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Welcome:
Welcome to Putnam County and thank you for your service! We are honored to have veterans like you in our community. Here, you will find a network of established Veteran Organizations dedicated to helping you get involved, connect with others, and continue making a positive impact. Our local businesses and residents take great pride in supporting our military heroes, and you’ll find a warm, welcoming environment where your contributions are celebrated. Whether you're looking for resources, new friendships, or ways to stay engaged, you'll discover that Putnam County is a place where veterans are truly valued and respected.
Putnam County Veteran Services:
- Office Phone/ Appointment: 931-526-2432
- Email: vso@putnamcountytn.gov
- Address: 1656 W Broad St, Cookeville TN 38501
- Links: Home Page
Putnam County Veteran Service officers:
- POC: Mark Harris
- Email: Mark.harris@putnamcountytn.gov
- POC: Edward Norris
- Email: edward.norris@putnamcountytn.gov
Mission:
Our mission is to honor, support, and empower veterans by providing access to essential resources, fostering a sense of community, and advocating for their rights and well-being. We are dedicated to helping veterans transition successfully to civilian life, promoting their physical, mental, and emotional health, and ensuring they receive the benefits they deserve. Through collaboration, education, and service, we strive to build a future where every veteran can thrive and live with dignity and respect.
Federal ID Cards | DEERS | RAPIDS:
- POC: Christine Ulch
- Office Phone: 931-432-4117 ext:0114
- Text for appointment: 931-303-3447
- Address: 505 Gould Dr, Cookeville TN, 38506
- Email: christine.c.ulch.civ@army.mil
- Link: ID Card Office Online
To get a 100% Federal Disabled Veteran Card bring the following documents: Al divorce decrees, DD214, 100% Letter from the VA, Birth Certificate, SS Card, Valid "REAL ID" with photo (passport or DL with star)
If Married or Eligible Dependence bring: Birth certificates for each, SS Card for Each, Marriage certificate, Valid photo ID (if over 18), and If over 21 college verification letter including graduation date and 'Full Time'
VA: Quick Links
- Link: My HealtheVet
- Link: eBenefits
- Link: Create an ID.Me Account Instructions
VA: Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC):
- Link: Website for Requirement for In Person or Online
- Link: Apply Online
- Link: Create an ID.Me Account Instructions
Veteran ID Card:
- Link: Website for Requirements and Instructions
- Link: Create an ID.Me Account Instructions
Cookeville VA Outpatient Clinic:
- Office Phone: 931-284-4060
- Mental Health Care: 615-873-7450
- Address: 851 S Willow Ave Ste 108, Cookeville TN 38501
- Links: Home Page
State Veteran Service Officers (Cookeville VA Outpatient Clinic):
Appointment: 931-651-8984
- POC: Michael Glass
- Office Phone: (615)574-9456
- Email: michael.glass@tn.gov
- POC: Robert "Brad" Halfacre
- Office Phone: (629)867-0956
- Email: robert.halfacre@tn.gov
- Address: 851 S. Willow Ave #108, Cookeville TN, 38501
American Job Center: Disabled veteran outreach program specialist and local veteran employment representative
- POC: Marcus Salazar
- Office Phone: 931-520-9536
- Address: 620 S. Jefferson Ave, Suite 202, Cookeville TN 38501
- Email: Marcus.Salazar@TN.Gov
- Links: Home Page
Tennessee Technological University (TTU) Military and Veterans Affairs
- Links: Home Page | Deferment and STRONG forms
- Phone: 931-372-3073 | 931-372-3070
- Email: veterans@tntech.edu
- Location: TTU Jere Whitson Bldg; Room 312
Women Veterans Call Center:
- Hotline: 855-829-6636
- POC: Lynn Daugherty; 615-918-4529
- Email: lynn.daugherty2@va.gov
- Links: Womens Health ;
TriCare:
- East: 800-444-5445
- Link: TRICARE East | Humana Military
- For Life: 866-773-0404
