Director Brenda Griffiths-Zechman accepted, on behalf of the Veterans Bureau she manages in the Schuylkill County courthouse, a five star plaque from the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for 2011-2012. It was presented to her department for her outstanding work on behalf of county veterans.

The presentation took place at the weekly public meeting of the county commissioners held Wednesday at the courthouse in Pottsville. Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier congratulated the director on bringing in over $1 million in compensation from the federal government on behalf of veterans dating from World War II to the present conflicts in the Far East. Commissioners George Halcovage and Gary Hess also joined in lauding their veteran's director.Zechman has worked hard to get veterans to file for such compensation for sicknesses they have developed since leaving the services but are contributed their exposure to dangerous chemicals or from other causes while they served their country.When they bring in their medical records to her she files their applications and monitors the processing. Currently more than 200 veterans have benefited from the compensation.The director urges any veterans who believes the illness he or she developed was related to their service to contact her to see if they are eligible for compensation.