By Joseph Bell

Record Staff Writer

With the recent emergence of the CE (Cameron/Elk) Rides for Vets organization, finding out that the county's Veterans' Affairs office is the state's frontrunner was icing on the cake for the county commissioners during yesterday morning's meeting.
"We have received some figures from the director of the Veterans Affairs office which averages the usage and benefits to veterans in all the counties in Pennsylvania," Freeburg said. "Elk County is No. 1, not only in our region of the state, but statewide in terms of the number of benefits per capita that the office generates and processes.
"It's really significant."
The commissioners shined the spotlight on Veterans' Affairs director Leslie Neal, who was unable to attend the morning meeting.
"(Neal) turns no one down regardless of where they come from," Freeburg said. "She serves everybody."
According to the county's government Web site, the Veterans' Affairs office assists veterans and their dependents in discussing and submitting applications for all related benefits in which they may be entitled.
According to commissioner June H. Sorg, Neal also coordinates with other agencies in order to further assist the veterans.
"And that's really important," Sorg said. "(Neal) helps a lot of people in our area and we really appreciate what she does."