Military and Family Readiness Specialist:
- POC: Michaela Gregory
- Office Phone: 615-927-1362
- Email: Michaela.j.gregory.civ@army.mil
- Supporting: Financial Readiness; Tricare; Legal Resources; Crisis Interventions; Emergency Family Assistance Center; Community Information & Outreach Services; Employment; and Education
DFAS | MyPay:
- Phone: 888-332-7411
- Link: Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) | myPay
- For Retirment 1099C Tax form
VA Direct Deposit Change:
- Phone: 800-827-1000
- Specific Prep: Have old and new banking info (Routing numbers and accounts); Your entrance and exit dates for the military, The exact amount of your last deposit, and what type of benefit you are recieving- Compensation OR Pension
Veterans Transportation Program:
- Phone: Mobility Manager: 615-225-5527
- Phone: Lead Transportation Assistant: 615-225-5616
- Phone: After Hours: 615-873-7172/7002
Tennesee Veterans Cemeteries:
Preregistration required
- Website: Link
US Flag Retirement Collection:
- Cookeville Address: Veteran Memorial Building 90 E Spring St, Cookeville TN 38501
Education Benefits Institute POCs:
- TENNESSEE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
https://www.tntech.edu/veterans/
Phone: 931-372-3073 | 931-372-3070
- VOL State - COOKEVILLE
https://www.volstate.edu/military
615-230-3447
- GENESIS CAREER COLLEGE- COOKEVILLE
833-422-4338
- COOKEVILLE COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL
http://www.cookevillecosmetologyschool.com/
931-651-2363
- FORTIS INSTITUTE - COOKEVILLE
1-855-4-FORTIS
- MR WAYNE'S SCHOOL OF UNISEX HAIR DESIGN
931-526-1478
American Legion Post 46
- Meeting date: 1st Monday of each Month
- Time: 1800
- Location: Veteran Memorial Building 90 E Spring St, Cookeville TN 38501
- Links: Facebook
- Email: info@legiontn46.com
American Legion Post 135
- Meeting date: 2nd Tuesday of each Month
- Time: 1800
- Location: Magnolia Room; 4749 Ben Jared Rd Cookeville, Tn
- Links: Facebook
AMVETS Post 44
- Meeting date: 4th Monday of each Month
- Time: 1800
- Location: Veteran Memorial Building 90 E Spring St, Cookeville TN 38501
- Links: Facebook | AMVETS | About
- Email: HighlandAMVETSpost44@gmail.com
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Ch 117
- Meeting date: 2nd Saturday of each Month (Currently meeting every other month See "Upcoming Events" for details)
- Coffee: Ever Wednesday at 0900 at Life Church 2223 N Washington Ave, Cookeville, TN 38501
- Time: 0900
- Location: Life Church 2223 N Washington Ave, Cookeville, TN 38501
- Email: Tim Werre
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6296 (Cookeville)
- Meeting date: 3rd Tuesday of each Month
- Time: 1830
- Location: Veteran Memorial Building 90 E Spring St, Cookeville TN 38501
- Phone: 931-432-5885
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6277 (Monterey)
- Meeting date: 1st Thursday of each Month
- Time: 1800
- Location: 45S poplar St, Monterey TN 3857
- Phone: 931-839-7830
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 741
- Meeting date: 2nd Thursday of each Month
- Time: 1800
- Location: Veteran Memorial Building 90 E Spring St, Cookeville TN 38501
- Email: c117adjutant@gmail.com
Team Red, White, and Blue
- Meeting date:
- Time:
- Location:
- Email: Anna Hummel
- Links: Website
Fleet Reserve Association Branch 294 (Crossville, TN)
- Meeting date: 3rd Wednesday of Each Month
- Time: 1200
- Location: Cookeville/Crossville Restaurant
- Email: John Harris
- Links: Website
Korean War Veterans Association 297 (Crossville, TN)
- Meeting date: 2nd Wednesday of Each Month
- Time: 1300
- Location: Fairfield Glade Conference Center, Stonehedge Drive, Fairfield Glade, TN 38558
- Links: Home Page
- Phone: 931-456-7748
- Email: williardanddorothy@frontiernet.net
Veterans Honor Guard
- Address: P.O Box 67, Cookeville TN 38501
- Phone: 931-528-1333 | 931-528-1444
