The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE Va. (VR) – In Clifton Forge, on Tuesday, July 16, at 4:30 p.m. on the second story of the former Sona Bank building, friends, as well as representatives from across Alleghany County came out to show support and appreciation for the hard work lawyer Kristen McConnell and her family put into revitalizing the historic structure. The ribbon was cut and fell with a surge of optimism and happiness from a community tired of seeing buildings sit empty along Main Street. With new owners and much-needed repairs came a new title, as well, “Five Sides” building; the name Attorney Kristen McConnell and her husband Ron agreed upon. The McConnells have put a lot of hard work into the old iconic building and the evidence can be seen all around. Anyone who’s spent time in the building knows that based on today’s culture and style it would have been viewed as “outdated.”
The updates, described by McConnell as “mostly cosmetic,” show it only takes a glancing look to see that aside from her many other pleasant personality traits she is also modest. They’ve added four newly built walls to accommodate her team in their office space. The McConnells also added new paint to the walls and ceilings, along with new carpet and window covering to keep out unwanted heat that could make the inside feel almost unbearable.
A local craftsman, Mac Beard did a total refinish on a sixteen-foot surfboard conference table that had been left from the building’s previous owners. Additionally, Beard created two inlays in the center of the large table with McConnell’s practice’s name on them. Even the inside of the elevator got a cosmetic overhaul with a colorful nature scene that gives it a serene welcoming feel as you are lifted to the office on the second floor. McConnell plans to continue remodeling little by little to update the entire building and open a coffee shop on the first floor. Her dreams for the building may be vast, but with all that she’s achieved thus far in life, it’s all but certain those dreams will be made reality.
McConnell, a veteran herself has an obvious passion for helping veterans. Her practice focuses on getting disability compensation for veterans who have ongoing health issues resulting from their time as a service member. Compensation that many of these brave men and women have earned, but don’t know they are entitled to. As she likes to put it, “Veterans don’t know what veterans don’t know.” This is why she encourages anyone who has health complications resulting from when they served in the military to reach out to her and her team and set up an appointment.
As veterans themselves, she and her husband understand the complicated aspects of what goes on in service to the nation and can relate to the challenges soldiers have faced and continue to deal with today. McConnell is accredited by The Department of Veterans Affairs and is a member of NOVA (National Organization of Veterans Advocates). Which means that her practice is held to even higher and more rigorous standards.
She doesn’t charge anything upfront and consultations are free. Her team only takes compensation from backpay once a client is awarded benefits after she wins their appeals. Veterans have nothing to lose and possibly everything to gain from reaching out to a lawyer who understands the applicable laws like McConnell. Feel free to reach out to McConnell and her team if you are a veteran and still dealing with health issues resulting from when you served by calling K. McConnell Legal, PLLC at 540-862-0019.
