After more than two decades in the U.S. Army, Park Forest resident Gerald Enriquez knew his next mission would be one of service—this time to help fellow veterans navigate the often-complicated world of benefits and resources.
Enriquez, now a veterans service officer with the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, has made it his goal to ensure that veterans and their families in Chicago’s Southland have access to supportive services. Recognizing the growing need for accredited VA assistance in the area, Enriquez reached out to the Village of Park Forest about the possibility of opening an office in the community. Due to the Village’s longstanding commitment to those who have served, Park Forest officials agreed, and earlier this month, Enriquez settled into his new office on the first floor of Village Hall.
Enriquez, a nine-year resident of the community, said that living in the Village and now serving in the Village means a lot to him and his family.
“When I was in the military, I was working near the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. My wife and I were looking for a post-military home just far enough to be away from the city, but close enough to visit and travel to work,” Enriquez said. “Park Forest’s veteran history caught our attention, and we found a home that we loved near the forest preserve, close to the Metra for my daily commutes into the city, and close to Governors State University, of which I eventually graduated from in 2018.”
Enriquez served 21 years in the Army before retiring in 2021. Having experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating benefits as a disabled veteran, he said he was drawn to this work to help others avoid the confusion and frustration veterans sometimes experience when seeking support and education.
As a VA-accredited veterans service officer, Enriquez assists veterans with a wide range of state and federal benefits, including disability compensation, pension programs, burial claims, death benefits for surviving spouses, and education opportunities for veterans and their families. Services are free of charge.
Beyond one-on-one appointments, Enriquez is active in community outreach, attending events and hosting group sessions to educate veterans and their families about available resources.
“A lot of veterans—and even their spouses—don’t know what they may be entitled to,” Enriquez said. “Obtaining an education first is very important before filing any veteran-related claims.”
Enriquez's work continues Park Forest’s legacy of supporting service members. Established after World War II as one of America’s first planned communities, Park Forest's earliest days saw scores of veterans and their families settling in the community. Park Forest maintains and celebrates that history today with an active Veterans Commission, a Veterans Resource Center in the Village's DownTown, and the latest addition — Enriquez’s new office at Village Hall.
Enriquez meets with veterans by appointment only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled by emailing Gerald.Enriquez@Illinois.gov.