Buncombe County is preparing to honor veterans with a series of events and resources in recognition of Veterans Day. The county will host commemorative activities and provide information about support services available to veterans and their families.
County offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, as part of the observance. The Veterans Service Office continues to offer assistance to veterans and their dependents, including help with disability compensation, pensions, survivor benefits, and other services.
“Hopefully, folks will take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by so many selfless Americans to ensure the highest ideals of our democracy remain true,” said Heath Smith, Veterans Services Supervisor. “Our Veterans accepted the responsibility to defend America and uphold our values when duty called.”
One initiative taking place is Operation Green Light. From November 4-11, green lights will be displayed at the Buncombe County Courthouse—home to the Veterans Treatment Court—and at Health and Human Services, which houses Buncombe County Veterans Services. This campaign is led by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and encourages residents to show support for veterans by shining green lights at homes or businesses.
The community can also attend the premiere of “We Lift Each Other,” a documentary featuring Black Box Dance Theatre’s work with local veterans through modern dance. The event takes place on Monday, November 10 at 7 p.m. at Diana Wortham Theater in Asheville. Admission is free but requires registration.
A Veterans Day Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, November 11 from 11 a.m. to noon at Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville. The ceremony invites community members to pay tribute and express gratitude for veterans’ service.
Veterans seeking assistance can access several local resources:
– Buncombe County Veterans Services provides benefits assistance such as health care, home loans, life insurance, education and training programs, vocational rehabilitation, burial benefits, dependent and survivor benefits, and disability benefits.
– Charles George VA Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care for veterans and their families around the clock.
– The Veterans Treatment Court offers an alternative approach within the criminal justice system for veterans adjusting to civilian life.
– The Veterans Crisis Line provides confidential support 24/7 via phone (988 then press 1), text (838255), or online chat.
In related news about local education outcomes: In Buncombe County school districts during the 2022-23 school year, about 28.5% of senior students who took the science portion of the ACT were considered ready for college (source). For junior students taking science that year, readiness was slightly higher at 30.1% (source). In reading, 41.1% of seniors met college readiness benchmarks (source), while juniors reached 43.2% (source). Math readiness was lower: only 25.6% of seniors met benchmarks (source), compared with 32.7% among juniors (source).
