"Hooray and Halleluia!"

Has it really been almost three years since our battle began to save our VA in Hot Springs? Actually, it has been 2 years and 8 months since the announcement of the proposed closure. After months of meetings, letter writing, sign making and on and on, we are finally having our day in the sun, our moment of truth, our chance to be heard by the decision makers from Washington, with a congressional hearing in Hot Springs.

Our community members have written a proposal that will benefit the veterans, our town and the taxpayers. Save the VA committee members met with former Secretary Shinseki in Washington but were largely ignored. He refused to see for himself what our VA has to offer veterans. We know, we have the numbers to make our proof and we have 5 presenters who will make our case this Thursday before the chairperson and vice chairman of the House Committee of Veteran's Affairs.

Will we win? Time will tell. Will we be heard? If we are, we will win. We have everything in our favor for the benefit of the veterans, present and to come. If you are interested you can follow our battle on www.theveteranstown.com. We may be a small community in the "boonies" or the "fly-over zone as we are known to both coasts, but we have spirit, compassion, common sense and a willingness to fight for what we know is right. We are Hot Springs, SD, the veterans town!