Archival facilities nationwide are tasked with archiving, securing and making accessible the historical records of our government. Professional researchers assist veterans, their families, attorneys and advocates in locating and deciphering these records to preserve the service and sacrifice of veterans, and to help them in obtaining proof for their disability benefits claims. Our members’ work of locating and analyzing these historical records that are physically stored at archival repositories nationwide, allows veterans and their families to access evidence and document the service history of individual servicemembers in a convenient and timely manner. In many cases our professional members provide services that state and local archives are unable or unwilling to provide.