New Gloucester Township Veterans Affairs office brings welcome resources to area vets

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — A new Veterans Affairs office has opened in South Jersey, where local men and women who have served our country can find guidance for resources, with the help of two other vets.

With the cut of a ribbon, the Gloucester Township Veterans Affairs Office officially opened in its own building next to the township’s Department of Public Works on Erial Road. Veterans can find resources, assistance, and get connected to people who can help guide them as they navigate benefits, employment, housing needs, and much more.

Air Force veteran Tony Santanello, who served 21 years, is one of the two men who will run the location. “We're going to be a referral service,” he told KYW Newsradio. “We're going to let you know your whole entitled benefits. If you have to file a claim, we have a woman that can help you.”

Santanello says his greatest passion is to save veterans' lives — and that he and Bob DiCesare, an Army veteran, will be able to do so on a daily basis for the area’s local heroes.

According to DiCesare, they already know some of the men and women who have served from around the community, but they plan to connect with more.

“We're going to reach out with the written communication then go out, shake hands, introduce ourselves, let them know who we are, what we do, where we're located and help whoever we can,” he said.

Local elected officials came for Tuesday morning’s grand opening of the office. John Brouse, with the American Legion Department of New Jersey, says the new location is important to people who have served…

“A lot of times, veterans are either afraid or they wait to ask for help,” said Brouse. “But what better place to go to than a facility in your own community?”

The office will be open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.