Area veterans like what Webb bill offers

College tuition, books and monthly stipend checks for veterans are all part and parcel of a bill from Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., that was signed into law Monday, and those with affiliations to the military couldn't be hap-pier.

World War II veterans were the first to receive free higher education in return for military service. But in the years since, the benefit has been whittled a bit -- and 17 months ago, Webb began work on legislation to reinstate the deal for those who have served since Sept. 11, 2001.

"Glad to see somebody is bringing it back," said B.J. Richardson, the immediate past post commander for Hawkins-Reeve Post 7916, the Woodbridge chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, now located in Occoquan. "It's hopefully going to help most all the kids that are in today. Of course, they got to have to drive to get it. Just because you have a free college education, doesn't mean you're going to take it."

Richardson, a Vietnam veteran with 23 1/2 years of service in the Navy, entered as a private at the lowest pay grade for enlisted but retired as an officer, earning a free four-year degree in the process.

"Back in Vietnam in 1968, we were getting the benefits," Richardson said. "Then it went away. They came up with all these stupid new benefits. It got to the point the soldiers had to pay so much money out of their meager pay and then they got [a matching contribution]. It's good they brought this back … we do all support it."

An unidentified member who answered the telephone at the Francis Cannon VFW Post 7589 in Manassas declined to comment on the issue or Webb's legislation, referring questions instead to a state agency. And neither Prince William County Supervisor John Jenkins, D-Neabsco, who holds several memberships with various veteran groups, nor Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, R-Dumfries, whose district is comprised largely of military families, could be reached for comment in time for deadline.

For his part, Webb's response to President Bush's signing ceremony -- which was an oddly quiet affair, by other media accounts -- was of satisfaction.

"I would like to again express my appreciation to the veterans' service organizations, many of whom communicated their support of this bill directly to a skeptical White House, and to the 58 Senate and 302 House cosponsors of this landmark legislation," he said, by way of a press release.

Webb's bill, which was S. 22, goes into effect immediately, though agency officials still have to draft the rules of implementation. It will provide nearly $63 billion in the next 10 years to soldiers with at least three years' service to attend in-state public colleges for free. More specifically, the benefit covers tuition, up to $1,000 each year for books, and provides a monthly stipend of various amounts.

Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.