Dear Editor:

On May 22, 2010 the Belmont County Veterans Office held its grand opening at our new location at 3326 Belmont St. in Bellaire.

We would like to thank everyone involved in making it a huge success. We want to thank Steve Sorvalis who waited patiently while we went through all of the red tape to purchase the building. We want to thank Steve for his generous donation of a 40-inch television for our waiting area. We want to thank Belmont County Commissioner Chuck Probst who worked very hard to find us a building that would be handicap accessible and easier for our disabled veterans to get into. I want to thank him for not giving up when the first few places we looked at fell through and I also want to thank him for backing us when it came to the funding for the building. We would like to thank Bellaire High School student Michael Murphy who did an excellent job singing the Star Spangle Banner and other musical selections. We want to thank the County Councils of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and American Legions for participating, Legion Chaplain Bob Fahey for our opening and closing prayer, Legion County Council member Jim McCulley who played Taps, the VFW Post 626 Ladies Auxiliary for providing food, Jeff Spradling for providing and cooking the roast beef, Loretta Holiday for bringing food and helping to set up and serve, and Rigas’s Restaurant for the beautiful picture. We would like to thank Bellaire Mayor Vince DiFabrizio for speaking. We want to thank Paul Krajnyak from PSK Innovations for taking the pictures. We would also like to thank Bellaire Dairy Queen, Roosevelt Restaurant, and Rigas’s Restaurant for the meals they provided to our workers during the renovations. We want to thank our volunteer painters, Don and Woody Maupin, Jackie and Jennifer Burkett and the office staff Christy Taylor, John Burkett, Bob Nixon, Joe Skoda and Troy Skukan who came in on their own time to paint the offices. Thanks to Chris Parkhurst for the dry wall and furnace work and Keith Monahan who checked the wiring in the building. We would like to thank Bellaire Hardware for putting up with us coming in and asking for many gallons of paint with no notice. Thanks to SAMs Club in St. Clairsville for the $25.00 gift card for the grand opening. I want to thank everyone who attended and want to encourage not only veterans but anyone who would like information on veteran’s benefits to stop by and see the office. Our hours are 8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday. We close noon to 1 p.m. for lunch.

Our number is 740-325-1042 or toll free at 877-316-0385. I hope I have not forgotten anyone, we are very grateful to all who helped.

Thank you,

Lucinda J. Maupin

Director/CVSO

Belmont County

Veterans Service Office