also let them know that if they end up in a crisis, there are resources for them.”
Veterans who live outside Lorain County can also call the Lorain County Office at 440-285-4625 for information or referrals. Author Sullivan is a U.S. Army veteran who served with the 2nd Armored Division in the U.S. and Europe.