Calendar of Events

The community, family, and friends are invited and encouraged to be present upon the return of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans from their visit to their memorials in Washington, D.C. earlier that day.

“The welcome home for these veterans is one of the most memorable and moving parts of this whole trip,” says Blue Ridge Honor Flight Founder, Jeff Miller. “It means so much to them to have the welcome home they never got when they returned from the war, and it’s an amazing thing for bystanders to witness.” 

Those wishing to attend the event are asked to park at Gate 7 of the WNC Agriculture Center on Highway 280 or at the Advent Health parking lot on Highway 280 beginning at 7 pm.

Parking is free and a complimentary shuttle will be transporting attendees to and from the airport for the event.

Please note that there is no parking available in the regular airport parking lot, however you may park in the WNC Agriculture Center parking lot, or in the Advent Health parking lot located across the street from the airport.

Established in 2006, Blue Ridge Honor Flight’s mission is to transport America’s veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit those memorials dedicated to honor the sacrifices of themselves and their comrades. 

For more information about how to get involved in Blue Ridge Honor Flight, make a donation, or to get a veteran signed up for a flight, please visit the Blue Ridge Honor Flight website at: blueridgehonorflight.com.

May 30th is Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day- a time reserved to honor those who have fought and died for the freedoms we exercise. Many soldiers have paid for our liberties with their lives and it is our honor at Buncombe County Veterans Services to serve their families on Memorial Day and every day.

To serve our Veterans and their families better, we have added a new staff member to the Veterans Services Team. “We are fortunate to welcome Ivan Sarabia to our staff,” says Heath Smith, Director of Veterans Services for Buncombe County HHS. “His years of experience in Veterans Affairs and Patient Advocacy made him an exceptional choice for this role and we are proud to have him on our team.”

Ivan relocated to Buncombe County after establishing himself as an exceptional Veterans Services Officer and Patient Advocate in several states around the region. His motivation to serve the Veteran community is grounded in his personal military experience. Ivan is an Army Veteran with the 101st Airborne Division in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. He served as a Combat Engineer and served a tour in Afghanistan. “My time in the Army is something I look back on fondly and I’m thankful for the lifelong friendships and lessons I learned while serving,” Ivan says. “However, after leaving the military I faced many hurdles adjusting back to civilian life. Luckily, I was able to connect with other Veterans and healthcare providers at the VA who helped me navigate the benefits that were available to smooth that transition. These experiences fueled my desire and passion to pursue a career in which I could help fellow Veterans.”

Buncombe County is committed to honoring fallen soldiers, veterans, and their families and we want to make sure everyone in our community has a chance to honor them as well. Join the Buncombe Community in solidarity at the following events taking place in our county this Memorial Day.

Heath Smith, Veteran Services Director for Buncombe County Health and Human Services, is participating in the Memorial Day program for the Mayor’s Veterans Council. The event will take place on May 30, 2022, at 3 p.m. at Pack Square Park. The keynote speaker will be Spencer Ellis Hardaway, a retired Army Chaplain who received the Bronze Star and served in Iraq from 2009 to 2010.

Additionally, you can pay tribute to our heroes at the Western North Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain. The sight of 5,700+ graves, each marked with an American flag, is striking and serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made to secure our rights. The Memorial Day service takes place at 10 AM on Monday, May 30.

– FULLY SEATED SHOW

THE MOTH resumes their recurring monthly Asheville StorySLAM at The Grey Eagle on the third Thursday of each month through December at 7:30pm! This month’s theme is….

HAPPY: Prepare a five-minute story about smiles and sunshine. Think unbridled joy—landing the dream job, winning the talent show, or bowling a perfect game. The quest for your soul mate or for the perfect cup of coffee. The Midas touch. The good old days. Tales of finding happiness or letting it slip through your fingers.

