NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 26, 2016
CONTACT: Dana Kazel, Communications Manager
218-725-5049 (office) • 218-591-2219 (cell)
Sherry Rodriguez re-affirmed as Veterans Service Officer
St. Louis County Commissioners today unanimously approved the re-appointment of Sherry Rodriguez as the County's Veterans Service Officer. Rodriguez has served in that role since 2012. State statute requires the position be reappointed by the County Board every four years. Before Rodriguez took the oath of office to serve for another four years, commissioners praised her for her tireless passion and advocacy on behalf of the County's veterans.
Rodriguez oversees a staff of nine serving veterans out of offices in Duluth, Virginia, Hibbing and Ely. She and her team are responsible for helping veterans identify and work through the application process to receive the benefits they've earned through their service.
In 2014, the most recent year for which total dollars are tallied, St. Louis County veterans received nearly $106.5 million in Veterans Administration (VA) benefits. These benefits include VA compensation, pensions, tuition reimbursement, insurance and medical care. Additionally, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) benefits given to County veterans totaled more than $219,000 for optical, dental and special needs grants.
St. Louis County is home to 18,789 veterans, an increase of 449 from 2013 to 2014. Due to continually changing laws, all veterans are encouraged to contact the Veterans Service Office to discuss benefits they have earned but may not be receiving, even if they've been denied in the past.
To learn more about the Veterans Service Office, visit stlouiscountymn.gov/veterans or call one of the following offices: Duluth - (218) 725-5285; Virginia - (218) 749-7110; Hibbing - (218) 262-6090; or Ely - (218) 365-8203.
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 Sherry Rodriguez, St. Louis County Veterans Service Officer since 2012, has been reappointed to another four year term serviing the County's 18,789 veterans.
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