Goodbye to our VA

"The government stinks", wrote someone on face book. There may be many more citizens who feel this way. Certainly in Hot Springs today many wonder, "How can our government send our young men and women to fight overseas and then not take care of them on their return to civilian life?"

We are told by many veterans that our VA is one of the best in the country for treating veterans with PTSD, brain trauma, substance abuse and other emotional issues common to those who have seen the horrors of battle. And yet, the EIS study returned their verdict to close our VA and open a clinic in Rapid City, an hour to the north. They admit it will not save the taxpayers money, but that it will better service our veterans. Really? Ask a veteran who has received help at our VA and first tried a program at other facilities. They will let you know that Hot Springs has the best of the best treatment programs, and for an added bonus it is situated in a healing rural area, conducive to less outside stresses common in the larger cities.

Ask a resident of Hot Springs. They will tell you that losing our VA will affect the entire community. Businesses will lose customers, rentals will diminish, class size in the schools will shrink, jobs will be lost and the area will struggle to regain its dignity and identity.

We have been the Veterans Town for over 100 years. We will still have the State Home for retired veterans, but the larger, more glorious structure on the hill will lose its young, vital returning soldiers along with the many doctors, nurses, kitchen, custodial and auxiliary help.

The really sad part of this story is that none of this was necessary. None of this had to happen and none of it would have but for the stupidity and arrogance of those in Washington. It angers me and saddens me. Our town has fought long and hard for the rights of our veterans. It was on the front line of this battle to save our VA. We cared, we hoped, we tried. We talked often with our veterans during and after their treatment. We sat with them in the steam room and sauna at our mineral water facility down the hill from the VA. We heard their stories, we felt for them and worried with them about their return to society.

We wrote letters, we had meetings, we picketed and protested.

We met with our state representatives. But mainly we cared. We cared for our returning soldiers and the future of our country. We will continue to care. If there is more that we can do, we will.

At this time as I write these words I feel pain and deep sorrow. This is the end of my blog for today.