By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
Judy Arline wants spouses of veterans to know that they are entitled to valuable benefits if their spouse passes away. Her husband died in 2010 and she said she was not aware of the benefits she was entitled to as a widow of a veteran.
Arline, who now lives in Elkhorn, grew up in a military family and worked in a government job herself but she said she was not aware of the benefits when her husband died. She found out later on her own and does not want others to miss out the way she did at first.
“When my husband died, someone said something and I may even have received a piece of paper, but I don’t know where it went or what I was told,” Arline said. “I was in a fog for two years (after his death) and once I came out of it, I started looking into my benefits and was surprised how much was out there.”
Arline said the benefits depend on the amount of time served and in which branch. In addition to monetary benefits – some of which can be collected while a veteran is alive but ill – spouses are entitled to copies of ribbons, medals and commendations their spouse earned while in the service.
“They defend our nation and they deserve these benefits. So do their families,” Arline said.
Read the rest of the story in this week’s Southern Lakes Newspapers’ publications.
