Overworked County Veteran’s Services Officer pleads County for additional staff member

02-23-26

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

 

SFC Everardo (Lalo) Zamora, Veterans Services Officer pleaded with Uvalde County commissions this morning for getting an additional staff employee to help in assisting area veterans with obtaining Veterans Administration benefits including pensions for themselves and their eligible spouse. Zamora who has worked for the County for over 20 years with the County serving veterans fill out forms to receive V.A. benefits stated what he used to believe as part time work has grown into a full-time role.

Just prior to Zamora’s report, a citizen spoke and said Zamora is overworked. He went onto said, “The paperwork to get assistance from the Veterans is unbelievable.”

Zamora stated he as previously asked for an additional staff member to help him at the County’s Veterans Services office but was told that there is no money to hire another employee. When Zamora mentioned there was a grant available for the funding Zamora stated he was told he needed to fill out the grant application himself.

“The county has never helped me with a grant,” Zamora said,

In his report, Zamora said, in 2024, Uvalde County veterans received $23,000,926.

Later in the meeting, Emma Trimble asked if the court approved the requested employee Zamora for which Zamora had asked. Uvalde County Commissioner John Yeackle said the issue would be addressed in the next budget.

Uvalde County employs Carl Esser as its grant writer who applies for county grants to fund county services including the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office, Uvalde County Emergency Services Office and other county departments.

Zamora stated he holds two Veterans Fairs events a year to help inform veterans of benefits for which they may be eligible.

He went onto say sometimes veterans come to see him for counseling or just to vent.

According to the Uvalde County Veterans Services website it lists the following services with which it provides help with:

Forms and Notices

• Reimbursement Form 

• GI Benefits

• Texas Veterans Home Improvement Program Credit Application

• Credit Application for Property Improvement Loan

• PACT Act & Vietnam, Cold War Era Veterans Flyer PACT Act &
  Gulf War, Post-9/11 Era Veterans Flyer

Uvalde Hesperian question: “Why is Uvalde County Grant Writer Carl Esser not being utilized for V.A. Grants?”