MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) on Thursday celebrated 75 years of serving the state’s brave men and women who have answered the call of duty and devoted their lives to serving their country.
The 1945 Alabama Legislature represented the best interest of Alabamians and understood the state’s obligation and responsibility for the re-integration of the war veteran into civilian life, for their readjustment into a peace-time economy, and for the prosecution of their VA benefits and services. The effective date of the Act that established the ADVA was October 1, 1945 with an appropriation of $350,000 for the first two years, representing roughly one dollar per year, per resident veteran.
“Today is a time to celebrate our long and honored history of providing quality service to Alabama’s veterans,” said ADVA Commissioner Kent Davis. “From our earliest beginnings, we have been at the forefront of serving the states veteran population and serving as a resource for our nation’s heroes. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, we look forward to a future that will build on our proud legacy.”
ADVA services include counseling, claims assistance, education assistance, burial benefits, and long-term care to eligible recipients. The ADVA operates county veterans service offices in 57 counties to assist veterans, their dependents, and survivors in the application and processing of claims for benefits and entitlements available from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and benefits and services provided to them by state law.
