ABOUT VETERANS ASSISTANCE COMMISSION OF JEFFERSON COUNTY ILLINOIS
VAC’s Purpose:
– Exclusively serve veterans and their families.
– Aid in filing VA Pensions and Burial Assistance.
– Serve as the hub for all veteran’s assistance in Jefferson County.
– Aid in filing VA Disability Compensation, serving as a Veteran Service Officer.
– Provide payments for necessities such as past-due rent, mortgage, and utility bills.
– Provide contact information to useful services such as food banks and other charitable organizations.
– Report annually to the Governor and Jefferson County Board of the financial impact VAC has had in the community.
VAC Meets 3rd Wednesday of Month at 6:00 PM
@
716 Main Street
Mount Vernon, IL 62864
SPECIAL MEETING 5 PM THURSDAY 10/29/26 @ AIRPORT
COMMISSION DELEGATES
The VAC Board of Directors is comprised of one Delegate and one Alternate appointed by each participating veterans organization in Jefferson County, Illinois. Each Delegate has one vote on matters before the Commission. In the Delegate’s absence, the Alternate may exercise that vote.
American Legion
Post 141
Meets 3rd Monday at:
816 Main St.
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
Delegate
Michael Hayden
Alternate
Eric Kennedy
Amvets
Post 148
Meets 2nd Wednesday at:
412 N. Broadway Ave.
Waltonville, IL 62894
Delegate
Gary Reynolds
Alternate
Joe Norris
DAV
Chapter 28
Meets 2nd Tuesday at:
800 S. 27th St.
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
Delegate
Kevin Gatewood
Alternate
David Nesbitt
VFW
Post 1376
Meets 3rd Thursday at:
100 Aviation Dr.
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
Delegate
Scott Burge
Alternate
Robert White
VFW
Post 9153
Meets 4th Wednesday at:
412 N. Broadway Ave.
Waltonville, IL 62894
Delegate
Ryan Shurtz
Alternate
Benjamin Newborn
Minutes from Meetings
History of Illinois Veterans Assistance Commission
- The Veterans Assistance Act is an Illinois state law originally conceived in the late 19th century to provide aid to honorably discharged indigent veterans of the Civil War and their families. Over time, its scope expanded to include veterans of all U.S. military conflicts as well as their widows, minor children, and dependent parents who are in financial need.
- What is now referred to as the “Veterans Assistance Commission” originated as the Bogardus Act of 1874 or the Indigent War Veterans Act, which was approved in 1907.
- In the 1890s, the state legislature realized that there were many injured civil war veterans that were unemployed and were not being cared for. As a result, they created the Veterans Assistance Commission which requires counties to provide relief to indigent Civil War veterans and their families. The VAC has been around throughout the state since at least the mid 1890s. Lake County VAC has been around since 1926, making it older than the VA.
- Since 1926, the VAC has continued to act as the premier Veterans Service Organization in Illinois.
- Beginning in the 1930s, the statute was expanded to serve Veterans from all eras and conflicts.
- During the 1980s and 1990s, the statute was reorganized and codified under 330 ILCS 45/ during Illinois’ recodification of state statutes.
- Beginning in the 2000s, the statute was updated by clarifying governance of VACs, budgeting authority, and reporting requirements to county boards.
- Since 2020, modern amendments have been made to emphasize transparency, oversight, and accountability for VAC operations and funds.