Veterans, it's time to speak up and stand up

While sitting here at the VA hospital watching some of these older veterans coming and going and others more or less begging for some service, it really does touch me in a big way.

They should not have to do that at all. That is not the way it should be; however, we have some more work to do, and I really don't have long to do it, so bear with me veterans and dependents.

I have what my base commander said when he presented me this can-do plaque that is hanging on my wall. As some of you know, it has taken me over 22 years to get some medical service here in Mercer County for our veterans. I did not give up.

Now, so allow me to tell you that I have received outstanding service at this and any VA hospital that I have been at since 1979, but all veterans cannot say the same. There are all kinds of things going on in the system that we have no idea about, but we have to admit that things are going to get worse before getting better. Again, I must say that it is not the way it is supposed to be.

One of the reasons is that when politicians want to change something, they will start with the veterans' programs, because veterans are easy pickings at this time. There are 2.2 million veterans here in the United States, with more than 120,000 here in West Virginia. That is quite a voting block.

Please start speaking up, and don't let anyone say to you that the government is giving you something. That is not true at all. You have earned everything that you are receiving and some. When you started to receive some medical service here, I thought maybe 100 or 200 of us would use the service, so please don't be surprised when I tell you that now the count is over 1,000, so someone is using some fuzzy math on us. I am not going to let that pause our efforts now, and I am not looking for any pat on the back. Nor am I looking for any helping veterans.

Believe it or not, at this time, I have plenty of credit with the water company, AEP and the gas company, so you can see, I really have enough, sometimes, way too much.

Now, let me shout out. Thank you Judge for all you do for veterans, the City Board here in Bluefield, deserves a word of thanks for what they have done for veterans, and their family members. Please keep up the good work, because know that someone is watching you.

Many of you have heard me say if you are not doing anything for veterans, stay away from me. We have a couple of people in this area that should have headed south many, many, many years ago but won't go, so thank you to the Marines for the Toys for Tots program.

So, you see, we do have veterans willing to do some good for no financial gains. Way to go, veterans.

I'm on my way to D.C. soon, but as you know, when the politicians want to cut something, the first ones they look at is veterans' programs, because we are easy pickings. I hope to bring some news back, so family, until next time?

Al Hancock

Bluefield, W.Va.