Montrose County Veteran Services Officer (Phillip Rich)

The office. "The position of VSO is mandated by the Colorado State Government to ensure you get the benefits you deserve. There is a VSO representing every county in Colorado. The purpose of this position is to familiarize you with your benefits, assist with the application process, and advocate for you, as necessary, to acquire benefits." Every Colorado county runs a veterans service office under C.R.S. 28-5-801 (see the Colorado entries); the county's own page adds "The County Veteran Service Officer does not charge fees for familiarizing you with your benefits, assisting with the application process, or advocating for you, as necessary." Verification: "A copy of your service discharge form (DD 214 or DD 215 or, for WW II Vets: a WD Form)." Where and who. Phillip Rich, Veteran Services Officer, County Administration at 320 South 1st Street, Suite 480 "in the historic courthouse", Montrose, CO 81401; (970) 249-2115; [email protected]; "M-F; Please call for an appointment" (the state directory: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., fax 970-249-7761). The West End: "27696 D. D. Road Nucla, CO 81424 ... Second Wednesday of the month 10am-2pm at Hopkins Field", with information also from Health and Human Services, 851 Main, Nucla, (970) 864-7319. The county's news page carries the VSO's programmes: the annual Flag Retirement and Replacement Program (the June 8, 2026 release: bring worn flags to collection sites June 8 onward, "receive a new replacement flag", retired "through the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado in Grand Junction") and the monthly Veterans Coffee at the West End. The appointment. "Phillip A. Rich is hereby appointed as the Montrose County Veterans Service Officer for a term of two (2) years beginning on March 1, 2024" under Resolution 14-2024 (adopted after "the currently appointed veterans service officer is retiring effective February 29, 2024"), and the Board re-appointed him under Resolution 1-2026 at its January 13, 2026 special meeting: "Phillip Rich be, and is hereby appointed to the Montrose County Veteran's Service Officer for the term commencing today until the second Tuesday in January 2027 in accordance with C.R.S. § 28-5-802." The qualifications and two-year term are C.R.S. 28-5-802(2), and the duties C.R.S. 28-5-803 (the State entry). The director's own account. A November 2025 profile in the region's senior press describes Rich as the county's VSO "provid[ing] personalized support for more than 3,000 veterans", the same office the state directory carries; the county's site and the state directory are the operative record for the office's address and hours.