Berks County Veterans Affairs (Etchberger Veterans Service Center)
Berks County's Department of Veterans Affairs, the Etchberger Veterans Service Center at 20 Commerce Drive in Wyomissing, is the county director of veterans affairs' office: it files VA claims, pays the county burial and headstone allowances, gives out grave flags and flag holders, and runs the county's own emergency grant fund for veterans. Call 610-378-5601.
Also called: county director of veterans affairs, CVSO, veterans service officer, Etchberger Veterans Service Center, Wyomissing, Reading, flag drop box, claims help.
For: Veteran or service member, spouse, child, caregiver, survivor.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is the office every Pennsylvania county must have: a director of veterans affairs appointed by the commissioners (16 Pa.C.S. 15524) and holding VA accreditation (51 Pa.C.S. 1731). See the Pennsylvania entry on county directors. It is named the Etchberger Veterans Service Center, for Chief Master Sergeant Richard L. Etchberger, a Medal of Honor recipient. The director is Jay Ostrich.
How to reach it. 20 Commerce Drive, Wyomissing PA 19610; 610-378-5601 (press 0 for a representative); [email protected]; weekdays 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.
What it does. VA claims, including intent to file and representation; education, vocational rehabilitation, health care and caregiver applications; military records requests; the State programmes that go through a county director, such as the real estate tax exemption and Veterans' Temporary Assistance (see the Pennsylvania entries); the county burial and headstone allowances and Memorial Day flags (see that entry); and the Berks County Veterans Temporary Assistance grant, a county-run emergency fund (see its entry). It warns veterans never to pay to apply for VA benefits and to beware of pension poachers.
Flag retirement. The commissioners keep drop boxes for worn flags at the Berks County Agriculture Center, 1238 County Road, Leesport (open around the clock), the County Services Center lobby, 633 Court Street, Reading, the Reading Regional Airport and the Veterans Affairs office; the office arranges retirement ceremonies, and helps families donate a casket flag to the national cemetery at Fort Indiantown Gap.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Berks County Veterans Affairs (Etchberger Veterans Service Center)
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Rule
Veterans and dependents
Any veteran or dependent can use the office. No rating is needed.
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Disclaimer
VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.