In 1886, the Ohio Legislature passed an act establishing the Soldiers Relief Commission. Each of the 88 counties in Ohio has a board of five honorably discharged veterans appointed to the Commission to administer veteran programs in their respective county. Operating expenses are provided through county real estate taxes. In 1988, The Soldiers Relief Commission was renamed The Veterans Service Commission.
WHAT IS A VETERAN?
A "veteran" is defined as a person who served in the Armed Forces of the United States on active military duty, and was discharged from the service under honorable conditions, and who served active duty for reasons other than training, or while serving on duty for training, incurred a disability recognized by the Department of Defense or by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
ROLE OF THE VETERANS SERVICE COMMISSION
To oversee, the operation of the Veterans Service Office;
To provide temporary financial assistance to indigent veterans, spouses, dependent children and surviving widows;
To obtain earned benefits for Monroe County veterans, their families and survivors.
