Our veterans who defend our nation and our American way of life frequently hear the phrase “Freedom Ain’t Free” associated with their sacrifices. Indeed, freedom often comes at an unimaginable cost, and it is a price paid by our warriors that most Americans cannot even understand.

Long after combat and service, many of our soldiers return with a range of injuries, both physical and mental. Regardless of what troubles them, Americans firmly have a sacred duty to care for those who have endured 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 wisely positioned our region as a preeminent center of services and support for veterans.

But make no mistake: when the needs of our Berks warriors change, we too must collectively and quickly rise up and respond to those needs.

Indeed, the needs of veterans have evolved significantly in 2024, as the passage and implementation of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 has significantly expanded eligibility for health care and benefits VA for veterans exposed to burns and other toxic substances.

This law not only helps us provide generations of veterans and their survivors with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve, but it has also generated exponential interest and demand for these programs.

The impact of this increased demand for services through our Berks County Veterans Office cannot be overstated.

Combined with a significant increase in claims for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a concurrent sharp increase in claims for military sexual trauma, the BCVA has had to take a hard look at not only how we administer aid to veterans.
services, but where we were doing it from.

As part of a team of five veterans with over 125 years of uniformed military service and one extraordinary civilian, it became painfully obvious that our facility at 726 Cherry St. in Reading was not going to be able to facilitate the changes necessary to respond to the evolving situation. requests.

Open booths lacked the privacy and security to adequately discuss traumatic and sensitive issues, and the lack of convenient disabled parking spaces for our struggling seniors and veterans prevented many of them from access our services.

A change in location was desperately needed and fortunately, our Berks County Commissioners acted unanimously and quickly, successfully moving the Etchberger Veterans Center to 20 Commerce Drive in Spring Township.

The move comes at a pivotal time as BCVA is experiencing a record increase in successful claims, positioning the office second among Pennsylvania counties for successful claims.

According to the latest statistics released by the Pennsylvania Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, the BCVA is on track to return a remarkable $40,968,213 to Berks County veterans this year alone.

To meet this demand, the new and improved Etchberger Veterans Center is a self-contained, thoughtfully designed building with a trauma-informed care model essential to reducing veterans’ stressors and triggers, while simultaneously increasing the trust and open communication needed to handle sensitive situations and traumatic information.

Trauma-informed care prioritizes developing a more complete picture of a veteran’s life situation, both past and present, in order to provide the most effective care services with the most well-being optimal.

But this requires the right environment, which the new facilities amply provide.

Six individual offices with closable doors add a private and powerful tool where veterans can more comfortably unpack their trauma, tell their stories openly, and get to the heart of a solution they have earned.

The new facility offers several other improvements, including ample free parking, convenient handicapped parking at the office entrance and greater proximity to the federal Berks VA Clinic.

In short, the new office creates an environment that will help us more easily piece together what can often be a very difficult and traumatic puzzle.

And this decision puts Berks veterans first – now in a first-class facility that truly honors their service and sacrifice, and affirms that they live in a community that will always strive to ensure 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.