Features legendary songwriters Cindy Morgan, Wil Nance and Jason Sever Cindy Morgan, Wil Nance and Jason Sever are a blend of GRAMMY® nominated, Dove award winning, chart-topping songwriters who’ve penned songs for George Strait, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Brad Paisley, Diamond Rio, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw and many more! Showcasing their mission to support the military community, Operation Song will be presenting a songwriter event at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. District 113 NC State Representative Jake Johnson is scheduled to appear. Operation Song will also be honoring local hero, Major General Jack A. Davis and his family. Major General Davis served in the United States Marine Corps for 37 years. He is a decorated Vietnam Veteran and an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tryon. If unable to attend, please consider a donation at www.operationsong.org or text “SONG” to 615-471-6008. You can also download our app at: https://subsplash.com/operationsong/app! Operation Song is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that pairs Nashville Songwriters with veterans, active duty, and their family members to tell their story through the process of songwriting. To learn more visit www.operationsong.org & like us on socials. Operation Song® is a tax-exempt public charity (federal tax ID #46-5442758). All contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.

The Veterans Healing Farm, in collaboration with LivingWorks is offering
safeTALK, a 4-hour training that equips people to be more alert to
persons thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with
further help.
What Will You Learn?
In LivingWorks safeTALK you will learn how to reach out to someone thinking about
suicide and help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support.
 Your role as a connector is the main focus of this training.
 You will also be encouraged and empowered to talk openly with someone about
suicide through a 4-step model.
 Overcoming personal and community attitudes to seeking and providing help is a
key theme of this training.
 A growing body of published research and evaluation supports the value of this
training to individuals and organizations while informing program improvements.
 Over 800,000 people have attended this training since its inception.
How Will You Learn?
We aim to provide a safe learning environment. The learning process includes:
 Trainer presentations, facilitated discussion, and skills practice.
 Videos that illustrate what happens when signs of suicide are overlooked, and how
you can contribute to safe outcomes when these signs are heard and addressed.
 Opportunities to further explore organizational applications of the training.
 Direct and honest discussion about suicide is encouraged. While sometimes
challenging, this prepares helpers to openly approach people with thoughts of
suicide and connect them with further help.
Who Should Attend?
 Anyone aged 15+ years is encouraged to take LivingWorks safeTALK.
 It will prepare you to raise and respond to concerns about suicide in relationships
with family, friends, and co-workers.
 It will equip you to build a culture of safety from suicide in your organization or
community.
 You can play a vital connector role in what LivingWorks has called a Networks of
Safety.

There is no instructional cost to attend this class but each participant is required to
purchase the ASIST participant kit, $43.25 each, plus $3.00 shipping costs.

What Will You Learn?
In LivingWorks ASIST you will learn how to help someone thinking about suicide develop
a personalized SafePlan to keep safe-for-now and connect with further help.
 You will learn to apply a Safety Framework to guide the development of this
SafePlan through a collaborative helping relationship.
 You will also consider how personal and community attitudes about suicide affect
someone’s openness to seek help and your ability to provide it.
 This workshop will increase your willingness, confidence, and capacity to provide
suicide first aid.
 A growing body of published research and evaluation supports the value of this
training to individuals and organizations while informing program improvements.
 More than one million people have attended LivingWorks ASIST globally over 35
years.
How Will You Learn?
We aim to provide a safe learning environment. The learning process includes:
 Trainer presentations and powerful videos to stimulate discussion and support
learning
 Extensive opportunities for skills practice
 Shared participant experiences that enrich learning
 Trainer-facilitated workgroups to optimize participation
 Direct and honest discussion about suicide is encouraged. While sometimes
challenging, this prepares helpers to openly approach people with thoughts of
suicide, and to help them keep safe.
Commented [AY1]:
Who Should Attend?
 Anyone aged 16+ years is encouraged to take LivingWorks ASIST.
 It provides a suicide first-aid intervention model for relationships with family,
friends, and co-workers. It can also be incorporated into more formal helping roles
such as counseling, health care, crisis services, or chaplaincy.
 You can play a vital role in creating Networks of Safety from suicid

Some of our greatest art has come in response to the pain of this world: war, accident, crime and punishment, physical and mental illness, racial and class-based inequities. As Asheville resident Nancy Sehested has written, “The deeply human questions of forgiveness, redemption, and mercy emerge from the ruins of broken lives…Pain is not the last word.”

