Storyteller and Army Veteran Dustin Elias joked he grew up “po” because his family couldn’t afford the “r.” As a child, he imagined that $200,000 would be kept in a briefcase handcuffed to someone’s wrist, as in the movies he watched.

While he was deployed overseas, his wife, Maureen, also an Army Veteran, suggested they buy a house. That was their first of many uses of the VA Home Loan Guaranty. When Maureen wanted to buy a vacation home, “Due to the wealth we’ve amassed through homes that we’ve bought because of the VA loan program, I was able to pay $200,000 in cash and have my movie moment, but no briefcase,” Elias said.

That was one of the many stories shared by Veteran storytellers from the Armed Services Arts Partnership, who joined Veterans Service Organizations and VA leaders honoring the impact of 80 years of the G.I. Bill, for an anniversary ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., June 27.

The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 established educational and employment benefits that have helped generations of Veterans achieve their American Dreams.

Rhonda Lawson, PhD., an Army Veteran and storyteller, was able to pass her G.I. Bill benefits to her daughter. “Uncle Sam, I want to thank you for sending two hard-headed women to college and putting us in a beautiful home,” Lawson said.

“The implementation of the G.I. Bill gave me access to a world class education, no matter if I was on sea or land,” said Navy Veteran Tamara Addison. “And because of the benefit I was able to provide for my family… and create generational wealth. I was able to be the first of my grandmother’s 12 grandchildren to receive all these degrees.” Addison, who is passionate about education, is now a high school teacher.

Anne Barlieb, Army Veteran, dedicated her remarks to her PTSD discussion group. She said that, according to the Brookings Institute, only 41% of service members use their G.I. Bill.

She has yet to use hers.

Because of the Forever G.I. Bill, she said she has a “whole lifetime to use it.”

“I’m so happy to say this is a ‘to be continued’ story,” Barlieb added. “The G.I. Bill is about more, so much more, than paying tuition, earning degrees and buying houses. Hope is in this room.”

Other speakers and panelists at the event included leaders and representatives from across VA and several Veterans Service Organizations, including The American Legion and Student Veterans of America. Keynote speeches, given by VA Chief of Staff Kimberly Jackson and VA Under Secretary for Benefits Joshua Jacobs, reflected on the past and future of the benefits VA provides. ASAPs storytellers were followed by a thought-provoking panel featuring leaders and advocates from across the Veteran landscape.

Watch a recording of the ceremony on YouTube.

Topics in this story

Leave a comment

The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visit Ask VA or call 1-800-698-2411. Please, never put personally identifiable information (SSAN, address, phone number, etc.) or protected health information into the form — it will be deleted for your protection.

6 Comments

  1. Richard C Thompson September 14, 2024 at 01:00

    I specifically enlisted during my senior year of high school in the fall of 1976. This actually occurred on the day after Thanksgiving, November 1976. I also learned at that time that since I was on the Delayed Entry Program, I qualified for the Vietnam Era GI Bill which expired 31Dec76. Needless to say I was very excited, since there was no other alternative for me to afford college following my discharge. I also experienced the same as others who have posted here, being told I did not qualify – even after producing the paperwork proving so. Let’s just say I refused to listen to their “opinion”, and wrote to my Congressman Barber Conable, explaining my situation. In less than two months Mr Conable righted that wrong, being deeply apologetic. I later said to him that it was not you fault, though I deeply appreciated his concise and expediate actions which quickly resolved my issue. I still possess that letter he had sent, and thank him often for his actions. This led to me obtaining my Nursing degree and shortly after a highly respected healthcare entrepreneur, where I will always be proud of our accomplishments to the Traumatic Brain Injury program in the State of New York. I suppose not taking the first “no” thrown at me my entire career proved to be the correct path numerous times, which also contributed to the success of the NYSTBI Program.

  2. Dianna L Ray August 29, 2024 at 07:20

    IS THE FOREVER GI BILL ONLY FOR VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN TO WAR? ARE PEACETIME VETERANS OFFERED THE “FOREVER GI BILL?”

  3. Matt Ovaska August 28, 2024 at 20:05

    During the 3rd week of college, there were 6 of us Viet Nam vets. at the Palm Beach Jr. College on the GI Bill. the lady in the front office called us to her office and announced, “The GI bill is no longer paying for your education. Get the hell off my campus!” I really don’t want to hear about the GI Bill.

  4. Annie Fitch, HMC (ret) August 28, 2024 at 19:02

    Mine was denied. USAO military counselor told me I didn’t qualify even though I had paperwork. Finally gave up and called VA At Muskogee, they told me he was in charge. He was a school counselor and cheated me. Found out years later I was correct but was told I had missed the 10 year cut off. I paid for my school because an idiot denied the female vet and the VA agreed with him. Even though they were both wrong I paid the price. August 1981, I wonder how many people he cheated.

    • Joe September 5, 2024 at 10:36

      Same thing happened to me. I don’t want to hear anything about the GI bill

  5. Ann Smith August 28, 2024 at 18:55

    It doesn’t help me! I ran out of time while raising my small child, school wasn’t an option. Funny, I served during 911, however, the “911” Forever GI Bill wasn’t afforded to me! The same as I was in the military during “Operation Desert Storm” and deployed, however, I wasn’t granted the medal, soldiers who enlisted way after the crisis was over received the medal. Just make the Forever GI Bill for everyone. My child could use it. And good luck applying for VRRAP-denied.

Comments are closed.

More Stories