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Pitman to speak
to PERI members
Thomas A. Pitman, Department Head of the Darke County Veterans Services
Office, will be the guest speaker at the Public Employee Retirees
Luncheon Meeting on Monday, April 2, 11:30 a.m. at the VFW on
Ohio Street, Greenville. PERI is urging members, OPERS eligible
nonmembers, and any interested veterans and their spouses to attend
this meeting which has been planned to help them learn about benefits
of which they or their relatives might not be aware. Questions
will be welcome.
To make reservations for the luncheon, PERI members will be contacted
by the calling committee. Non members and interested Veterans may
contact Vivian Nieport, Attendance and Contact Chairman at 937-548-3961
on or by Tuesday, March 27.
Pitman, who was born and raised in Darke County, enlisted in the United
States Air Force soon after he had graduated from Tri Village High
School in 1985. Describing his military career, he said that he has
served in countries throughout the world which included Iraq,
Kuwait, Qatar, Germany, Korea, and Japan. After retiring in 2010,
at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant, he moved back to Darke County.
He said it wasn't until 2013 that he began his second rewarding career
as the Department Head of the Darke County Veterans Services
Office. In this capacity, he said he has had the opportunity of
putting Veterans in touch with their VA benefits such as education,
service connected disability compensation, war time pensions, survivors
benefits, and medical benefits. He can also arrange
transportation to the Dayton and Cincinnati VA medical centers for
Veterans who have medical appointments.
Although he says he feels rewarded for the opportunity to serve Darke
County Veterans, the Veterans he serves are equally rewarded. Having
moved from serving his country to serving his county, one fact is
certain, Darke County Veterans are fortunate to have him as the
go to person to answer their questions.
Moving from the military back to civilian life is an adjustment
for Veterans especially when it comes to obtaining the benefits they
deserve. In fact, some older Veterans have stated that they
missed out on some of their benefits because they were either not aware
of them or never thought to enquire about them. Pitman has helped
solve this problem by reaching out to them rather than waiting for them
to reach out to him. This is evident by his willingness to speak at
PERI's luncheon.
PERI members and others who have not served in the military can also
learn from his presentation, especially if they have a son, daughter,
grandchild or another relative who is thinking about enlisting or has
enlisted already.
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