On eight evenings from September to December, the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and the West Asheville Library will celebrate four memoirs of resilience and hope from the mountains of Western North Carolina. All events are free and will be at the West Asheville Library, except for the digital event on December 8.

About the Wilma Dykeman Legacy

The Wilma Dykeman Legacy is a tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 2012 to sustain and promote Wilma Dykeman’s values by sponsoring diverse workshops, events, and other programs.  The core values of this extraordinary woman from Buncombe County included environmental integrity, social justice, and the power of the written and spoken word.  For more information, visit www.wilmadykemanlegacy.org.

Join us for our monthly poetry event featuring three poets and coordinated by Mildred Barya. This month, we welcome Sarah Cooper, Barbara Costas-Biggs, and AE Hines. This is a hybrid event, meaning there is an option to attend virtually and a limited amount of seats available to attend the event in-store. The event is free but registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance.

Please click here to register for the VIRTUAL event. The link required to attend will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.

Please click here to register for the IN-PERSON event.

This event includes a book signing. If you are not attending in person but would like a signed book you may request one using the comments field when you order online or by call the store at 828-254-6734 during store hours.

If you decide to attend and purchase the authors’ books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you make it possible for us to continue hosting author events and you keep more dollars in our community. You may also support our work by purchasing a gift card or making a donation of any amount below. Thank you! Feel free to email [email protected] with questions. We look forward to seeing you, whether in-person or online!

Sarah Cooper is the author of two poetry collections: Permanent Marker (Paper Nautilus, 2020) and most recently, 89% (Clemson University Press 2022).  Her poems also appear in Lunch, Sinister Wisdom, Iron Horse and other anthologies and literary journals.  Currently, Sarah is a PhD candidate in Rhetorics, Communication and Informational Design at Clemson University. Her dissertation project explores how spatial practices intersect with lesbian identity. She is a professor of Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies at Clemson University where she received the Holman Award for teaching, was a 2021 LGBTQ+ Faculty Excellence Award winner, a 2022 Gentry Award winner for teaching excellence and the 2022 Tee A. Corrine Fellow at the University of Oregon. For more, visit https://www.sarahcooperpoet.com/poetry

Sometimes, a poem can show us a map of the human heart and all its pumping valves, all the blood it welcomes and lets go. In 89%, Sarah Cooper gives us that map from all angles-the love and loss of a mother, the loss and love of self, the way romantic love can scare us into silence. In this stunning debut collection, Cooper splays open these moments of tenderness with precision and skill. This book is both the carving knife and the soothing balm. These poems have an unflinching eye-they see all the way through us and then swaddle us in whole, critical heartbeat of truth. 89% won the poetry prize for the Clemson-Converse Literature Series.

—

Barbara Costas-Biggs is a poet and librarian from Southern Ohio. Her work has appeared in Appalachian Review, Northern Appalachian Review, The Pikeville Review, 8Poems, and elsewhere. Her chapbook, The Other Shore, was a finalist for the Washburn Prize from Harbor Review. She holds an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte and an MLIS from Kent State University. For more, visit http://stilljournal.net/interview-barbara-costas-biggs.php

“Things can be idyllic and then ugly,” Barbara Costas-Biggs writes. “A basket of pears in ochre, then piss the same color.” In Broken On the Wheel, the familiar is made strange, as it is in dreams. The speaker of these poems is a mother, a griever, a “hope-against-hoper,” so it’s no wonder this collection is packed with epiphanies and memories and crapshoots—“That in-between stuff./ What we, I hope, are mostly made of.” Broken On the Wheel is a perceptive, masterful debut.

—

AE Hines’s debut collection, Any Dumb Animal, received Honorable Mention in the North Carolina Poetry Society’s 2022 Brockman-Campbell Book contest, and was also a daVinci Eye finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book award. His work has appeared in Alaska Quarterly Review, The Southern Review, Rhino, American Poetry Review, Poet Lore, The Greensboro Review, Ninth Letter, The Missouri Review, Tar River Poetry and elsewhere. Born and raised in rural North Carolina, AE resides in Charlotte and Medellín, Colombia. For more, visit https://www.aehines.net

Any Dumb Animal (Main Street Rag, 2021), AE Hines’s poetry collection, presents a memoir-in-verse as told by a gay man raised in the rural South who comes of age during the AIDS crisis. Flashing back and forth in time, a cast of recurring characters and circumstances are woven into a rich tale of survival and redemption, exploring one man’s life as a queer son, father, and husband, over a span of more than thirty years.

