LAWRENCE, Ind. — We're taking a closer look at how the city of Lawrence is helping support its veterans.
Earlier this month, Mayor Deb Whitfield announced the city's first-ever position to make sure those who served are getting the help they need.
As you drive through Lawrence, it's hard to miss the red, white and blue. It's home to two VFW posts: the American Legion State headquarters and the long legacy of Fort Benjamin Harrison. So when Matt Hall learned the new mayor would be creating a position to help them, he knew he was ready and willing to serve.
As the city's first-ever military veteran liaison, Hall will work to connect veterans with one another and with benefits and resources. He says too many veterans are not using them.
"In Marion County, about half a billion dollars a year that we are not bringing into our community from the VA, just through veterans benefits, payments, medical assistance, those kind of things," Hall said.
Hall is a veteran himself who served 30 years in the Army.
"It's what we've done, is always taking care of each other," Hall said. "It goes right down to when you're on a march and somebody's hurt and needs to lighten their load. Everybody shares their load. It's ingrained in us to help, to make sure everybody is OK, and it doesn't really go away when you leave the military."
It's a voluntary position, and Hall is not getting paid. His day job is connecting veterans with jobs through his nonprofit.