El Paso County Veterans Expo

JUNE 10, 2026 | PIKES PEAK CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

The 2026 El Paso County Veterans Expo is a free, full-day event designed to connect Veterans and their families with resources, opportunities, and information to help them thrive. Held on June 10, 2026, at the Pikes Peak Center, the Expo will bring together Veteran service organizations, community partners, and agencies dedicated to supporting those who served.

The event will feature a vendor fair in the upper and lower lobbies, offering one-on-one access to Veteran resources. Additionally, a dedicated “Ask a Veterans Service Officer” area will be available, where attendees can meet accredited professionals for direct assistance with VA claims and benefits.

Open conference-style information sessions will feature keynote speakers and panel discussions addressing regional Veteran issues, benefits, and community collaboration. Throughout the day, vendors and partner organizations will have direct engagement with attendees, strengthening relationships and awareness.

In partnership with

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Expo will serve as a hub of connection, education, and empowerment. Veterans and their families will gain access to trusted information, claim assistance, and new opportunities, all in one place. This event will create a measurable impact, reducing barriers to access, improving awareness of services, and reinforcing El Paso County’s leadership in serving Veterans.

Attendance is free and open to all, and we encourage Veterans and families to RSVP in advance. An early RSVP helps us prepare for a strong turnout and allows us to share important updates, parking details, and event logistics so attendees can make the most of their day.

Entertainment

Walker Wilson is joining us in support of Veterans, bringing his music to our morning programming on June 10, 2026.

On June 11, Walker and his band will take the stage at Cowboy’s in downtown Colorado Springs, performing his best original songs along with the favorites you know and love. Proceeds from the evening will benefit Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in honor of their 10th Anniversary.

Walker Wilson is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter originally from Mississippi, blending a modern country sound with gritty southern rock influence. A standout contestant on Team Blake during Season 23 of The Voice, Walker brings raw energy and authenticity to every stage he steps on. Known for his high-energy live shows and emotionally driven songwriting, his music captures the spirit of the South while pushing the edge of contemporary country.

Afternoon Sessions

The afternoon session of the Veterans Expo will focus on practical, real-world information designed to help Veterans and their families better understand and access the benefits available to them. Beginning at noon, a series of structured presentations will walk attendees through key topics that often bring the most questions and uncertainty.

The session will open with an overview of survivor benefits, including Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), pensions, and burial benefits, along with guidance on how to apply for them. This class will be followed by a presentation on Veteran care homes and the VA Caregiver Program, offering insight into long-term care options, senior living, and support available to caregivers.

Later in the afternoon, attendees will learn about the role of service animals in supporting Veterans with disabilities, including training standards and available benefits. A session on homeless Veteran supports will highlight both VA and community programs working to prevent and end Veteran homelessness through coordinated services and housing assistance.

The day will conclude with a session on Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD), providing transitioning service members with guidance on filing disability claims before separation to ensure faster access to benefits.

Together, these sessions are designed to provide clear, actionable information—helping Veterans and their families navigate complex systems with greater confidence and understanding.

Afternoon Session Schedule

• Noon – 1:00 p.m. | Survivor Benefits
• 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p. m. | Veteran Care Homes/Care Giver Program
• 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Service Animal Presentation
• 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Homeless Veteran Supports
• 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | BDD Extraordinaires

Participating Vendors

9 Round Kickboxing Fitness

988 Mental Health
Affinity Homes
Alzheimers Association
American Red Cross

American Addiction Centers
CDVA National Womens Military Memorial

Senator Bennett’s Office
Brain Body Recovery
Brain Injury Association of Colorado
Canon Veterans Service Officer

Champ VA
Colorado Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)
Cohen Veteran Network
Colorado Dept Human Services
Colorado Office of Adult, Aging & Disability Services
Colorado Technical University

Commissary

Community Dental Health

Compass Dreamer Travel

Representative Crank’s Office

Delta Security
El Paso County Economic Development
El Paso County Human Resources
El Paso County Department of Public Works
El Paso County Veterans Services

El Paso-Teller County 9-1-1 Authority

Ent Credit Union

Giving Military Tuesday

Gold Star Valor Foundation
Grand Canyon University

Healing Warriors Program

Senator Hickenlooper’s Office

EmpowerPups by Hero’s Puppy for Life
Heroes for Horses
Home Front Military Network
Hives for Heroes
Homeward Pikes Peak

Hometown Hero Outdoors
Honor Bell Foundation

Indiana Tech

Lending Vets
The Independence Center
MAVericks Construction
Medicare Mentors and Pikes Peak Chapter, AUSA
Molly McClure Art

Mountain States Paralyzed Veterans of America
Mt.Carmel Veterans Center
Onward 2 Opportunity
Operation TBI Freedom
PCS by Vets Real Estate Team
Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity
Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care
Pikes Peak Library District
Pikes Peak State College
Pikes Peak National Cemetery

Pikes Peak Work Force Center
Project Angel Heart

Project Sanctuary
Rocky Mountain Veterans Advocacy Project (RMVAP)
Salute Colorado
Save a Warrior

Simplicity Home Care
Sentinels of Freedom
Serenity Recovery

Sondermind

Space Force Foundation
Special Kids Special Families
The Street Dog Coalition

Talem Home Care
Tammy Jo Fields and Mary Jo DePriest
Team RWB
UCHealth Next Chapter

UCCS
USAF Academy Outdoor Recreation Complex

Valor Archery Challenge
Veterans of Foreign Wars (regional)
Veterans Justice League

VetStix
Veterans Upward Bound

Whole Health
Wounded Spirits Ministry

Wounded Warriors
YMCA Pikes Peak Region

Yellow Ribbon Fund

Beyond the Dais Podcast Episode

This interview with El Paso County’s Executive Director of Community Resources, Vernon Stewart, and Veterans Services Division Manager, Charles Graves, was recorded on March 3, 2026. In this episode, we talk about the services the team offers, what the claims process looks like, and preview the upcoming Veterans Expo (coming June 2026).

Beyond the Dais aims to bring you stories about people making a difference in El Paso County, Colorado. If you have a story you want to share or know someone you feel should be highlighted, please email EPCPIO@elpasoco.com. If you are interested in hearing more of these stories, feel free to browse previous episodes or stay tuned for future editions of this podcast.

EL PASO COUNTY DIVISION OF VETERANS SERVICES

The El Paso County Division of Veterans Services is here to serve those who have served. Our accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) provide no-cost, personalized support to Veterans, their dependents, and survivors in navigating VA benefits and services.

Whether you served in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves, or any other branch of our armed forces, our team is ready to help.

We are not part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Instead, we act as your local connection and advocate, helping you navigate the red tape and access the benefits you have earned. From filing new claims to understanding healthcare options, pensions, survivor benefits, or appeals, our team has the experience and dedication to guide you every step of the way.

As Veterans ourselves, we have been where you’ve been. We are here to help connect Veterans to the benefits and services they have earned.