To show support for Veterans and shine a light on the support services that Buncombe County has to offer, Buncombe County will be shining the green light for Veterans November 7-13 in three locations in downtown Asheville:

• Buncombe County Courthouse
• Health and Human Services Tower- Home to Buncombe County Veterans Services
• Buncombe County Family Justice Center

Spearheaded by the National Association of Counties (NACo), Operation Green Light aims to let those who served know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Residents are encouraged to participate in this community-wide initiative by shining a green light for Veterans at your home or place of business. Together, we can show support and encourage the Veterans in our lives and communities to seek the resources they need to thrive here at home.

The contributions and sacrifices of the people who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by all Americans. Upon returning to civilian life, many Veterans report experiencing high levels of stress due to financial hardship, mental health struggles, physical ailments, and lack of connection and community support.

Buncombe County stands in solidarity with Veterans and is home to a host of essential resources that can provide opportunities for health, safety, stability, and connection for those returning from service. Grounded in a commitment to support our Veterans, Heath Smith, Director of Buncombe County Veterans Services, accepted a proclamation from the Buncombe County Commissioners, designating Buncombe County as a Green Light for Veterans County. “Becoming a Green Light for Veterans County is an essential step in uniting our community in the effort to support local Veterans with the comprehensive resources and services they are entitled to.”

Veterans Services and Resources

BUNCOMBE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES (BCVS)

6th Floor
40 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
(828) 250-5726

BCVS offers essential benefits assistance to Veterans and their families. Services include:

• Health Care
• Home Loans
• Life Insurance
• Education & Training
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Training
• Burial Benefits
• Dependent & Survivor Benefits
• Disability Benefits

Charles George VA Medical Center

1110 Tunnel Road in Asheville
Open 24/7 for your convenience
Main phone: 828-298-7911
Mental health care: 828-298-7911 x2519

The Charles George VA Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care to Veterans and their families, including mental health care services, urgent care visits, and clinical care scheduling. Visit their website for a comprehensive list of medical services and support services offered at the Charles George VA Medical Center.

Veterans Treatment Court

60 Court Plaza- 9th Floor
Buncombe County Courthouse
(703) 389-9918

Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative to the conventional criminal justice system in which Veterans who are struggling to acclimate back into civilian life and find themselves charged with an offense are met with the support, structure, and resources they need to settle into life after service.

To show support for Veterans and shine a light on the support services that Buncombe County has to offer, Buncombe County will be shining the green light for Veterans November 7-13 in three locations in downtown Asheville:

• Buncombe County Courthouse
• Health and Human Services Tower- Home to Buncombe County Veterans Services
• Buncombe County Family Justice Center

Spearheaded by the National Association of Counties (NACo), Operation Green Light aims to let those who served know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Residents are encouraged to participate in this community-wide initiative by shining a green light for Veterans at your home or place of business. Together, we can show support and encourage the Veterans in our lives and communities to seek the resources they need to thrive here at home.

The contributions and sacrifices of the people who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by all Americans. Upon returning to civilian life, many Veterans report experiencing high levels of stress due to financial hardship, mental health struggles, physical ailments, and lack of connection and community support.

Buncombe County stands in solidarity with Veterans and is home to a host of essential resources that can provide opportunities for health, safety, stability, and connection for those returning from service. Grounded in a commitment to support our Veterans, Heath Smith, Director of Buncombe County Veterans Services, accepted a proclamation from the Buncombe County Commissioners, designating Buncombe County as a Green Light for Veterans County. “Becoming a Green Light for Veterans County is an essential step in uniting our community in the effort to support local Veterans with the comprehensive resources and services they are entitled to.”

