When:
each Monday – 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
In 2015, after the suicides of two Marine Corps Combat Veterans Jesse Beckius and Casey Owens, a group of veterans from the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys banded together to assist fellow veterans. Conversations ensued about the need to increase coordination and resources in support of those with military experience.
From the work of this committed group of individuals (all volunteers) throughout the Colorado, Roaring Fork and Eagle valleys, the Western Slope Veterans Coalition was born. WSVC is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3).
Today, the Jesse Beckius/Casey Owens Veterans Resource Center provides a hub for the information, action, programs and activities that support, honor and connect veterans in the Colorado, Roaring Fork and Eagle valleys.
The Coalition is an organization supported by and open to all citizens, organizations and businesses that support veterans. The WSVC holds quarterly meetings and events, provides a forum for information sharing, best practices, and the coordination of resources for veterans.
Our Mission
The Western Slope Veterans Coalition provides a hub for the information, action, programs and activities that support, honor and connect veterans in the Colorado, Roaring Fork and Eagle valleys.
Goals of the WSVC
- Coordinate citizen-led veteran efforts in the Roaring Fork and Eagle valleys
- Increase connections among people and organizations working to serve veterans
- Facilitate communication among existing nonprofit and public organizations to increase resources and reduce redundancy among service providers.
- Provide speakers and expertise to address best practices on veteran services and support initiatives that address local gaps in services
- Develop community among area veterans through events and opportunities to engage with the Coalition and each other
- Support local veteran events and initiatives through volunteer recruitment, in-kind services, etc.
- Provide a communication channel to connect local veteran serving organizations, providers of services and advocates
- Support local Veteran Service Officers (VSO) in providing case management and VA benefit assistance to Veterans and their family members
- Administer the Western Slope Emergency Fund to provide funding to veterans in need
- Refer clients who utilize the Emergency Fund to area VSOs, community volunteer mentors and other area organizations that serve veterans
- Provide a space for local and visiting veterans to meet
- Raise funds for the emergency fund, outreach, case management and educational services
- Provide space for VSOs and nonprofit veteran-serving organizations to meet with clients or hold constituent meetings
- Provide a space for the community to gather, learn about the history of local veterans, their service and how veterans’ participation in the community has positively affected the quality of life for all residents
Serving the Western Slope of Colorado…
and the communities of
Eagle County
- Vail
- Avon
- Beaver Creek
- Edwards
- Eagle
- Gypsum
- El Jebel
- Basalt
Garfield County
- Glenwood Springs
- Carbondale
- New Castle
- Silt
- Rifle
- Parachute/Battlement Mesa
Pitkin County
- Aspen
- Snowmass Village
- Old Snowmass
- Woody Creek
- Basalt
- Redstone
WSVC Challenge Coin & Memorial Wall
We have a great gift for any veteran, the Western Slope Veterans Coalition Challenge Coin. This one of a kind coin will make a great gift for any occasion. Only $20.00 donation to WSVC per coin.
“It’s not how these men and women died that made them heroes, it is how they lived”
The Jimmie Farris Memorial Wall stands as a symbol of the Western Slope Veterans Coalitions’ recognition of veterans who are no longer with us. The Memorial is dedicated to honor the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country of all who answered the call of duty and served in the defense of our nation.
We can never replace them. We can never repay them. But with a donation to WSVC of $50, you can inscribe a Veteran’s name on a plaque and place it on the wall so that we can honor their service and make sure that their memory will never be forgotten.
Coffee and Donuts
Attend a Coffee and Donuts meeting; A chance to meet and chat with fellow vets and family members. An opportunity to find out about benefits and local resources. Our three locations are listed below:
Contact your local Veteran Service Officer. By appointment only.
Phone calls may not be returned immediately, so please be patient. We will contact you as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience.