Our veterans who defend our nation and our American way of life frequently hear the phrase, “Freedom isn’t free,” associated with their sacrifices. Indeed, freedom often comes at an unimaginable cost, and it’s at a price paid by our warriors that most Americans can’t even comprehend.
Long after combat and service, many of our troops return with a full spectrum of injuries, both physical and mental. Regardless of what troubles them, Americans firmly have a sacred duty to care for those who have borne the battle.
Fortunately, for the more than 23,000 veterans and their family members who call Berks County home, we are proactively supported by bipartisan local, state and federal leaders who have thoughtfully positioned our area as a preeminent center for veteran services and support.
But make no mistake — when the needs of our Berks warriors change, we, too, must collectively and rapidly rise and meet those needs.
Indeed, veteran needs have drastically evolved in 2024, as the passage and implementation of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 has significantly expanded VA health care and benefits eligibility for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.
This law not only helps us provide generations of veterans and their survivors with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve, but it has exponentially driven interest and demand for these programs.
The impact of this increased demand for services through our Berks County Veterans Affairs office cannot be overstated.
Combined with a significant spike in compensation claims for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a simultaneous and sharp increase in military sexual trauma claims, BCVA had to thoroughly examine not only how we were administering veterans’
services, but from where we were doing it.
On a team of five combat veterans with more than 125 years of uniformed military service and one amazing civilian, it became painfully apparent that our facility at 726 Cherry St. in Reading wasn’t going to be able to facilitate changes needed to meet the evolving demands.
Open-bay cubicles lacked privacy and security to adequately discuss traumatic and sensitive issues, and lack of handicapped and convenient parking for our seniors and struggling veterans kept many from ever accessing our services.
A change of location was desperately needed, and thankfully our Berks County commissioners unanimously and swiftly acted, successfully relocating the Etchberger Veterans Center to 20 Commerce Drive in Spring Township.
The move comes at a pivotal time as BCVA takes on a record-breaking surge in successful compensation claims, positioning the office as the No. 2. rated county in Pennsylvania for successful compensation claims.
According to the latest statistics released by the Pennsylvania Department of Veteran and Military Affairs, the BCVA is on track to return a remarkable $40,968,213 to Berks County veterans this year alone.
To accommodate this demand, the new and improved Etchberger Veterans Center is a stand-alone building, designed thoughtfully with a trauma-informed care model that’s essential to decreasing veteran stressors and triggers, while simultaneously increasing the trust and open communication needed to handle sensitive and traumatic information.
Trauma-informed care prioritizes the development of a more complete picture of a veteran’s life situation, both past and present, to provide the most effective care services with the most optimal well-being.
But that requires the right environment, something the new facility meets abundantly.
Six individual offices with closeable doors add a private and powerful tool where veterans can more comfortably unpack their traumas, openly tell their stories, and get to the heart of a solution they have earned.
The new facility offers several other improvements, including extensive free parking, convenient handicap parking at the office entrance and closer proximity to the federal Berks VA Clinic.
In short, the new office facilitates an environment that will help us to more easily put together what can often be a very difficult and traumatic puzzle.
And that move puts Berks veterans first — now in a first-class facility that truly honors their service and sacrifices, and affirms they live in a community that will always strive for their optimal well-being.
Jay Ostrich is director of Berks County Veterans Affairs with 22 years of military service, is a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and still serves in the Pennsylvania National Guard as an Air Force lieutenant colonel at Fort Indiantown Gap.
Source: Berkshire mont