American Legion helps bring all veteran resources to one stop

About 2,300 veterans and their families were recently provided with a unique opportunity of having every veteran-related organization in one location.

Veterans Row at the Atlantic City Air Show: “A Salute to Those Who Serve” on Aug. 18 featured 18 veteran-related organizations that are statewide, regional and national. The organizations were there to help veterans and their families with benefits claims and other resources available to them as a result of their service. 

“The biggest compliment to us and the thank you is that every service that a veteran is eligible for is in one location. That’s a big deal,” said Bob Looby, chairman of the Department of New Jersey’s Employment, Homeless and Education Committee and past department commander. Looby was coordinator for Veterans Row, a task assigned to him a few years ago from the Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce after they saw the project management that Looby coordinated with the New Jersey homeless veteran standowns that he overseas.  

The American Legion and Sons of The American Legion had a presence on Veterans Row to provide information to veterans and their families on programs and resources. Other veteran organizations in attendance included the VFW, DAV, VA Benefits and Administration, VA Medical Centers, VA Outreach, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Department of Labor, Team Red, White and Blue, the Red Cross, and more.

Looby said what he enjoys about coordinating Veterans Row and interacting with the veterans that come to it is “the camaraderie among all veterans.”