Florida Veterans Benefits Center

The American Legion's Veterans Benefits Center set up at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center in Bay Pines, Fla., on Jan. 14 and 15, helping veterans with their VA benefits claims and health care. Photos by Lucas Carter/The American Legion

A VA staff member assists a veteran during the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
A VA staff member assists a veteran during the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
Deputy Director of Claims Zachary Hearn chats with a veteran during the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
Deputy Director of Claims Zachary Hearn chats with a veteran during the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
USAF veteran Richard Chandler visits the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
USAF veteran Richard Chandler visits the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
USAF veteran Joe Fornino is assisted with his claim by Deputy Director of Claims Zachary Hearn at the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
USAF veteran Joe Fornino is assisted with his claim by Deputy Director of Claims Zachary Hearn at the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Director Louis Celli Jr., right, and American Legion Service Officer Ron Abrams at the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/T
Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Director Louis Celli Jr., right, and American Legion Service Officer Ron Abrams at the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/T
Deputy Director for Claims Zachary Hearn chats with Legion Service Officer Ron Abrams the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
Deputy Director for Claims Zachary Hearn chats with Legion Service Officer Ron Abrams the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
USAF veteran Joe Fornino is helped by Deputy Director of Claims Zachary Hearn at the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
USAF veteran Joe Fornino is helped by Deputy Director of Claims Zachary Hearn at the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
US Navy veteran Lawrence Mazza visits the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
US Navy veteran Lawrence Mazza visits the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
USAF veteran Joe Fornino chats with Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Director Louis Celli Jr. at the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
USAF veteran Joe Fornino chats with Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Director Louis Celli Jr. at the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
USAF veteran Joe Fornino is helped by Deputy Director of Claims Zachary Hearn at the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
USAF veteran Joe Fornino is helped by Deputy Director of Claims Zachary Hearn at the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
USAF veteran Joe Fornino is helped by Deputy Director of Claims Zachary Hearn at the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.
USAF veteran Joe Fornino is helped by Deputy Director of Claims Zachary Hearn at the Veteran Benefits Center at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion.