Lake County veterans are served well

With the announcement by CBS that it is investigating the Wounded Warrior Project, I felt it necessary to remind the public that the funds donated locally to the Allen J. Lynch, Medal of Honor, Veterans Foundation are given directly to veterans in need without any administrative expense.

Veterans are referred to the foundation when reviewed by our office and are found to be over income. The Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County is one of the most generous in the state as we allow 200 percent of the poverty index to determine eligibility based on income.

For those not eligible, we assist in completing an application to the Lynch foundation.

For those not familiar wit the Lynch foundation, it is managed by Medal of Honor recipient Al Lynch of Gurnee. Al spent 20 years with the Illinois attorney general's office as chief of the veterans rights bureau. After his service in Vietnam, he remained in the Illinois National Guard and retired as a master sergeant.

He continues to serve as a volunteer with the title assistant superintendent.

Al knows the needs of veterans and wants his foundation to fill the gap in Lake County when a veteran needs assistance.

I can also assure the public that the 42 veterans service organizations in Lake County meet regularly as the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County and review the needs of Lake County veterans.

The 35,000 veterans of Lake County are served well, with 15 percent receiving compensation for service-connected disabilities.

Michael Peck, Superintendent

Veterans Assistance Commission, Lake County