This VA is rated as one of the top VA facilities for treatment of veterans suffering from PTSD and other emotional issues. The ones on the large cities have extreme wait times, and veterans suffering trauma would rather not receive help in the confusion, noise and crime of the large cities.
Our VA offers shorter wait times and low crime rates in the peace and serenity of the surrounding Black Hills enclosing the sleepy small town of Hot Springs. And, in spite of all the opposition, we are still open after 4 years of battling the un-informed, anti-veteran health care attitudes of those in Washington who, for the most part, have never served their country, except for fussing over legislation, spewing "patriotic rhetoric" to the masses who have put them in office, demanding that we send our young men and women to fight the wars to protect "our" interests (according to their beliefs and pocket books), but are grossly negligent when it comes to financing the healing of these same veterans who signed up to protect their special interests.
Oh, we hear from Washington, "boots on the ground", etc., but back here in our back yard? Well, that appears to be another story. If our representatives (no matter which party affiliation) over the past 20 years really had our veterans at heart, they would have pushed legislation that the VA could not close any of our rural VA hospitals for at least ten years....until the long wait times are no more in the VA health system. That would have stopped this struggle in its tracks.
A local columnist hit the nail on the head in his last column in the Rapid City Journal for 3/3/2016. You can google it for the full story or find it on www.theveteranstown.com. Jim Kent slices through all the political protests, debating and dust storms brought on by those who profess to love our veterans, but then turn their backs on these same veterans when it comes to fighting for legislation to keep and improve a health care system which honors their service.
I could not sum up it better than his words: Not to worry, however. Our Republican congressional team is fighting for "the boys" (and girls). Nowhere near as vehemently as they are against a replacement for Justice Scalia but, hey, what's more important -- keeping your right-wing puppet masters happy or battling for the veteran who fought for you?
Johnny? Mikey? Kristi? Any of you serve?
I thought not.
Angry words? I think so, but many of us are furious over the whole mess. Those who serve in Washington are receiving great benefits for life, while those who serve our country in the military are being disenfranchised. A legal right? Well, veterans believe a promise was broken. Veteran benefits are being taken away, bit by bit, under three different administrations, and not just here in Hot Springs. Check it out!
It isn't enough to say "thank you for your service." Proper, timely and respectful health service is the sincerest thanks from a grateful country.
Well, representatives in Washington, will you listen to the voices of our veterans? Will you represent those who served? The ball is in your court. It's your call.
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