Veterans living locally and regionally who need help from the state Department of Veterans Affairs can now find it at the Limestone County office five days a week.

The office, which had only been open on Tuesdays since April, expanded its hours in July when David Whitten became the new veterans service officer. It is now open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Whitten, who retired from the Army, is a Huntsville native and Limestone resident.

He estimated the Limestone office serves about 250 people each month, most of which are Limestone Countians. He said a veteran from any part of Alabama can receive services at any office.

“We’ll even entertain someone from Tennessee,” he said.

County VA offices perform a wide range of duties for veterans, including:

• Assistance submitting disability compensation claims and pension claims to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA);

• Requesting military discharge document (DD 214);

• Applying for VA grave headstones or burial allowance;

• Applying for state veterans homes;

• Applying for the Alabama G.I. Dependent’s Scholarship Program; and

• Other services, like applying for veterans car tags.

The local VA office is at 1109 W. Market St., Ste. B, Athens. The office can be reached at 256-233-6459 or or email david.whitten@va.alabama.gov.