Richard Brumley, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars District 15, signs up the first new VFW member of the day during an information fair for veterans Thursday at the Student Center.

The event, sponsored by SIUC Veteran Services, was aimed to promote programs for veterans of all ages, including the new dental and medical services offered to veteran students.

Kristen Amaya, coordinator of veteran services, said through fundraising from the Veterans Cash Lottery Grant, a program of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, SIU Veteran Services received $80,000. In turn, Veterans Service has set aside the money to pay for veteran students’ medical and dental costs. Representatives from the Minority Veterans Program, the Marion VA, Illinois Department of Employment Security, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and the Marine Corps League were in attendance to assist students. According to GI Magazine, programs, such as V.E.T.S., Victory through Education Training and Support, which set up the grant for dental and medical coverage, help SIU rank in the top 20 percent of military friendly schools in the country. – Steve Matzker | Daily Egyptian

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