More than 1,200 Veterans, service members, caregivers and families came to Rome, Georgia, on June 11 and 12 for the We CARE Vet Fair, a two-day event that placed 120 Veteran-serving organizations inside one building. Hosted by United Military Care in partnership with AdventHealth, the fair drew claims specialists, healthcare enrollment teams, medical providers, employment counselors and burial pre-certification staff under one roof at the Forum River Center. The setup was deliberate: claims and health enrollment on day one, every partner on day two.
On June 11, representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) worked one-on-one with attendees. On June 12, the event widened into a full-scale resource fair offering clear guidance and practical next steps. For one family in particular, the day delivered more than paperwork. A dual-military Veteran couple arrived after finding their local Veterans service office closed, expecting only to sort out a VA disability compensation question.
A Two-Day Fair Built Around One Front Door
The Rome fair ran two distinct days by design. June 11 narrowed the room to the federal and state benefits gatekeepers, with VA and GDVS service officers handling claims, health enrollment and disability questions in private. The setup was deliberate: work out paperwork without 120 booths in the same room, then open the doors wider the next morning.
On June 12, the venue filled out. Local, state and federal partners, including VA and GDVS again, joined medical teams, attorneys, employers, hospice and in-home care providers, financial advisors, IRS, Social Security and Medicare representatives, plus Georgia Driver Services for Veteran identification cards. Admission and parking were free. A free shuttle ran to and from the Forum River Center. Walk-in appointments were available for free iBreast exams, angio screenings and skin cancer checks.
What tied both days together was a single rule: every question a Veteran brought through the door had a person inside the building who could answer it. The fair’s official Northwest Georgia page describes the model in plain language: “Whether it’s a health screening you’ve been putting off, a benefits claim you’re not sure how to start, a job you’re ready to hunt for, or just someone to talk to, the We CARE Vet Fair puts it all in one place, on one day.”
Why a Closed Local Office Led a Family to Rome
Behind the 1,200-Veteran headline, the day turned on a small chain of small accidents. A dual-military Veteran couple and their family arrived after finding their local Veterans service office closed. They followed a flyer to the Rome fair, hoping only to resolve an issue with VA disability compensation. At check-in, they shared something larger: they were experiencing homelessness, living in a hotel after an eviction, and grieving the recent loss of a loved one.
What the couple walked out with was a stack of completed work. VA staff confirmed that disability paperwork had been processed and that retroactive compensation would arrive that week. GDVS connected the family on-site with community partners, including United Military Care, which provided a grocery gift card. Long-delayed health screenings were performed on-site, allowing for peace of mind. As they prepared to leave, the couple shared that they felt cared for and “among family,” per the federal recap of the Rome Vet Fair.
It was by chance we saw that flyer, but it gave us hope having everyone there be so kind and friendly. We didn’t feel judged, just cared for and like we were among family.
The dual-military couple, in a Veterans Experience Office account published June 23.
What a Few Hours Inside Delivered
For the family, the practical wins stacked up in a single visit. Retroactive VA disability compensation was confirmed for that week. A grocery gift card covered immediate food needs. Long-delayed health screenings were performed on-site, closing a gap that had been open for months.
The fair’s official site lists the day-one menu of free services, including VA medical claims and pension exams, a Women Veteran Engagement Event, and a VA Health Enrollment Sprint. Free iBreast exams are new to the fair this year, courtesy of KaiCare Ai. Day-two added free angio screenings, skin cancer checks, and a slate of partner-run booths covering legal help, employment, financial planning, hospice and housing assistance, with HUD VASH rent help and VA mortgage guidance on site.
The full service menu at the Rome fair ran from claims to housing help. Veterans and family members walked between booths on the same floor without appointments for most services.
- VA Health Enrollment Sprint with Form 1010EZ help
- Free angio screenings and skin cancer checks
- Burial pre-certification for national and state cemeteries
- Legal professionals covering civil, criminal, VA and bankruptcy matters
- Employment resources and employers ready to hire Veterans, with Atlanta recently ranking among the top ten U.S. cities for veteran job opportunities
- Financial investing, savings and fraud prevention education
- HUD VASH rent assistance and VA mortgage guidance
- Georgia Driver Services Veteran identification cards
- Yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic review and mental health support
- Free haircuts, snacks, coffee and certified service animal access
Four Veterans on What the Day Actually Felt Like
For most attendees, the practical value showed up in the claims office. Army Veteran William Schriver traveled from Macon expecting long waits and was seen almost immediately.
