Editor:
With the upcoming 2004 general election, military veterans need to assess and review how their members of Congress stand on veterans’ issues before they decide on a course of action they will take in the voting booth.
It is sad that military veterans still have great difficulty in securing prompt and meaningful health care through Veterans Administration health-care facilities due to lack of appropriations and funding.
It is further sad that our older generation of retired veterans have had the promises of totally free medical benefits broken, which were made to them and their legal dependents long ago.
Our political leaders don’t seem to have any qualms about sending men and women into battle, but have great difficulty in providing the means to offer reasonable medical accommodations for injuries and illnesses they incur while serving in the armed forces of our country.
The members of the U.S. Congress need to be contacted.
Let them know how you feel on medical care and benefits issues of former and retired military men and women.
They can be contacted in their local Utah district offices or by calling their Washington offices toll free at 1-877-762-8762.
Just ask the Washington, D.C., switchboard operator to connect you to your senator’s or representative’s office.
God bless our nation, the veterans who have defended her and the men and women in our armed forces. Get involved and fight back.
Please vote your conscience in November.
Ronald J. Shaw
Veteran