Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Wisconsin that is responsible for veterans programs. The department is overseen by a secretary who is appointed by the governor after consulting with at least six Wisconsin veterans organizations.[1] The secretary is advised by a nine-member citizen advisory Board of Veterans Affairs. The current Secretary is Mary M. Kolar.[2]

History

In 1919, the state of Wisconsin issued a wartime bonus to service members who served in World War I.[1] After World War II, the state legislature decided that instead of issuing a wartime bonus, they would create programs to provide a better benefit to the veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs was created in 1945 to oversee these programs, which included:[1]

  • The Grand Army Home (now Wisconsin Veterans Home) in King, Wisconsin
  • The Grand Army of the Republic Memorial in the state capitol
  • Economic and education assistance
  • The Veterans Trust Fund

In 1989, the state legislature authorized the Department of Veterans Affairs to build a new museum dedicated to Wisconsin veterans. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum opened across the street from the state capitol in 1993.[1]

In 2001, the Department of Veterans Affairs opened a new veterans home at Union Grove, Wisconsin.[1]

In 2013, the Department of Veterans Affairs opened a new veterans home at Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin at a cost of $20 million, with the ability to house 72 veterans.[3]

State veteran cemeteries

The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains three veteran cemeteries:

  • Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located near Spooner, Wisconsin. The cemetery was officially dedicated on June 10, 2001.[4]
  • Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King. The cemetery was opened in 1888.[5]
  • Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located near Union Grove, Wisconsin. The cemetery was officially dedicated on May 31, 1998.[6]

References
  1. http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/departments/department-veterans-affairs
  2. "Secretary's Page". Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  3. Elizabeth Dohms (January 13, 2013). "New care center set to welcome veterans". Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  4. http://dva.state.wi.us/Pages/memorialsBurials/NWVMC.aspx
  5. http://dva.state.wi.us/Pages/memorialsBurials/CWVMC.aspx
  6. http://dva.state.wi.us/Pages/memorialsBurials/SWVMC.aspx



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