ASHLAND – After four decades of helping veterans, Jane Roland has a number of success stories, but all those successes were inspired by her own experience as the child of a veteran.
Roland, administrator of the Ashland County Veterans Service, spoke during a ceremony as part of Veteran’s Day at the Ashland County Fair Monday morning.
Roland’s journey to veteran advocacy started “in 1942, before I was even thought of.” Her father, Roland, served in World War II as a Gunner’s Mate, Second Class from April 1942 to August 1946. When he returned from service, he worked at Mansfield Tire and Rubber Company and spent most nights in a local bar, trying to forget about the things he saw in combat.
She said her father had trouble sleeping, and when he did sleep, the nightmares would start. “They called it ‘shellshock’ in those days,” Roland said.
Her dad died of a heart attack at age 45 when Jane was just 7 years old.
“Do I believe his PTSD contributed to his death? You bet I do,” Roland said.
Roland received VA pension benefits from the time she was 7 years old through her first year of college. Roland has worked for 40 years at the Ashland County Veterans Office, first as a secretary, then advancing to administrative assistant, veterans benefit counselor and, in June 2014, administrator of the office. She is retiring at the end of September.
In addition to her local duties, Roland has represented the Ohio State Association of County Veterans Service Officers on the Ohio Department of Veterans Services Advisory Board for about 17 years. She serves on the OSACVSO board of directors and is the time and place chair.
“I’ve spent my career navigating the red tape and bureaucracy of the VA to help veterans file for the benefits they deserve. Have I always been successful? No. But I know there are a lot more veteran and veterans’ dependents that are getting benefits because of the work in our office,” Roland said.
Before Roland spoke, dozens of veterans paraded from the Veterans Building to the Entertainment Pavilion during a special Veterans Walk of Honor, sponsored by Hospice of North Central Ohio. Thankful fairgoers lined the parade route, applauding those who served our country.
After the ceremony, veterans were treated to a free meal in the Veterans Building.
Tuesday is Senior Citizens Day. The Senior King and Queen will be crowned at 2:30 p.m. The Ashland University national champion women’s basketball team will host a meet and greet in the Entertainment Pavilion. The highlight of the night is the John Michael Montgomery and Collin Raye concert in the Grandstand at 7:30 p.m.
