So, We Had a Meeting

Amanda announced it to the community members who braved the bitter cold to attend another Save our VA meeting. "We are half way through our battle to save our very special VA. You are all stakeholders in this. Our community has put a great deal of effort into a counter-proposal which will need some updating, but now it is up to veterans and other citizens in our town to testify before the NEPA committee about each of our personal reasons why we want this VA to remain and grow."

The group selected by the VA to do an environmental impact statement is because of the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires a federal agency to hire this group before that agency makes a final decision, such as the closure of a VA facility.

This is an independent group, required to study both sides of the issue and send their recommendation to the agency, in this case, Secretary Shinseki of the VA administration in Washington.

Some veterans spoke up during the comment period last night. As I listened to these veterans share their concerns, I could not help but believe that NEPA will have to offer Secretary Shinseki insights into the situation that will cause him to make the correct decision, not only for the veterans, but also for our community.

"I have seen services being cut, one after another. It has been a slow bleed. I don't know any other agency that cuts staff and services before opening another facility, as they plan to do."

"I moved back here because of this VA. I have been to many others where I was treated like a number. Here I am treated as an individual."

"I am 100% disabled veteran. I have been to VA hospitals on the west and east coasts. No one really took an interest in me. I moved here and received personal care. My husband and I have been trying to become pregnant. Finally we have been helped at this VA."

And so on.....the veterans spoke to us. They were speaking to the choir. We understand. Those of us who braved the cold and attended the latest informational meeting have not given up. We all understood every word, including the angry ones. We are one in this battle and we will not give up.

The next, and crucial step, will be our appearance and testimony before the NEPA committee when they arrive in town. All who care and do not accept failure, will be there, with their concerns and love for our veterans. they will take off from work, get a sitter or bring the kids, hitch a ride, close their store, hire a cab, whatever it takes. There will be no excuses or whining, " What's the use?" Those who do not turn up to fight can be the last ones to turn out the lights on our VA, our veterans and our town.

Response to Kitty E-Mails

Wow! Readers respond more to my animal blogs than those about the VA or other issues. So I will blog the latest about our stray kitty.

Remember the long-haired calico stray that moved into our lives last November, residing under our shed in our garden? She is still elusive, but she comes twice a day, almost on schedule, sits on our back steps and waits for her food. She has begun to meow in anticipation. That is a pleasant change. Also she remains on the bottom step when we put out her food dish, and when the weather permits, especially during the sunny days, she stays on the back steps, cleaning herself and enjoying the warmth of the sun.

On days when I think she has caught herself a mouse, she arrives late, eats little, but shows herself, as if to say that she is still around and does not want us to cease her daily deliveries. It is true that when she does not arrive on schedule that I think the worst, believing she has run off, or the almost un-thinkable, that she has been killed by a dog or other predator. I realize that she has become a part of our lives in some strange, but special way.

She continues to co-exist with us, but remains evasive. I have begun to call her Skitty. She is that skittish.

Five Minutes More

Do you remember that old song, "Give me five minutes more, only five minutes more, only five minutes more in your arms?"....

Well, SDPR gave me a five minute interview with two of the veterans in Reveille in Hot Springs. My other books received thirty minutes or more of air time but this one gets only five minutes "because of its content."

There we have it! The book seems to be controversial. If it is, I say hooray! Hooray for the voices of our veterans who only ask Washington to keep their benefits they once received. Are these voices calling out in the wilderness of our fly-over zone, or are they speaking to the desert of self-centered politicians who have never served their country in the military, who believe those who say these cut backs will save the taxpayers money or those who just don't care about the numerous reasons to save our VA hospitals and benefits?

If Washington does not care about our soldiers when they return from serving their country, then perhaps, just perhaps, young men and women will no longer care about serving in the military that asks for their service, but denies them the benefits most dear to them.

It gives me pause for thought. I believe that if we could get national media attention for our battle in Hot Springs, which represents the struggle for all veterans in this country, maybe, just maybe, the voices of our veterans will be heard and honored.

Give us five minutes more, and many, many more, in order to explain to the entire country, the veteran pleas. Please, please, who will listen, really listen--and act?

Veteran Fury. Listen to Their Voices

The young veteran looked at me carefully. He was dealing with PTSD, mental illness, depression, brain trauma and substance abuse issues. His life, he repeatedly told me, had been saved by our Hot Springs VA. He had rejoined society with a "can do" attitude, taking care of himself and, subsequently, helping many other members of the community through his work.

"Would you be willing to go to jail to save our VA?" he asked me seriously. He was in earnest and waited briefly for my response. It took me less than a second to respond to his question.

