Resources for Veterans
There are a wealth of resources and organizations dedicated to serving veterans and their families in recognition of their service and sacrifices made. There are a tremendous number of resources out there, many of which can be accessed by www.OhioVets.gov We wanted to include a few items here worth mentioning specifically, but will have far more online at www.ThunderRoadsOhio.com – just click on the veterans tab.
Veterans Crisis Line
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has established a national Veterans Crisis Line to ensure that Veterans in emotional crisis have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors.
To operate the hotline, the VA partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Veterans, family members and friends can call the lifeline number, 800-273-TALK (8255) and press “1” to be routed to the hotline and speak to a counselor about any issue that is creating a crisis situation in his or her life.
Contact: 800-273-8255 or text 4HOPE to 741 741 (Ohio’s Crisis Text Line) website: www.veteranscrisisline.net
Ohio Veterans Bonus
A State Bonus for those serving in Afghanistan and Elsewhere
This program provides a monetary bonus for those who served during the time of the conflict in Afghanistan. It pays $100 per month for service in Afghanistan and $50 per month for service elsewhere, up to a maximum of $1,500. Eligibility: Veterans (including those currently serving) can determine if they are eligible by visiting the website and using the eligibility tools. Generally, anyone who served honorably anywhere in the world for more than 90 days (not for training) on or after October 7, 2001 is eligible. Applicants must have been Ohio residents at the time of entry onto active duty and must be current Ohio residents.
Contact: Applications and Q&A are located at: www.veteransbonus.ohio.gov or at any of Ohio’s 88 County Veterans Service Offices. For more information, call 877-OHIOVET (877-644-6838), select option 2.
Please Note: Bonuses offered by the State of Ohio for service during previous wars have expired
State Hunting and Fishing
Eligibility: Ohio Revised Code provides for eligible resident disabled Veterans and former prisoners of war to receive a fishing license, hunting license, fur taker permit, deer permit, wild turkey permit, wetlands habitat stamp or any combination of these licenses free of charge.
More information can be found at http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov or by calling 800-Wildlife (945-3543).
County Veterans Service Offices
In Ohio, each county has a Veterans Service Office which is staffed with professionals that are certified and dedicated to helping Veterans, their spouses and children, as well as surviving family members of deceased Veterans. They can assist Ohio’s Veterans in applying for benefits earned by active military service. These include:
Federal – Disability Compensation, Pension, Healthcare, Education, Home Loans, Burial and Survivor Benefits
State – Veterans Bonus, Education, Employment, Healthcare, Home Loans, Ohio Veterans Homes, and Military Injury Relief Fund.
Local – Claim Preparation and Assistance, Financial Assistance, Transportation to VA Medical Appointments, and Indigent Burials.
Many County Veterans Service and County Recorders also make Veterans ID Cards.
Ohio Veterans can find their local Service Office by calling 877-OHIO-VET (877-644-6838) or by visiting www.OhioVets.gov
For instance, the Washington County Veterans Commission (see below) has partnered with Thunder Roads Ohio to help get their message to more Veterans. They will also have copies of Thunder Roads Ohio available each month at their offices.
American Legion Riders
American Legion Riders chapters are well known for their charitable work, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local children’s hospitals, schools, veterans’ homes, severely wounded service members and scholarships. Since 2006, riders nationwide have participated in the Legion Legacy Run, to annually raise money for the Legacy Scholarship Fund, established to provide scholarships to children of U.S. military personnel killed since Sept. 11, 2001.
There are chapters all across Ohio. You can visit the group page on Facebook, American Legion Riders of Ohio – or visit your local American Legion for more information.
You can also visit online at – www.Legion.org/Riders
Here are just a few of the Riders groups –
American Legion Riders Post 103 Ashtabula
1804 West 19th, Ashtabula OH
American Legion Riders Post 3 Findlay
120 West Front St., Findlay OH
American Legion Riders Post 110 Toledo
| 5119 N. Summit St. | Toledo | 43611 |
American Legion Riders Post 320 Maumee
| 204 Illinois Ave. | Maumee | 43537 |
American Legion Riders Post 256 Loveland
| 897 Oakland Rd. | Loveland | 45140 |
American Legion Riders Post 83 Sandusky
| 3615 S. Hayes Ave. | Sandusky | 44870 |
American Legion Riders Post 23 Portsmouth
| 706 Court St. #186 | Portsmouth | 45662 |
American Legion Riders Post 685 Streetsboro– find us on Facebook!
10001 Aurora Hudson Rd, Streetsboro OH 44241 (330) 650-9594
Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association
We are an Association of Combat Veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who ride motorcycles as a hobby. Our mission now is to support and defend those who have defended our country and our freedoms.
Our membership is comprised of Full Members (those with verified combat service) and Supporter Members (those who have non-combat military service and have a sincere dedication to helping veterans). Many members continue to serve in our Armed Forces, with several serving in combat areas now.
Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association has over 250 Chapters in all 50 states, along with 2 in Germany and 1 in South Korea.
One of the great aspects of this organization is that each Chapter can decide which Veteran issue(s) they wish to focus on to best serve our nation’s heroes in their respective Veteran community.
Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, Ohio Chapter 12-7 serving the greater Cleveland area, has made it our mission to support Veterans dealing with Combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injuries and other Combat-related traumas.
Veterans interested in learning more about Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association can visit: www.combatvet.us
On Facebook, you can find us at CVMA Ohio Chapter 12-7 Blessing of the Bikes, 2018
Rolling Thunder
Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is a class 501(c)(4) non-profit organization with over 90 chartered chapters throughout the United States and members abroad. While many members of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. are veterans and many ride motorcycles, neither qualification is a prerequisite.
Rolling Thunder®, Inc. members are old and young, men and women, veterans and non-veterans. All are united in the cause to bring full accountability for Prisoners of War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA) of all wars, reminding the government, the media and the public by our watchwords: “We Will Not Forget.”
Rolling Thunder, Inc. Chapter 1 Ohio
Meetings are the 3rd Sunday of the Month @ 2pm
VFW Post 6768
8584 Olde Route 8
Northfield, OH 44067
www.rollingthunder1ohio.org
Rolling Thunder, Inc. Chapter 2 Ohio
Meetings are the 1st Sunday of the Month 1pm
VFW Post 3383
690 West Waterloo Road
Akron, OH 44314
www.rollingthunderchapter2ohio.com
U.S. Veterans Motorcycle Club
The U.S. VETERANS MOTORCYCLE CLUB (USVMC) is a veterans’ motorcycle club and is comprised of members from all branches of Service. It was born on the principals: 1) To show respect for all Veterans who served honorably. 2) To promote the true meaning of Brotherhood to all members. 3) To continue to support our Active Duty Military.
The Athens Ohio chapter is dedicated to helping those who serve or have served including those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. VFFV, BFFB, LTFT.
Connect with us on Facebook USVMC Athens, Ohio or visit our website at www.usvmcathensohio.com
Veterans supporting Veterans at the Athens County Stand Down
VFW Riders
We are a Riders Club comprised of VFW members. This includes Veterans, Auxiliary & Social
Members. You must belong to a VFW to join the Riders Club. We enjoy riding with others
with a common theme in mind.
Our mission is to raise awareness for all VFW Posts, Post 6768 Northfield, Veterans, Active
Duty Service Men & Women. We raise monies to donate to Veteran Organizations. We have
escorted a Congressional Medal of Honor Winner. We escort funerals of Veterans. We attend
functions to help educate people as to what belonging to a VFW is all about.
