AMVETS SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER

AmVets National Commander Edward Kemp was in Waynedale to talk about keeping the VA Hospital open. The meeting was held at Amvets Post 33, at 6620 Koester Drive just off of Lower Huntington Road. The meeting included National Commander Kemp, State Commander William (Bill) Adkins from Marion, Dave MacAfee, First Vice Guard Commander and Mike VanRyn, Commander of local VFW Post 33.

The Symposium, which will be held in Chicago on October 18, 19 & 20, is designed to increase communication between younger veterans just returning from active duty and older Veterans that are members of VFW Posts around the country.

Kemp, a Vietnam veteran emphasized the increasing need for government support of war veterans. The local VA Hospital provides both inpatient and outpatient care for veterans, but there have been cuts in funding and talks of moving the inpatient service to another hospital. Those plans are now on hold as the department of Veterans Affairs has ordered a study of the local VA Hospital.

With the war in Iraq, returning soldiers are in need of extended care. Body armor and vehicle protection are saving more lives but are leaving soldiers with more limb and head injuries.

It appears that without congressional intervention there will be a $1 billion shortfall in VA healthcare for the year 2007.

Local commander VanRyn said, “At a time when we have both men and women soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, we are going to need more federal funding, not less. It is important to let returning veterans know and understand all the benefits available to them.”

Kemp left Waynedale to continue his 21 city Indiana tour of other AmVets facilities.