Helping Veterans Maneuver the VA System: The American Legion Stages Outreach

  The American Legion is sending a team of experts to West Virginia this week to help veterans access their Veterans Administration health care benefits and services. The group is holding a town hall meeting in Shinnston Monday evening and setting up a “Veterans Crisis Command Center” there Tuesday and Wednesday.

The initiative is part of the American Legion’s System Worth Saving Task Force.  A spokesman says the Legion believes in the quality of care at VA medical centers, and that, despite the scheduling scandals that have topped the news, it values and supports the VA medical system. The Legion wants to restore veterans’ confidence in the specialized care they have earned through their military service.

The Legion is rolling out these town hall meetings and command centers across the nation. So far this is the only one scheduled for West Virginia.

The town hall meeting is scheduled for 7:00 Monday evening at the American Legion Post 31 in Shinnston. It’s open to the public and they encourage local veterans – especially ones who have experienced any wait-time delays – to attend. Information will be presented, but there will also be opportunity for the public to comment.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Legion will operate a Veterans Crisis Command Center at Post 31. Legion and VA staff, along with local Legionnaires and volunteers from other organizations will be available to help veterans with VA scheduling, grief counseling, benefit claims and enrollment in the VA health care system.

The Veterans Crisis Command Center will operate:

Tuesday, August 5, 2014: Noon to 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.