This morning, the Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs (BCVA) officially opened its new and improved Etchberger Veterans Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 20 Commerce Drive in Spring Township. Local officials, veterans, and community members gathered to celebrate the new facility, which aims to better address the needs of the county’s more than 23,000 veterans and their families.
The event featured remarks from an array of dignitaries, including Berks County Commissioners, Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Maj. Gen. Terry Koudelka of the Pennsylvania National Guard, State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, State Rep. Mark Gillen, and Jeffrey A. Beiler II, Director of the Lebanon VA Medical Center. Walt Gensemer, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Berks Chapter #131, also spoke at the ceremony.
Director of Berks County Veterans Affairs Jay Ostrich emphasized the significance of the new facility in light of increased demand for veterans’ services. “When the needs of our Berks warriors change, we, too, must collectively and rapidly rise and meet those needs,” said Ostrich, a combat veteran with over 22 years of military service. “Thanks to broad-based, bipartisan support from our county commissioners who were willing to take decisive and immediate action, we are proud to say we have done just that.”
The new stand-alone Etchberger Veterans Center was thoughtfully designed using a trauma-informed care model, which Ostrich described as critical to reducing stressors for veterans while fostering trust and open communication. The building includes six private offices, extensive free parking, handicap-accessible spaces near the entrance, and close proximity to the federal Berks VA Clinic.
“Six individual offices with closeable doors add a private and powerful tool where veterans can more comfortably unpack their traumas, openly tell their stories, and get to the heart of a solution they have earned,” Ostrich explained. “Combine that with an office filled with combat veterans with more than 125 years of uniform service, and we believe we have what it takes to put Berks County veterans and their families first in everything we do.”
The facility’s emphasis on trauma-informed care reflects a broader mission to provide holistic support for veterans. “The new Etchberger Center facilitates an environment that will help us to more easily put together what can often be a very difficult and traumatic puzzle,” Ostrich added.
The new center comes at a crucial time as BCVA handles a record-breaking surge in compensation claims. Berks County has emerged as a leader in veterans’ services, ranking second in Pennsylvania for successful compensation claims. In 2024 alone, BCVA is on track to return nearly $41 million to Berks County veterans.
The Etchberger Center is named in honor of Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger, a U.S. Air Force Medal of Honor recipient who sacrificed his life during a top-secret mission in Laos during the Vietnam War. His legacy of courage and service provides a fitting namesake for a facility dedicated to supporting veterans and their families.
As the ribbon fell today, signaling the official opening of the Etchberger Veterans Center, the message was clear: Berks County is committed to serving those who served. “This facility stands as a testament to our dedication to our veterans and their families,” Ostrich concluded.
