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ON THE ROAD: SPREADING THE WORD ON VETERANS'
PROGRAMS -- Tammy Duckworth wants to make sure
Illinois veterans are using all the services
they can.
Tammy Duckworth
Every state should be doing this...traveling
benefits meetings for veterans and their families.
For background on Tammy Duckworth, head of the
Illinois DVA, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/ses
search.php?q=duckworth&op=and
Story here...
http://www.daily
herald.com/story/?id=49458&src=1
Story below:
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Spreading the word on veterans programs
Duckworth wants to make sure veterans are using
all services they can
By Ashok Selvam
Daily Herald Staff
Though the last few years have seen improvement, Tammy Duckworth said
she doesn't think enough veterans take advantage of government services.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, only 7.9 million
of the 24 million veterans nationwide are enrolled in the VA health care
system.
It could be veterans don't know about the services offered, or it could
be a matter of pride, said Duckworth, director of the Illinois
Department of Veterans' Affairs.
But whatever the reason, veterans need to know they've earned these
benefits, which can help them and their families.
"They think they're OK, and they don't want to burden the services,"
said Duckworth. "But they need to know that we're here for them, they've
earned these benefits, they need to come in and sign up."
Duckworth joined several veterans groups Monday at an open house at the
Schaumburg Township Building in Hoffman Estates.
The event showcased a variety of services from groups including the
state's department on aging and health care and human services.
Information on helping veterans become schoolteachers, get better
prescription drugs benefits or even become entrepreneurs was also
available.
Veterans had a chance to network and share information. Duckworth noted
newer programs, such as the GI Home Loan program, are ready to be used.
"Hopefully, someone who was here will talk to another vet and say, 'By
the way, did you know about these benefits?'" Duckworth said.
Veteran Earl Roberts of Schaumburg suffered through multiple knee
operations and still wears a brace on his right leg -- the result of
injuries sustained while serving in Europe in the 1960s, he said.
He was eager to hear how Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean of
Barrington would help his fellow veterans, especially in the wake of the
discovery earlier this year of mistreated veterans at Walter Reed
Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
He said Americans ignore current veterans returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan in the same manner veterans from his era are ignored.
"The situation that veterans are facing is really ridiculous," he said.
While Bean updated the audience Monday on pending legislation for
veterans benefits, Roberts said Congress is focused too much on foreign
affairs without spending enough time on domestic matters.
For Michael Barnett, who works for the state's department of veterans
affairs and helps run a veterans nursing home in downstate Manteno, the
message remained the same -- his groups need better funding to offer
better services.
"It would be great if we had more money," he said.
Duckworth, who lives in Hoffman Estates, lost both her legs in 2004 in
Iraq after the helicopter she was piloting was shot down. She said her
office is ready to be contacted by veterans and their friends and
families.
Bean lauded Duckworth's efforts since Duckworth was appointed last year
as director of veterans' affairs.
"I'm glad our offices at the state and federal levels are working close
together on legislative initiatives and resources for our community vets
who have selflessly served our nation," Bean said.
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Larry Scott --
