Do you know where the veterans center is?

A week ago or so I stopped by the veterans center to get some feedback about a story I wrote about the center and Veterans Aviation Outreach. The staff said they read the article and were happy about it.

They dropped a bombshell on me when a member of the staff asked, “Did you know a lot veterans here in Wasilla and the Valley don’t know where this place is?”

My jaw dropped.

“You’re kidding me,” I said.

I was taken aback when the whole staff erupted with a chorus of nos. One reason being that the column I wrote included the addresses and phone numbers for Veterans Aviation Outreach and the vet’s center. But staff said I should also have included directions, too.

Follow the Parks Highway to Crusey Street. You’ll see the Lakeview Professional Building at 851 E. West Point Drive just behind Pizza Hut and the Midas shop. The center is located in Suite 111, the last office on the left.

It does not have a big neon sign pointing the way, but it does offer help and hope inside. This place can be the starting point for getting to the new clinic in the Valley. The place is where you find out about all the veterans benefits. It can be the first step in healing from the wounds of war.

And staff members are all veterans, too. They are eager to help and equals to trust. As many veterans know, trust is a hard thing to come by. While many of us do not trust civilians, we do trust fellow vets. The staff is a mix of volunteers and well-trained professional counselors. They know the score and they can help.

They earned my trust years ago fresh from my tour in Iraq. I was very new to the community and the state. They helped me out in more ways than I can count.

Now, this is not just for veterans and retirees, but for those who are still serving as active duty, guard and reserves, the Wasilla Veterans Center is for you, too.

Use it as a point of contact to those groups that can help a GI in need — from college benefits to the Wounded Warrior program. The center is a fine place to connect with programs to help.

But none of this does any good if veterans can’t find the place. So here are the directions again. Take Crusey Street from the Parks Highway. Turn on West Point Drive. Park in front of the first building on your right and go inside. Help and hope for veterans are waiting in the last office on the left.

From here it falls upon you, the veteran, the soldier, airman, sailor or marine. This center is for all those who have served and for those are serving today. A map is not needed — just a good pair of Mark II eyeballs. Get my drift, GI?

For more information, contact 373-1883 or visit the Wasilla Veterans Center at its office or online at veteranprograms.com/id249.html.

Wasilla resident Daniel D. Grota retired from the U.S. Army after more than 21 years of service.