Veterans Services and Resources

BUNCOMBE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES (BCVS)

6th Floor
40 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
(828) 250-5726

BCVS offers essential benefits assistance to Veterans and their families. Services include:

• Health Care
• Home Loans
• Life Insurance
• Education & Training
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Training
• Burial Benefits
• Dependent & Survivor Benefits
• Disability Benefits

Charles George VA Medical Center

1110 Tunnel Road in Asheville
Open 24/7 for your convenience
Main phone: 828-298-7911
Mental health care: 828-298-7911 x2519

The Charles George VA Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care to Veterans and their families, including mental health care services, urgent care visits, and clinical care scheduling. Visit their website for a comprehensive list of medical services and support services offered at the Charles George VA Medical Center.

Veterans Treatment Court

60 Court Plaza- 9th Floor
Buncombe County Courthouse
(703) 389-9918

Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative to the conventional criminal justice system in which Veterans who are struggling to acclimate back into civilian life and find themselves charged with an offense are met with the support, structure, and resources they need to settle into life after service.

To show support for Veterans and shine a light on the support services that Buncombe County has to offer, Buncombe County will be shining the green light for Veterans November 7-13 in three locations in downtown Asheville:

• Buncombe County Courthouse
• Health and Human Services Tower- Home to Buncombe County Veterans Services
• Buncombe County Family Justice Center

Spearheaded by the National Association of Counties (NACo), Operation Green Light aims to let those who served know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Residents are encouraged to participate in this community-wide initiative by shining a green light for Veterans at your home or place of business. Together, we can show support and encourage the Veterans in our lives and communities to seek the resources they need to thrive here at home.

The contributions and sacrifices of the people who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by all Americans. Upon returning to civilian life, many Veterans report experiencing high levels of stress due to financial hardship, mental health struggles, physical ailments, and lack of connection and community support.

Buncombe County stands in solidarity with Veterans and is home to a host of essential resources that can provide opportunities for health, safety, stability, and connection for those returning from service. Grounded in a commitment to support our Veterans, Heath Smith, Director of Buncombe County Veterans Services, accepted a proclamation from the Buncombe County Commissioners, designating Buncombe County as a Green Light for Veterans County. “Becoming a Green Light for Veterans County is an essential step in uniting our community in the effort to support local Veterans with the comprehensive resources and services they are entitled to.”

Veterans Services and Resources

BUNCOMBE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES (BCVS)

6th Floor
40 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
(828) 250-5726

BCVS offers essential benefits assistance to Veterans and their families. Services include:

• Health Care
• Home Loans
• Life Insurance
• Education & Training
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Training
• Burial Benefits
• Dependent & Survivor Benefits
• Disability Benefits

Charles George VA Medical Center

1110 Tunnel Road in Asheville
Open 24/7 for your convenience
Main phone: 828-298-7911
Mental health care: 828-298-7911 x2519

The Charles George VA Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care to Veterans and their families, including mental health care services, urgent care visits, and clinical care scheduling. Visit their website for a comprehensive list of medical services and support services offered at the Charles George VA Medical Center.

Veterans Treatment Court

60 Court Plaza- 9th Floor
Buncombe County Courthouse
(703) 389-9918

Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative to the conventional criminal justice system in which Veterans who are struggling to acclimate back into civilian life and find themselves charged with an offense are met with the support, structure, and resources they need to settle into life after service.

To show support for Veterans and shine a light on the support services that Buncombe County has to offer, Buncombe County will be shining the green light for Veterans November 7-13 in three locations in downtown Asheville:

• Buncombe County Courthouse
• Health and Human Services Tower- Home to Buncombe County Veterans Services
• Buncombe County Family Justice Center

Spearheaded by the National Association of Counties (NACo), Operation Green Light aims to let those who served know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Residents are encouraged to participate in this community-wide initiative by shining a green light for Veterans at your home or place of business. Together, we can show support and encourage the Veterans in our lives and communities to seek the resources they need to thrive here at home.

The contributions and sacrifices of the people who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by all Americans. Upon returning to civilian life, many Veterans report experiencing high levels of stress due to financial hardship, mental health struggles, physical ailments, and lack of connection and community support.

