Governor Ted Strickland will create a Department of Veteran’s Affairs at the cabinet-level, following a recommendation from the Veterans Study Council, which included a local man.

22 members of the Council recommended the change, as Ohio ranks 43rd in the nation for usage of veterans services.

9.8% of Ohioans receive some form of compensation, either disability or pension, compared with 12.1% nationally.

More than 1 million veterans live in the state with several thousand more currently on active duty.

Jack Decker, host of 97.5 WDCM's Veterans' Awareness Show, was a member of the Study Council.