Department History
The State of West Virginia is and has always been foremost in providing its sons and daughters for the defense of our country. The patriotism of West Virginians is a matter of history. By the same token, the State of West Virginia has been foremost in caring for those who have served. The West Virginia Legislature in its wisdom in 1945 created the West Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs. West Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs later dropped from a Cabinet Level down to a Division Level under the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, in his desire to show respect and appreciation for the tremendous contributions our veterans have made to our state and to our country, signed Senate Bill 238, immediately following "A Salute to Veterans" event held at the Culture Center on March 29, 2011.
Effective July 1, 2011, pursuant to Senate Bill 238, the newly created
West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance was established, with the Governor's desire that our veterans now take their rightful seat in the Governor’s Cabinet so we can better pay tribute to their needs.