A SuperMarket for Heroes

By Lt. Governor Joe Maxwell

	Heroes.  This is one of many words that our nation has come to reexamine over the last year.  We are presented with new images of those that have faced grave danger or sacrificed their lives for the safety of others.  Often, these individuals see themselves not as heroes, but simply as someone who has done their job.  While many may hold this perspective, they truly are heroes who have served as an example of selfless service to be emulated.
	
	The firefighters, policemen, and other rescuers whose images and stories we have come to know over the last year are not the only individuals in our society who often do not consider themselves heroes.  Many of our veterans, who often faced their own grave danger, view themselves only as soldiers who completed the call given them by our nation.  Whether on the front lines or in a position of support, each was a valuable piece of the force that has fought for and worked to maintain freedom for ourselves and those in other nations.   
	
	Our gratitude is not the only thing these brave men and women have earned for their service to our country.  Unfortunately, many veterans are not aware of the benefits they earned during their military service. An estimated 39,000 Missouri Veterans are currently not drawing the nearly $330 million of federal money they earned. As chair of the Missouri Veterans' Benefits Awareness Task Force, it is my goal to see that our veterans are informed of the services available to them.
	
	The SuperMarkets of Veterans' Benefits are part of our efforts at locating these veterans and informing them of these benefits.  These events offer more than general information on veterans' benefits and organizations, but also items such as job search assistance, small business help, health screenings, educational opportunities, legal assistance, and credit and debt assistance.  At our first SuperMarkets of Veterans' Benefits in St. Louis on July 20, I was able to join over 400 Missouri veterans as they gained information and assistance for accessing these benefits. 

	These initial events in the St. Louis area are a prototype that we plan to use throughout the state to inform veterans of the benefits they earned.  We scheduled the next SuperMarket of Veterans' Benefits for October 26, 2002 at Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City.  This will be followed by at least one more event in the Kansas City area and others throughout the state.   For information regarding future SuperMarkets of Veterans' Benefits or to express interest in having one in your area, please contact the Missouri Veterans Commission.   
	
	It is my hope that we are able to help these heroes access the benefits they earned through their service to this great nation.  In addition to attending these events when they are in your area, I encourage all Missouri veterans to call the toll-free veterans benefits hotline at 1-866-VET-INFO (1-866-838-4636).