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Dubois County Veterans Service Update
In public comments, Marine veteran Dave Flynn provided details on Memorial Day plans and an
update on the Dubois County Veterans Service Office.
Santa Claus native Nick Pagragan recently came on board as the county’s new Veterans Service
Officer. For the last several months, Flynn and other volunteers stepped in to keep the office
running until the VSO position was filled. Flynn said the office is currently working to develop a
comprehensive calendar of veterans’ events, connecting veterans to services and activities
throughout the county.
In discussing the importance of the office, Flynn highlighted the significance of being able to
obtain healthcare locally. Flynn explained that veterans now have more healthcare options than
in the past, including telehealth services, community-based care, VA clinics and hospitals, and
mobile van services. The office regularly hosts mobile VA evaluation services at the local VFW,
usually a few days each month. He also noted that many older veterans are not fully aware of
these options or how to request them.
Access to benefits will be an increasingly relevant issue when recent legal changes take effect.
Beginning in July, veteran deductions will become credits, and will require a letter from the
local VSO office that will be presented to other county offices. A partnership with the
Registrar’s Office, which maintains veteran service records, helps to keep the “paper shuffling”
to a minimum.
The Veterans Service Office has expanded its offerings, reflecting the community’s growth and
increasing needs for the veteran population. The Dubois County Veteran Council reflects this
growth as well, increasing its regular meetings from 4 to 6 to review increased state initiatives
and a need for more community engagement.
The Dubois County Veteran Council hosts the annual Memorial Day and POW-MIA Service,
which will be held on Monday, May 25 from 9-11 AM at the Courthouse Square. Jasper is one of
the few cities in the country with a dedicated POW-MIA monument. This will be a centerpiece
of the May ceremony, but local veterans hope to expand their public offerings with the addition
of another event during the third weekend in September on the Square. Details will be
provided as they are available.
For more information on these and other updates, visit duboiscountyin.org/government
- By Drew Hasselbring