Chesapeake, Va. (WTKR) - The Virginia General Assembly is considering a proposal that would establish a Veterans' Benefits Field Office in Chesapeake.
Currently there are field offices in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton and Portsmouth which offer a centralized place for veterans to get help with benefits earned from their service.
However, there is not an office in Chesapeake to accommodate the more than 27,000 veterans currently living in that city.
Retired Navy Captain William Wheaton wants to see that change.
"We really need a place where veterans can go and get help because these guys, you know, they put their lives on the line for us every day. Sign their blank check saying my life payable to my country," Capt. Wheaton told NewsChannel 3's Todd Corillo Thursday.
There are two amendments being considered in the current session of the Virginia General Assembly that would establish the Chesapeake Veterans' Benefits Field Office.
You can read the amendments here: Senate and House
The physical space for the office would be on the Cedar Road Chesapeake Campus of Tidewater Community College.
TCC is offering the furnished space to accommodate the field office at no cost.
You can read the letter of support from TCC President Edna Baehre-Kolovani here.
"They're providing the space for us – it's right off a bus line and they can get right to it and it's convenient because these guys from Chesapeake especially don't have to drive all over Tidewater to get some help," Capt. Wheaton said.
"I think we've got a pretty good chance this time because this support is the best I've ever seen in 10 years," he continued.
Capt. Wheaton is hopeful that others will take action to help get the office established by voicing their support to their representatives in the General Assembly, the Governor and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
"Please get behind this thing – the veterans deserve this and they've worked for it and they've put their lives on the line for all of us – we've got to help them out," he said.
You can contact Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe here.
You can contact Secretary of Veterans Affairs John C. Harvey Jr. here.
You can contact your representatives in the Virginia General Assembly here.
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