VETERANS CORNER: Community living center needed at VA — Why has construction stalled?

by Gary Kennedy

If you’re watching television you will see that the entire world is uneasy. That being said, you can imagine how our veterans must feel. You know, if you aren’t a veteran then perhaps you don’t really know how our veterans are feeling. The old expression, “the natives are restless”, is very true for them. For many vets right now, the smell of gun powder permeates the air. Ex-soldiers as well as avid gun enthusiasts know what I am referring to. In the military, as well as on the rifle range, there is a strong smell of gun powder. However, the non-veteran actually enjoys the smell of gun powder as it indicates fun on the range. To the veteran it’s quite another thing. For those who have seen action it is indicative of war, fear and death.

This war in Ukraine bothers them deeply. They can visualize the aftermath of battle. Men, women and children are scattered on the ground; some dead and some barely alive. Once you’ve tasted battle its image never leaves you, thus, P.T.S.D. Anything else is either a nervous condition or anxiety. In any case, in the past, they have been treated the same. The powers that be are beginning to realize that although they are treated relatively the same they have different origins. If you give it some thought you can see the difference. So when a veteran says to me, “I’m OK”, but in all actuality they aren’t, I feel they are living in denial or they just don’t understand why things end up the way they do. Help is needed.

This problem is often times brought to the front by the wife or a significant other. This is bad in several different ways, (1) life is not good; (2) the other part of significant is not being treated well; (3) denial negates help and; (4) help and benefits are not supporting the family unit. We all know when something is not right; it’s just a matter of facing it and asking for the help one needs and deserves. It doesn’t take much to set a veteran’s dark side off and some of us talk about it every week. I will try to give you some examples in Veterans Corner section of the past few weeks, which actually harbor beginnings of several years ago.

Several years ago (four – five) the United States government put a lot of money aside for the building of a Community Living Center. This was needed by veterans with serious problems for shelter and medical help of a long term nature. It’s been more than four years now and all that has been accomplished is some excavation by McGee Construction and some pipe laying of some sort by Williams Construction Company. The VA campus is riddled with plastic pipe and storage trailers. For those of you who go there often it is viewed as a real mess. The sign that proudly announced the advent of this wonderful project was taken down after two years. This was a blow to the vets who really needed it. At a recent get together it was stated, “Where is the money”? I think that is a good and valid question that should be asked and hopefully answered. Most employees do not have any knowledge about this situation, and VA doesn’t share with us vets.

Another issue that was brought up was the bottle neck the Fisher House has caused. If you remember one of my articles of a few years ago I mentioned tight parking, close proximity to the Emergency Room and it being built on protected land, right beside of the duck pond. I took this problem to the state, had a meeting and filed a complaint. I guess my words fell on deaf ears. The ducks and people on the park bench would have to share the wet land.

Our gathering of last week was interesting when someone spoke out and said, “The Fisher House is sinking”. If true the Fisher House is sinking into the wet land. I haven’t visited that yet but I’ll check it out next week. Next, came a comment on lack of police attentiveness of the hospital front door, Building 200. People pull up under the canopy and park causing a jam. This is not only inconvenient for those with spinal conditions and chemotherapy appointments but it causes anger among some of the veterans. I called the police one day myself as I was trapped in that section by vehicles front and rear. It took them 10 minutes plus to come to the scene and speak with the people. There is plenty of parking on the campus and a mini taxi to give them a free lift. There is no need for that sort of dangerous situation. An ambulance could not have gotten in. The patient would have to be carried from the street. After all, there is 500 acres of land there. Instead of security inside they should be directing traffic. Catching speeders is important but securing the facility is more important.

Another issue that came up was, the covid restrictions were lifted and security was removed from the doors. However, the Administration has only released two doors. All the remaining doors remain locked forcing our wounded warriors to take the long walk or have their caregivers push them throughout the hospital and/or administrative building. VBA is where a veteran would go to file a case or seek advice. It is located in Building 248. That is in the middle of the campus on the second floor. They have a direct door. That door is locked. You would have to go to Building 200 or 205 to begin your journey. That is inflicting unnecessary hardship on disabled veterans. I have been entering those doors for 47 years, so I know it’s hard on some who have no help and perhaps are not as strong anymore. Obviously, it is not veterans running the VA. Last but not least is the work at home program which I will try to address at another time.

These things don’t only affect those with PTSD but also those with other medical conditions. Veterans know when they tell me, these things I will not only address but also share. This is how we make things better. You can send your comments to garyek55@gmail.com. God bless. all my brother and sister-veterans. There are always others who will help.