The Word from Washington

And so, after all of these years of struggle to keep our very "best of the best" VA facilities in Hot Spring, the decision came from Secretary McDonald, the director of the VA in Washington, that our VA will be closed. There will be bits and pieces left......the call center, the dialysis unit and a clinic, but for most of their health care the veterans from Hot Springs and the surrounding areas will require a longer drive with less personal care.

Since 2011 the community of Hot Springs has fought to save our VA in Hot Springs. It is one of the highest rated VA facilities in the country. Veterans come from all over the country to seek help in the domiciliary. One would think that the decision makers in Washinton would look at the VA ratings and decide to close those that fail to provide quality service. A commitee called Save our VA has been meeting faithfully for over 5 years to keep our VA in Hot Springs and other members of the community came to meetings to strategize, make signs, join protests, listen to our veterans.

Our veterans fought for us. They gave up years of their lives for their country. Now Washington has turned their backs on them. We, in Hot Springs, have not forgotten them. From the beginning we have been the veteran's town. 

"The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten."

Calvin Coolidge