Buncombe County stands in solidarity with Veterans and is home to a host of essential resources that can provide opportunities for health, safety, stability, and connection for those returning from service. Grounded in a commitment to support our Veterans, Heath Smith, Director of Buncombe County Veterans Services, accepted a proclamation from the Buncombe County Commissioners, designating Buncombe County as a Green Light for Veterans County. “Becoming a Green Light for Veterans County is an essential step in uniting our community in the effort to support local Veterans with the comprehensive resources and services they are entitled to.”

Veterans Services and Resources

BUNCOMBE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES (BCVS)

6th Floor
40 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
(828) 250-5726

BCVS offers essential benefits assistance to Veterans and their families. Services include:

• Health Care
• Home Loans
• Life Insurance
• Education & Training
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Training
• Burial Benefits
• Dependent & Survivor Benefits
• Disability Benefits

Charles George VA Medical Center

1110 Tunnel Road in Asheville
Open 24/7 for your convenience
Main phone: 828-298-7911
Mental health care: 828-298-7911 x2519

The Charles George VA Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care to Veterans and their families, including mental health care services, urgent care visits, and clinical care scheduling. Visit their website for a comprehensive list of medical services and support services offered at the Charles George VA Medical Center.

Veterans Treatment Court

60 Court Plaza- 9th Floor
Buncombe County Courthouse
(703) 389-9918

Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative to the conventional criminal justice system in which Veterans who are struggling to acclimate back into civilian life and find themselves charged with an offense are met with the support, structure, and resources they need to settle into life after service.

The Hendersonville Swing Band, under the direction of trombonist Jerry Zink, plays music of the Big Band era of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. The band is primarily made up of musicians from Henderson, Transylvania, Haywood and Buncombe counties. Nearly all the members of the band are retirees. This is the first time the band has played a concert for Veterans Day. Showtime is at 7:30 pm. Running time is approximately 2 hours with one 15 minute intermission. Hendersonville Theater has made masks optional for patrons, and no proof of vaccination is required to attend a performance.

To show support for Veterans and shine a light on the support services that Buncombe County has to offer, Buncombe County will be shining the green light for Veterans November 7-13 in three locations in downtown Asheville:

• Buncombe County Courthouse
• Health and Human Services Tower- Home to Buncombe County Veterans Services
• Buncombe County Family Justice Center

Spearheaded by the National Association of Counties (NACo), Operation Green Light aims to let those who served know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Residents are encouraged to participate in this community-wide initiative by shining a green light for Veterans at your home or place of business. Together, we can show support and encourage the Veterans in our lives and communities to seek the resources they need to thrive here at home.

The contributions and sacrifices of the people who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by all Americans. Upon returning to civilian life, many Veterans report experiencing high levels of stress due to financial hardship, mental health struggles, physical ailments, and lack of connection and community support.

Buncombe County stands in solidarity with Veterans and is home to a host of essential resources that can provide opportunities for health, safety, stability, and connection for those returning from service. Grounded in a commitment to support our Veterans, Heath Smith, Director of Buncombe County Veterans Services, accepted a proclamation from the Buncombe County Commissioners, designating Buncombe County as a Green Light for Veterans County. “Becoming a Green Light for Veterans County is an essential step in uniting our community in the effort to support local Veterans with the comprehensive resources and services they are entitled to.”

Veterans Services and Resources

BUNCOMBE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES (BCVS)

6th Floor
40 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
(828) 250-5726

BCVS offers essential benefits assistance to Veterans and their families. Services include:

• Health Care
• Home Loans
• Life Insurance
• Education & Training
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Training
• Burial Benefits
• Dependent & Survivor Benefits
• Disability Benefits

Charles George VA Medical Center

1110 Tunnel Road in Asheville
Open 24/7 for your convenience
Main phone: 828-298-7911
Mental health care: 828-298-7911 x2519

The Charles George VA Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care to Veterans and their families, including mental health care services, urgent care visits, and clinical care scheduling. Visit their website for a comprehensive list of medical services and support services offered at the Charles George VA Medical Center.

Veterans Treatment Court

60 Court Plaza- 9th Floor
Buncombe County Courthouse
(703) 389-9918

Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative to the conventional criminal justice system in which Veterans who are struggling to acclimate back into civilian life and find themselves charged with an offense are met with the support, structure, and resources they need to settle into life after service.