“My claim is moving forward and in the works,” Schriver said. “It was a good experience. Everybody has been friendly.” Paula Jasper, a Navy Veteran from Rome, learned about the event through social media and fellow Veterans at her church. She came to see if she qualified for healthcare and to file a claim, and what stood out was how easy it was to move between resources. Jasper called it “a good place for resources for Veterans because everything is all in one place.”
Marine Corps Veteran Jeffrey Westphal almost didn’t come. After adding the event to his calendar, he debated whether to go and ultimately decided to show up. His advice after leaving: “Do it. Don’t let nothing stop you. I came in for one thing, and I’m leaving with more information than I knew.”
Army Veteran Robert Pryor attended to better understand the claims process. He described the staff as knowledgeable and the service as prompt and courteous. Impressed, he immediately encouraged others to attend. “As a matter of fact, I sent a text today to about six or seven other Veterans I know to attend this event,” Pryor said.
The 2025 Numbers That Predicted Rome
The Rome turnout wasn’t a leap in the dark. The We CARE Vet Fair series published its 2025 attendee feedback alongside the 2026 dates, and those numbers describe a model that has been quietly working in Georgia for more than a year. Community partners gave the 2025 NW Georgia event a five-star rating.
On the Veteran side, 89.6% of attendees said the fair was effective. 90.0% said it made it easy to get benefits. 98.4% said they felt valued and respected. 99% said they would promote the fair to other Veterans. Three concrete outcomes from the 2025 NW Georgia event, reported on the fair’s main event page for the fair series, went beyond the survey numbers:
- 4 previously unhoused Veterans secured permanent housing at the fair
- $57,635.00 largest single retroactive payout to a Veteran at a fair
- 100% largest disability rating jump for a single Veteran at the fair
Where the Next Two Georgia Stops Land
Rome was the first of three Georgia stops on the 2026 schedule. The same model moves to Columbus on July 24, then to Marietta on October 22. Each event carries the same menu of free benefits help, healthcare enrollment, employment resources and community support. Admission and parking stay free at every stop, made possible by sponsors and community partners.
The full series is produced by United Military Care, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Georgia, with AdventHealth as the presenting partner. Veterans looking for related Georgia work, including a Georgia farm built for veterans in Calhoun, can find it through local nonprofit networks. Veterans who want to start a claim or enroll in healthcare before the next fair can apply online at VA.gov, call MyVA411 at 1-800-698-2411, or contact their local VA facility.
The federal event listing for Rome includes the address, dates, and a link to register for the day-one services. The three 2026 Georgia stops are listed below. Spouses, caregivers, and survivors are also welcome at every stop.
| City | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rome | June 11-12, 2026 | Completed |
| Columbus | July 24, 2026 | Upcoming |
| Marietta | October 22, 2026 | Upcoming |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next We CARE Vet Fair in Georgia?
After the June 11-12 Rome stop, the next fair is Columbus, Georgia, on July 24, 2026, followed by Marietta on October 22, 2026. Each stop carries the same menu of free benefits, healthcare, and employment services.
Who can attend the We CARE Vet Fair?
The fairs are open to Veterans, service members, spouses, caregivers, and survivors. Admission and parking are free at every stop, and the organizers run a free shuttle between venue parking and the front door in Rome.
Do I need to bring anything?
The official event site recommends bringing a DD-214 and a Power of Attorney if applicable. VA Form 1010EZ for healthcare enrollment can be downloaded in advance or completed on-site.
How do I start a VA benefits claim if I cannot attend a fair?
Veterans can apply online at VA.gov, call MyVA411 at 1-800-698-2411, contact a local VA facility, or use the Ask VA online portal. The VA Welcome Kit walks new applicants through each program.
Who runs the We CARE Vet Fair?
The series is created and produced by United Military Care, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Georgia Veterans, with AdventHealth as the presenting partner.
