The New Ulm and Owatonna papers cover yesterday's vets roundtable with Speaker Pelosi, Congressman Walz, state veterans commissioner Clark Dyrud, and Minnesota National Guard adjutant general Larry Shellito.
The New Ulm Journal reports on the roundtable in general in Pelosi hears concerns about state’s war vets. The passage focusing on two two New Ulm-area vets on the roundtable:
Brown County Veterans Service Officer Greg Peterson said that if New Ulm’s Al Huhn had not been a prisoner of war, he would not have received his veterans benefits due to the income cap.
“Many vets used the GI Bill to become educated and successful but were denied more benefits due to their income,” said Peterson.
Recently, Peterson sent cards to 20 veterans asking them to call him or visit his office. He is still waiting for responses.
Peterson's experience echoed a shocking statistic on the under-use of vets' benefits by those who serviced in the military:
Many returning veterans don’t know about their benefits. Only about 40 percent apply for them, according to Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Clark Dyrud.
Minnesota National Guard Adjutant General Larry W. Shellito said $1 million has been allocated for returning veterans programs, but vets themselves must apply for the programs.
Pelosi hopes to help address these outreach issues in Washington.
The Owatonna People's Press reported on the event in Walz, Speaker hear concerns from district veterans. The article begins:
One of the main concerns Rene Gilormini, the veterans services officer for Steele County, hears from area veterans is the lack of health care access.
He would like to have an outpatient clinic for veterans in Steele County, along with more options to provide financial assistance for veterans trying to pay medical bills. Gilormini said it's becoming tougher for aging veterans to receive the proper care outside of Steele County.
"Their hands are pretty tied on where they need to go," Gilormini said.
Gilormini is not the only one asking for more services. . . .
Read the rest at the Owatonna People's Press. The Winona Daily News ran the AP copy.
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