Breaking News: Marching Valley Veterans Successful In Securing Clinic Expansion

As our readers know this author marched 250 miles with a number of proud and dedicated South Texas Veterans to highlight the lack of adequate medical services available to the growing score of Valley Veterans.

A hospital to serve the needs of the Veteran population was the unanimous cry made by nearly every Veteran I met on the journey through the roads of South Texas on their way to the Alamo.

Today many Valley Veterans received the news that Washington has decided to expand a medical clinic in the Valley. My initial response was that I saw and still see this as a positive first step in the fufillment of the dreams of so many South Texans who served this country proudly.

Although some Valley Veterans may have felt that way, after talking to a number of them, I can say that any initial response similar to mine quickly faded. Generally speaking, the Veterans who marched feel they were given, to use their words -"crumbs." As they put it, "Other communities, who may not have the number of front line Veterans, have access to a Veterans' hospital, so why shouldn't we."

It is easy to understand the frustrations felt by many Veterans on this issue of access to adequate medical care. Many of them feel ignored and taken for granted. They love this country, but sad to say many of them feel that sentiment is not returned by this nation's government.

As always on this issue, I stand 100% behind the men and women who so bravely served our country in our time of need. Although I must commend the effort to respond to the pleas of our Valley Veterans, their numbers and their service demands nothing less than a hospital.

I would suggest to the powers that be that what the Veterans first seek is communication. A number of Veterans have expressed to me that they feel people in Washington, decision makers, are not communicating with them and simply making decisions without their involvement. My second suggestion is that any projects, including this one, have real substance and not mere symbolism. The sentiment you may hear over the next couple of days from these Veterans regarding this story is that the gesture is more symbolic than meaningful.

I want to look at this situation in a positive light and therefore welcome the recent announcement as a positve first step. As I noted in the related newspaper story anything is better than the current situation which demeans our Veterans.

I am presently vacationing with the family, but will monitor the situation and report as things progress. Valley Veterans who read this post are free to call me on my cell phone, as this matter is close to my heart.

Until then, here is the story from the Valley Morning Star. Steve Taylor's Rio Grande Guardian is also following the story.