A Double Hitter for our Veterans

For almost three years we citizens and veterans from Hot Springs, along with those who use our VA from the Indian reservations and other states, have been fighting to get our message out to the decision makers in Washington: "we need to save our rural VA to serve the veterans from past and present conflicts who do not want to receive their care from other facilities."

Our struggle has been largely ignored by the Veteran's Affairs in Washington, in spite of the fact that we had a delegation from Hot Springs, along with our representatives from SD, who travelled to make a face-to-face case for our cause with the then Secretary Shinseki.

Since the huge scandal erupted at the Phoenix VA things have changed. First of all Secretary Shinseki and his right-hand man, Petzel, have resigned. Then this past week the Black Hill's director of our VA, Steve DiStasio, announced his retirement. This announcement was met with rejoicing by many veterans who have been troubled, to say the least, by the ruthless cuts Mr. DiStasio has made to our VA, with his ultimate goal of closure, leaving only a clinic to service the needs of the veterans in the area.

To add frosting to the cake of this latest hopeful announcement, our present Secretary McDonald of the Veterans Affairs in Washington was quoted as saying, "I have been asked why doesn't the VA just hand out vouchers allowing veterans to get care wherever they want? I learned that veterans need the VA."

Yes, yes, yes! This is what we have been saying all along. Do not cut us or other VA facilities. Improve them, but don't erase them. Veterans cannot receive the unique care they need at other hospitals. They have served their country and all they ask in return is continued health care from personnel trained to serve veterans. Our country owes them no less.

Finally we see signs of hope for our veterans and the VA facilities that treat them. This has been a long, and sometimes futile-feeling battle. But with the departures of those in charge who did not feel what many veterans feel, and with the winds of possibilities blowing our way, hope is renewed.

For all of those who have continued to work for our goal, and for all of the veterans who gave their stories for the book, Reveille in Hot Springs, I send my very best wishes and gratitude. The road to victory lies before all of you and all of the veterans still to come.