OPINION: Touched by the news included in veterans tribute

I should have done this letter last week just in case it might matter to someone or lift someones heart in some way, or give a pat on the back that might help someone feel that they matter (let me tell you right now; you all matter, we all matter in God’s eyes even though sometimes in life that may be hard to believe). I am thankful I didn’t get to it till today when the tribute to veterans section came out in the Daily Inter Lake, which has some really good articles in it.

Denny and I want to thank our veterans profusely and from our hearts for the service of those current and those past (I thank you also Den as you served your country and could have been called up when we were newly married if the Bay of Pigs incident had gone differently). Without you veterans and trust in God, we believe our country would have no hope.

Two of the articles in the tribute regarding the thanks to and care of our veterans by individuals like Allen Erickson Sr., his wife and many others at Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry, other organizations and individuals, are very insightful. Sadly our government has fallen down horribly in helping our veterans and their families. Bureaucrats and some very ineffective or lazy management on the part of some have caused a horrible situation that affects these brave men and women. Several months ago this was brought to light; sadly things have not changed for the better, much has gotten worse and as far as I am aware of no one has been FIRED! We have personally dealt with some of these issues as Denny’s main health care is through the VA, though we have not had the serious, life-threatening issues too many have dealt with.

Regarding one article in the tribute by Stephanie Daugherty,; please if you haven’t read it, check it out. The following are quotes from her article headlined “Stand downs and the Veterans Pantry,” bringing out issues worth doing something about (Maybe those out protesting and rioting because Donald Trump is our president-elect could take their wasted time and some of them their destructive energy and volunteer to do good for our veterans and others less fortunate than them). Below are quotes from Stephanie’s very well-written article”

“This year’s presidential election may mean adjustments to the current system. With the Obama administration in its final weeks, Erickson reflected on the changes he has seen over the last eight years. Mr Erickson said, ‘More paperwork. Procedures were put in place that were supposed to eliminate paperwork.’ Previously Erickson would send a report to one person, but now it is five.” (I wish you had put exclamation points after this quote of Allen’s). Erickson also noted, “We used to be able to take a homeless veteran to a clinic and they would be immediately seen by a nurse or doctor. Now they are turned away or told to come back next week — or next month. (Oh how Joani want to put in exclamation points!) Or, they are told to go to the ER of a civilian hospital.” This latter solution is a concern to Erickson” (added: and many of us). To use a civilian hospital, there is an 800 number to get authorization. And if they don’t get authorized...,” he trailed off. (Oh, how hard it is for Joani not to use those exclamation points!!!!)

Erickson continued, “VISNs (Veterans Integrated Service Networks) are not all run the same. If I was traveling as a veteran, they have to transfer all my records to the other VISN in order for me to get treatment. And when I return, re-transfer them.” He pointed out, “In reality, they can punch in the last four digits of my Social Security number and see all my records through internet access.” (Please forgive Joani; she has to do this !!!!!!).

There is much more to this article and I beg you, if you haven’t read it, please go on Daily Inter Lake website or find a paper and read it. Then ask yourself if you can make an effort to fix this and other problems by getting behind our President-elect Donald Trump in some way or another. If you are physically for any reason unable to do that, the BEST thing you can do is pray for him, his administration and our country. I have been praying every day for eight years for President Obama, his family and our country; even though I did not, could not vote for him, and oh, how I wanted to when I first started hearing about him in the early 2000s. Though I was initially excited about having our first black president and would have loved to have our first female president, I could not vote for either of them.

Another article in the tribute by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines is also worth reading — please do.

Joani Young is a resident of Kalispell.