American Canyon Eagle - Veterans Seek Help At Amcan Event
June 28, 2012
By Michael Waterson
More than 100 veterans and their family members came to the Veterans Resource Fair at American Canyon High School Theater on Monday looking for help on a variety of issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, joblessness, homelessness and education.
Some vented frustration at the length of the benefits process, the paperwork involved, difficulty in contacting administrators and getting information, lack of proactive programs, no help with child care, and other issues.
“Events like this are critical to make sure veterans have the services they deserve,” said American Canyon Mayor Leon Garcia, who welcomed attendees.
The event was sponsored by U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, who was on hand, and George Miller, D-Richmond, who was unable to attend.
Thompson, a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient, said the event was an outgrowth of a similar one held in Lake County.
Thompson said because his and Miller's new congressional districts overlap jurisdictions â€" Contra Costa County is split between the two â€" he and Miller were co-sponsoring the fair.
“Any man or woman who puts on the uniform and risks their lives to serve our country should not have to come home and fight for a job, education or health care benefits,” Thompson said.
Members of a resource panel, moderated by a former deputy secretary for the California Department of Veterans Affairs, fielded questions from the audience for more than an hour.
A 30-year Navy veteran, Nick Estupin, said he has been waiting more than two years to hear his benefits status.
“It was their goof-up on my paperwork,” Estupin said. “I'm the one taking the pain.”
Tom Scott, a 30-year Air Force veteran who served in Korea and Vietnam, said he spends most of his time in a motorized wheelchair. Scott said he waited for benefits from 2003 to 2009 before he received a letter turning him down.
“I felt like telling (the letter writer) I'd go out and shoot my foot off to qualify,” Scott said.
Not all veterans aimed criticism at Veterans Administration programs and offices. American Canyon resident and Vietnam veteran Steven Stratford praised VA services as “the best in the world,” and said the Mare Island and Martinez facilities are “excellent providers of health care.”
Stratford, who said he'd been waiting for a decision on benefits for 25 years, also praised the San Diego regional office. “But the Oakland regional office leaves a great deal to be desired,” he said.
Douglas Bragg, regional processing office representative, said the problems in the Oakland office were no secret when he requested the Oakland assignment about two years ago. Bragg said new training programs and other measures will make the office more efficient.
“We are going to get better,” Bragg vowed.
According to Bragg and others, the post-9/11 GI Bill that allowed veterans to re-file for previously denied benefits, along with the recent difficult economic times, “set off an avalanche of claims.”
Panel members said much has been done in the past few years, including extensive outreach programs, a dozen or more new facilities throughout the state, and the Telehealth Services program, which uses the Web to provide real-time medical care to veterans in more remote rural areas.
Still, Sindy Biederman, the founder of American Canyon Troop Support whose son served three tours of duty, said military recruiters aren't hard to find, but information on veterans' benefits is very difficult to get.
“Why don't you merge with the recruiters?” asked Biederman, who suggested advertising contact information on buses and in public places.
After the group session, veterans were able to go next door and speak to representatives of more than 30 organizations including the Social Security Administration, North Bay Veterans Center, Medicare, the California Veterans Home, and Veterans Administration of Northern California Health Care Systems.
Even representatives from the U.S. Mint were on hand with information about federal job opportunities. Teresa Richard of the Mint said the most important federal job resource is a website: usajobs.opm.gov.
“The only people who seem to know about it are those already working for the federal government,” Richards said.
Rich Sanchez, an Air Force veteran and former manager of the Clay Street Safeway in Napa, now works for North Bay Veterans Resource Center in Santa Rosa. Sanchez said people in Napa Valley assume that veterans are being helped because of the presence of the Veterans Home of California at Yountville.
“That's not an assumption people should make,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez said he finds his new job helping fellow veterans personally rewarding.
“Once you're a veteran, you're a brother,” he said.
Some vented frustration at the length of the benefits process, the paperwork involved, difficulty in contacting administrators and getting information, lack of proactive programs, no help with child care, and other issues.
“Events like this are critical to make sure veterans have the services they deserve,” said American Canyon Mayor Leon Garcia, who welcomed attendees.
The event was sponsored by U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, who was on hand, and George Miller, D-Richmond, who was unable to attend.
Thompson, a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient, said the event was an outgrowth of a similar one held in Lake County.
Thompson said because his and Miller's new congressional districts overlap jurisdictions â€" Contra Costa County is split between the two â€" he and Miller were co-sponsoring the fair.
“Any man or woman who puts on the uniform and risks their lives to serve our country should not have to come home and fight for a job, education or health care benefits,” Thompson said.
Members of a resource panel, moderated by a former deputy secretary for the California Department of Veterans Affairs, fielded questions from the audience for more than an hour.
A 30-year Navy veteran, Nick Estupin, said he has been waiting more than two years to hear his benefits status.
“It was their goof-up on my paperwork,” Estupin said. “I'm the one taking the pain.”
Tom Scott, a 30-year Air Force veteran who served in Korea and Vietnam, said he spends most of his time in a motorized wheelchair. Scott said he waited for benefits from 2003 to 2009 before he received a letter turning him down.
“I felt like telling (the letter writer) I'd go out and shoot my foot off to qualify,” Scott said.
Not all veterans aimed criticism at Veterans Administration programs and offices. American Canyon resident and Vietnam veteran Steven Stratford praised VA services as “the best in the world,” and said the Mare Island and Martinez facilities are “excellent providers of health care.”
Stratford, who said he'd been waiting for a decision on benefits for 25 years, also praised the San Diego regional office. “But the Oakland regional office leaves a great deal to be desired,” he said.
Douglas Bragg, regional processing office representative, said the problems in the Oakland office were no secret when he requested the Oakland assignment about two years ago. Bragg said new training programs and other measures will make the office more efficient.
“We are going to get better,” Bragg vowed.
According to Bragg and others, the post-9/11 GI Bill that allowed veterans to re-file for previously denied benefits, along with the recent difficult economic times, “set off an avalanche of claims.”
Panel members said much has been done in the past few years, including extensive outreach programs, a dozen or more new facilities throughout the state, and the Telehealth Services program, which uses the Web to provide real-time medical care to veterans in more remote rural areas.
Still, Sindy Biederman, the founder of American Canyon Troop Support whose son served three tours of duty, said military recruiters aren't hard to find, but information on veterans' benefits is very difficult to get.
“Why don't you merge with the recruiters?” asked Biederman, who suggested advertising contact information on buses and in public places.
After the group session, veterans were able to go next door and speak to representatives of more than 30 organizations including the Social Security Administration, North Bay Veterans Center, Medicare, the California Veterans Home, and Veterans Administration of Northern California Health Care Systems.
Even representatives from the U.S. Mint were on hand with information about federal job opportunities. Teresa Richard of the Mint said the most important federal job resource is a website: usajobs.opm.gov.
“The only people who seem to know about it are those already working for the federal government,” Richards said.
Rich Sanchez, an Air Force veteran and former manager of the Clay Street Safeway in Napa, now works for North Bay Veterans Resource Center in Santa Rosa. Sanchez said people in Napa Valley assume that veterans are being helped because of the presence of the Veterans Home of California at Yountville.
“That's not an assumption people should make,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez said he finds his new job helping fellow veterans personally rewarding.
“Once you're a veteran, you're a brother,” he said.