- Email: Vet_Honor_Guard@hotmail.com
- Links: Website
Officer Christian Fellowship
- Links: Home Page
- Email: Edward Norris | Contact
Upper Cumberland Blue Star Mothers
- Meeting date: 1st Thursday of Each Month
- Time: 1800
- Location: Farm Bureau: 1165 S. Willow Ave, Cookeville TN 38506
- Contact: Belinda Owens | (619) 261-9323 | Email
- Links: Website
Upper Cumberland State Veterans Cemetery Association
- Meeting date: Meets each Quarter (See "Upcoming Events" for details)
- Time: 1000
- Location: Veteran Memorial Building 90 E Spring St, Cookeville TN 38501
- Contact: Donna Fare | 931-607-2130 | Email
- Links: Website
Camp Hana Military Program
- Links: Home Page
- Phone: 931-349-8106
- Email: mannahana@gmail.com
- Location: 1285 Brotherton Dr, Cookeville, TN 38506
Dustoff Ranch
- Links: Home Page
- Phone: 931-256-5845
- Email: djones@dustoffranch.org
- Location: 3477 Highway 70 East, Cookeville, TN 38501
Defenders Retreat
- Links: Home Page
- Email: michael.pierce@defendersretreat.com
- Location: 14225 Old Baxter rd, Silver Point TN, 38582
- Interview: Link
Cross The Divide
- Links: Home Page
- Phone: 253-426-5832
- Email: cory@crossthedivide.us
- Location: 2815 Autumn Woods Trail, Cookeville, TN 38506
Operation United Hope
- Office Phone: 931-303-1900
- Email Address: OperationUnitedHope@gmail.com
- Address: 5725 Hwy 111 Unit 3 Cookeville, TN 38506
- Link: Home Page
Smoky Mountain Program
- Links: Home Page
- Phone: 931-349-8106
- Email: suzy.k@smokymountainservicedogs.org
- Location: 8380 Fairview Road, Lenoir City, TN 37772
Tennessee Dept of Veteran Serives: Business and Resources : Link
Homestead Timber Frames
- Office Phone: 931-484-7059
- Email Address: dlee@homesteadtimberframes.com
- Address: Cookeville, TN 38506
- Link: Home Page
Helmets to Hardhats
- Links: Home Page
- Phone: 771-333-1063
- Email: Joe Osborn
Video:
VA Choosing a Veteran Service Officer
VA Tips to Prepare Your VA Claim
VA How to File a VA disability claim
VA Caregiver Support Program | #TheBLUF
VA PACT ACT Update | #TheBLUF
VA Watch out for scams! | #TheBLUF
ID Me Account Instructional Video
VA VALife- Is it right for me?
VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
VA Adaptive Housing Grant Pt 1
VA Adaptive Housing Grant Pt 2
CHAMP VA | TheSITREP
Files:
2025 Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, and Survivors: Link | Download
If you would like a Veteran related event added to the upcoming events, or make a correction, please email the "When, What, and Where" HERE
June 2025:
- 23 JUN MON 1800 (6pm) AMVETS 44 Meeting
- 26 JUN THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
July 2025:
- 03 JUL THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 03 JUL THUR 1800 (6pm) VFW Post 6277 Meeting
04 JUL INDEPENDENCE DAY FEDERAL HOLIDAY
- 07 JUL MON 1800 (6pm) American Legion Post 46 Meeting
- 08 JUL TUES 1800 (6pm) American Legin 135 Meeting
- 10 JUL THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 10 JUL THUR 1800 (6pm) Vietnam Veterans of America Meeting
- 15 JUL TUES 1830 (6:30pm) VFW Post 6296 Meeting
- 16 JUL WED 1200 (Noon) Coast Guard Veteran Monthly Lunch | email John Harris for details
- 17 JUL THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 24 JUL THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 28 JUL MON 1800 (6pm) AMVETS 44 Meeting
- 31 JUL THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
August 2025:
- 02 MAR SAT 0900 (9am) DAV 117 Meeting
- 04 AUG MON 1800 (6pm) American Legion Post 46 Meeting
- 07 AUG THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 07 AUG THUR 1800 (6pm) VFW Post 6277 Meeting
- 12 AUG TUES 1800 (6pm) American Legin 135 Meeting
- 14 AUG THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 14 AUG THUR 1800 (6pm) Vietnam Veterans of America Meeting
- 19 AUG TUES 1830 (6:30pm) VFW Post 6296 Meeting
