MOUNT VERNON – For Knox County Veterans Services Office coordinator Alan Huffman, the combination of big-city amenities and small-town camaraderie was the perfect concoction to bring this Mount Vernon native and Army veteran back home and keep him here.
Huffman returned to Knox County after giving 12 collective years of military service to the U.S. Army and National Guard. He has served as the Veterans Services Office coordinator since December of last year.
"Being here is just a joy," he said, both of his hometown and Knox County Veterans Services. "There's always great people, and I especially love the veterans that come in from being home by themselves. They come in and sit down here and hang out and watch basketball games on TV. They don't have anyone else, so it's nice to know that they have a place where they can just come and relax and be around other people."
Huffman served in Kuwait, Iraq, Egypt and Israel throughout his tenure as a sergeant in the armed forces. Since returning home, he has found a passion and an avenue to continue his service in helping Knox County's veterans find the things that they need — and perhaps didn't even know existed.
"It's just amazing how many people don't know what's out there for them," he said.
Since joining the Veterans Services Office, Huffman has had the opportunity to help fellow veterans and their families who have no clue how to find access to an entire network of support, whether it be financial, social or for their mental and physical well-being. He has assisted veterans who need help getting to their doctors in Columbus or Cleveland, whose lights are in danger of shutting off, and who need help organizing end-of-life affairs such as arranging funeral homes and final expenses.
"They might be struggling to get to the doctor because they can't afford insurance or don't know where to start," he said. "It's so nice to be able to help them."
Huffman looks forward to helping the Office get back into the swing of things when it's safe to hold events like Memorial- and Veterans Day Services again. Normally, the Office is arranging many different picnics, gatherings and get-togethers.
"We also go visit and talk to the nursing homes," he said. "We haven't been able to do that for the last year."
When it was suggested to Huffman that he appears to be the one keeping the wheels turning at the Veterans Services Office, he laughed.
"I handle a good portion of the paperwork," he said. "If you need a voucher for travel repayment or funeral grave markers, basic enrollment paperwork, I can handle all that for you at the front desk. If you need an appointment with someone specific in the office, I can get you there."
When he's not the friendly face behind the Veterans Services Office front desk, Huffman can likely be found casting a line or swinging a club with his family out and about in the community.
"Just hanging out with them is what I love to do," he said.
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