9th Annual Veterans Expo connects vets with resources

There are numerous benefits available to veterans returning home and working to transition into civilian life, but those benefits and services do no good if veterans aren’t aware that they’re available. That’s why, for the ninth year, the Central New York Veterans Expo worked to connect veterans and their families with a myriad of agencies, employers, and organizations, who are ready to help.

“One of our main focuses this year is evident in our speakers, who will be talking about the challenges of returning after military service,” said Madison Przelski, Co-Chair of the Veterans Expo Committee. “There’s a reintegration process – just getting back to civilian life. Relating military service to employment can be difficult, but there’s resources out there to help through that process.”

More than 65 vendors were onhand at the Wildcat Field House at SUNY Poly in Utica on October 7 to help with that process, including resources for housing, employment, medical treatment, food banks, and assistance with utilities such as National Grid.

This year, the Expo has expanded to include the family of service members to speak of their perspectives. The concerns of reintegration are not limited to the Veteran’s and their family and panel discussed the community support that has provided assistances through these transitions.

“The number one thing we changed this year is to expand the expo to include the family need as well,” Przelski said. “We’ve included a child, a wife, and a mother to the speaker list to talk of their own experiences and the agencies that helped them with the integration back.”

While the event included numerous vendors offering help and aid to veterans and their families, it also offered a moment to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by some of those veterans – with the Fallen Stars Memorial Display. The exhibit features photos of New York State resident who have died and Iraq and Afghanistan.

“It is indeed our honor to have you here,” SUNY Poly Provost Dr. William Durgin told the crowd as he welcome everyone to the Expo. “It’s amazing to see the variety of services you all represent. The transition from service to other activities is not easy. And if we can provide any assistance, we are just thrilled to help. We are so happy to have such a contingent of student veterans at our institution and we are so happy to play a role in their evolution and future.”

If you are or know of a veteran in need of further assistance, the Central New York Veterans Outreach Center, a Gold Sponsor of the event, is available for help and can be contacted at 315-765-0975.

“I just hope that veterans see that there are services out there,” Przelski said. “If we can link up one veteran with a service they need, it makes today worth it.”