- 20 AUG WED 1200 (Noon) Coast Guard Veteran Monthly Lunch | email John Harris for details
- 21 AUG THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 25 AUG MON 1800 (6pm) AMVETS 44 Meeting
- 28 AUG THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
September 2025:
1 SEP LABOR DAY FEDERAL HOLIDAY
- 01 SEP MON 1800 (6pm) American Legion Post 46 Meeting (Contact TAL for meeting info)
- 04 SEP THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 04 SEP THUR 1800 (6pm) VFW Post 6277 Meeting
- 09 SEP TUES 1800 (6pm) American Legin 135 Meeting
- 11 SEP THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 11 SEP THUR 1800 (6pm) Vietnam Veterans of America Meeting
- 16 SEP TUES 1830 (6:30pm) VFW Post 6296 Meeting
- 17 SEP WED 1200 (Noon) Coast Guard Veteran Monthly Lunch | email John Harris for details
- 18 SEP THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 22 SEP MON 1800 (6pm) AMVETS 44 Meeting
- 25 SEP THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
October 2025:
- 02 OCT THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 02 OCT THUR 1800 (6pm) VFW Post 6277 Meeting
- 06 OCT MON 1800 (6pm) American Legion Post 46 Meeting
- 09 OCTTHUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 09 OCT THUR 1800 (6pm) Vietnam Veterans of America
- 11 OCT SAT 0900 (9am) DAV 117 Meeting
- 14 OCT TUES 1800 (6pm) American Legin 135 Meeting
- 15 OCT WED 1200 (Noon) Coast Guard Veteran Monthly Lunch | email John Harris for details
- 16 OCT THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 21 OCT TUES 1830 (6:30pm) VFW Post 6296 Meeting
- 23 OCT THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 27 OCT MON 1800 (6pm) AMVETS 44 Meeting
- 30 OCT THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
November 2025:
- 03 NOV MON 1800 (6pm) American Legion Post 46 Meeting
- 06 NOV THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 06 NOV THUR 1800 (6pm) VFW Post 6277 Meeting
- 08 NOV SAT 0900 (9am) DAV 117 Meeting
- ?? NOV Putnam County Schools Veteran Program: Capshaw Elementary (?am); Prescott Elementary (?am); Cookeville High School (?pm); Northeast Elementary (?pm)
- ?? NOV Putnam County Schools Veteran Program: Baxter Primary (?am); Avery Trace Middle School (?am); Burks & Monterey High (?am); Upperman High School (?am);
- ?? NOV Putnam County Schools Veteran Program: Cane Creek Elementary (?am); Jere Whitson Elementary(?am); Park View Elementary (?am); Prescott South Middle School (?am); Sycamore Elementary (?am); Algood Middle School (?am); Upperman Middle School (?am); Corner Stone Elementary (?am)
11 NOV VETERANS DAY FEDERAL HOLIDAY
- ?? NOV SAT 1030 Putnam County Veterans Day Parade
- 11 NOV TUES 1800 (6pm) American Legin 135 Meeting (Contat TAL for meeting info)
- 13 NOV THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 13 NOV THUR 1800 (6pm) Vietnam Veterans of America Meeting
- 18 NOV TUES 1830 (6:30pm) VFW Post 6296 Meeting
- 19 NOV WED 1200 (Noon) Coast Guard Veteran Monthly Lunch | email John Harris for details
- 20 NOV THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 24 NOV MON 1800 (6pm) AMVETS 44 Meeting
27 NOV THANKSGIVING FEDERAL HOLIDAY
December 2025:
- 01 DEC MON 1800 (6pm) American Legion Post 46 Meeting (Meeting???)
- 04 DEC THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 04 DEC THUR 1800 (6pm) VFW Post 6277 Meeting
- 09 DEC TUES 1800 (6pm) American Legin 135 Meeting
- 11 DEC THUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 11 DEC THUR 1800 (6pm) Vietnam Veterans of America Meeting
- 13 DEC SAT 0900 (9am) DAV 117 Meeting
- 16 DECTUES 1830 (6:30pm) VFW Post 6296 Meeting
- 17 DEC WED 1200 (Noon) Coast Guard Veteran Monthly Lunch | email John Harris for details
- 18 DECTHUR 0800 (8am) Coffee with a Vet | Big O's Donuts | 829 E Spring Street Cookeville TN
- 22 DEC MON 1800 (6pm) AMVETS 44 Meeting
24-25 DEC CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY