VA welcomes veterans home with new Web site, blog Published April 21, 2009 WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Veterans Affairs Department has launched a new "Returning Veterans" Web site to welcome home veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with a social, veteran-centric site, VA officials announced today. "VA is entering the world of Web 2.0, because that's where this generation of veterans is already communicating," said Dr. Gerald M. Cross, VA's principal deputy undersecretary for health. "We're opening our doors to them virtually to let them know what they can expect when they step through our doors in reality." The Web site at http:// www.oefoif.va.gov focuses on the needs and questions of returning veterans, and will feature videos, veterans' stories and a blog where veterans are encouraged to post feedback. The site also will restructure the traditional index-of-benefits format found on other VA pages into question-based, categorized, and easily navigated links by topic. This will allow veterans to find benefits of interest easily and discover related benefits as they explore, officials said. "We hope our returning veterans find this site easy and helpful, but also engaging," Cross said. "As the site grows, we will be linking to veterans' blogs and highlighting more of their own stories from their own views. We are their VA, so we are eager to provide a forum for veterans to discuss their lives." (Courtesy of American Forces Press Service from a Veterans Affairs Department news release) Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page