American Legion town halls allow members to share their concerns about mental health treatment, access to health care and more.
The American Legion recently was the only veterans service organization invited to participate in a multi-state, seven-base tour of military installations, which shares a similar mission with its Base Assessment & Servicemember Experience (BASE) program.
Rep. Uifa’atali Amata Radewagen, a Republican who represents American Samoa, extended the invitation to The American Legion, which included four town halls at posts near military bases in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
“I’ve always been very impressed with The American Legion and often visit the post in American Samoa,” she said.
Radewagen, the vice chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, met with military members and troops at the bases to further her understanding of issues affecting servicemembers and their families.
The purpose of the town halls was along similar lines.
“I want to find out things they are happy with and particularly things they are unhappy with,” she said. “I also urge them to talk with their own members of Congress. It’s an honor for me to spend this time with veterans.”
Past American Legion National Vice Commander Mark Shreve, a member of Post 189 in Harris County, Ga., was among those in attendance Jan. 30 at a town hall at Post 35 in Columbus. Shreve brought up the issues of mental health and military suicide and referenced the Legion’s Be the One mission.
“We know that mental health is something that needs to be focused on because it is the ‘War Within,’” he said, referencing the Legion’s primary legislative item. “And we need to get ahead of that. Those men and women (Global War on Terrorism veterans) will be suffering. We need more mental health facilities available to those who are in crisis. We need everybody’s help and that includes Congress.”
Veterans brought up other issues, many that related to VA health care. Among those: better communication, improved options for transportation and the need for a VA emergency room closer than the one in Montgomery, Ala., which is about two hours from Columbus.
“It’s great that they included The American Legion as part of this program,” Shreve said. “Whether it’s an intimate setting or a large crowd, these sessions are going to be of benefit to us, not only here but in Congress, too.”
Shreve also attended an earlier town hall at the Legion Post 168 in Hinesville, Ga.
“Seeing a member of Congress going to the posts and talking about these issues is important not only to the veterans, but to The American Legion as a whole because we want to support those veterans activities. She heard from the rank and file, and took a page and a half of notes about what they were experiencing in Hinesville.”
Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., also spoke at the town hall at Post 35, discussing the importance of properly funding veterans services. “It’s the right thing to do, it’s the patriotic thing to do. Even with budget cuts, the needs of veterans are a high priority to be kept.”
An Army veteran during the Vietnam era, Bishop emphasized the importance of his brothers and sisters who are constituents, as well as the influence of 1.6 million Legionnaires.
“When The American Legion opines, Congress listens,” he said.
Radewagen, whose father was a Pearl Harbor survivor, also spoke about the influence of veterans.
“We have many veterans in the American Samoa and they are a great help to each and every community where they live,” she said. “A lot of times I’ve found that these veterans are in leadership roles in their communities.”
- Veterans Healthcare