"Of course I would. It is that important for our veterans - present and future. There are so many reasons"

My thoughts flew swiftly to some of the many reasons the veterans who have used our VA have given me in their passionate hope to keep our VA open and growing. There are the many homeless veterans. Our VA has the room to house them, treat their issues that have cut them off from their families and society, and train them for jobs that will benefit them and society.

As this veteran who stood before me said, "We should not look at cost when discussing this issue. Buying a hamburger is a cost. Treating veterans is an investment. It is an investment in the returning soldiers and an investment in their future as a contributing member of our society."

The latest statistics from the US Department of Veteran Affairs is that 22 veterans a day are committing suicide. The ones who have received treatment for their PTSD, brain trauma, substance abuse, toxic chemical exposure or other emotional issues are less likely to take their lives.

Many of the veterans who arrive at our Domiciliary from all over the country (the latest count was from 26 states) have failed their treatment at the large, impersonal facilities in which they were treated like a number and were surrounded by many triggers for relapse. In fact, several have said that the drug dealers come right into the Doms, taking advantage of the returning soldiers still vulnerable to any substances that will temporarily alleviate their pain. This could not happen in our VA in which everyone is know on a first-name basis.

We know that it will cost the taxpayers more to move the Dom to Rapid City than it will be to make minor updates to this made-to-last facility in Hot Springs. Veterans choose to come to this peaceful, rural setting to aid in their recovery. They remain for a month to six months, sometimes longer, and the distance they travel is of no consequence when they want treatment. For those veterans seeking medical care only, travel is of importance. Those who travel from western Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming and the Pine Ridge reservation do not want to travel the extra miles to Rapid City.

What about our South Dakota State Home for veterans? Those retirees from all over the state do not want to even think about travelling to Rapid for their medical care. Also all of the veterans prefer receiving care from VA personnel trained to recognize PTSD, Agent Orange and other chemical exposures, as well as the issues facing all veterans.

"We are treated as a veteran and an individual first at this VA. In most facilities we are treated as a patient and a number. We are comfortable in this VA. They also have plans to close Fort Meade, another rural, caring VA. They  have been systematically closing the smaller VA hospitals, with plans to outsource us all to public facilities in the end. This will cost the taxpayers more. The VA can treat veterans at a far lower cost than other hospitals, and with better results."

"We veterans are not being heard in Washington. Washington does not care about what we want or need. They continue to close the rural facilities and diminish our benefits. We veterans have served our country and we want to receive the health care promised us. We want to get what the politicians get for their service....health care for life."

 Veterans are angry, hurt and feel betrayed! How many more suicides will there be before the government gets the message? Will the civilians in our country speak out and add to their protest voices?

There is more, but I leave it at this for now. In answer to the veteran, "Of course I would go to jail if it comes to that. That is the least I could do for you men and women who have served our country. You once fought, or were ready to fight. I can serve now by my writing and, if necessary, by standing up to the authority that is letting you veterans down. I would be proud to stand with you in your battle. In your betrayal, we are all betrayed."

Yet Another Cut

This Christmas we enjoyed the company of several veterans that were in the treatment program in our Domiciliary.It was an honor to entertain them in our home. Bob and I are not veterans, and it was one way we could say our thanks to veterans for their service.

During the dinner, one of the veterans looked up from his dinner and said, "This is the first time I have ever been invited to some one's house for the holidays".

Another of the veterans, suffering from PTSD and brain trauma, with a subsequent addiction to alcohol, felt the need to get an anti-anxiety pill before joining us at our table.

A third veterans had served her country for thirteen years. This time included a year in Afghanistan, during which time she had been shot at, blown up and had shot over 60 of the enemy. After the service she could not find work and after struggles dealing with homelessness, she arrived at our Hot Springs facility to get care for her PTSD, and work toward getting a job that would solve her homelessness issue.

To my dismay, I discovered that this soldier, homeless and without work at this time, had managed to save money from the below-minimum wage received in the Domiciliary, to purchase a punch card to our local recreation facility with natural warm mineral waters.

"But their is no charge for veterans in treatment to use our Evans Plunge!" I said, stunned by her words.

It was then that I learned of yet another cut by our federal government in Washington. They usually paid a minimal amount to cover the veterans use of the swimming pool, hot tubs, sauna, steam room and exercise room, all helpful ways to speed their recovery.

The next day I learned that our Plunge is working on this issue, but, in the meantime, I felt another pang of anger and resentment toward the VA administration that once again has told our veterans that their years of service did not earn them another aid in their healing in order to be able to work through emotional or chemical issues and once again, re-join society and their families.

Our town is the Veteans Town, and we will find a way to welcome the veterans from the Dom to our local health club, no matter what cuts they make from on high. The veterans served us, and when they return, we will find a way to thank them.