The long, but also quite recent transition of the Vermilion County Veterans Assistance Commission came full circle on Thursday (Sept 10) morning when the ribbon was cut for the commission’s new home: on the main floor of the Joseph G Cannon Vermilion County Building, at 201 North Vermilion in Danville. The office space the commission will be using was donated by the County Clerk’s office on the same floor.
One of the speakers out in the Cannon Building hallway on Thursday morning was Vermilion County Board Chairman Steve Miller. He called the entire transition process for the Veterans Assistance Commission, now with complete new leadership and a complete new location, a “metamorphosis.”
As Miller reminded everyone, the county may set a levy to fund the commission, but they have no direct control on how the money is spent once it’s distributed. Miller says about a year ago, when he and County Board member Jerry Hawker were looking at some numbers that showed significant distributed funding not being used, change was needed.
(L to R) Vermilion County Board Chairman Steve Miller, Veterans Assistance Commission Superintendent Troy Strebin, Veterans Assistance Commission Board Chair Mickensey Ellis-White.
AUDIO: One thing led to another, and we’re going to have a lot more Veterans receiving a long more assistance.
One of the major changes was Mickensey Ellis-White becoming Veterans Assistance Commission Board Chair. Prior to Thursday morning’s ceremony, she said it will be great seeing so much hard work by so many leading to more Veterans getting the services they have earned. And moving from 123 North Hazel to the Cannon Building will be a big reason why.
AUDIO: We’re definitely in a much more fitting location that is going to be able to service their needs, and make us more visible to the community.
(1st Picture) Youngest Veteran in attendance Sabrina Kelley and oldest Veteran in attendance Bert Nicholson are invited by Troy Strebin to cut the cake.
State Rep Brandon Schweizer, who volunteered for a while during the transition period as interim commission superintendent, agreed that getting out of the old place and into the new is a huge asset.
AUDIO: (It was) really inconspicuous, no one really knew where it was. And (now) to be in the county building itself, front and center, with all the different administrative offices in here, is great to see.
Sabrina Kelley is the Veterans Services Officer for the Veterans Assistance Commission.
AUDIO: I will say that it has definitely been a “metamorphosis,” and it’s been really great. We’ve got a really great team. We’ve got a lot of really motivated Veterans to get things done. It’s been a great journey, and I’m glad everybody was here to make it so.
Westville’s Mayor Troy Strebin is serving as the commission superintendent; and he says any Vermilion County Veterans organization not yet on the commission board, they’d love to have you.
AUDIO: Myself and my team are in place. And we’ve just been trying to move forward in a positive light to help every Veteran that we possibly can. And we know that there’s still more out there, we just need to reach them.
The Veterans Assistance Commission phone number remains 217-554-7950. Mondays through Fridays someone is scheduled to be in the office 8:30 to 9 AM and 4 to 4:30 PM. But anytime the Cannon Building is open, there will be a clipboard outside the commission office. Please write down your contact information, and they will reach out to you.
