Letter: Veterans deserve good health care

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999 | 8:53 a.m.

This is no revelation to any veteran who has had the misfortune of having to depend on the Department of Veterans Affairs to act as his or her advocate.

It is unfortunate that all veteran activists who tried to point up deficiencies in the system were ridiculed or ignored, and that some VA administrators, local and national, put their careers ahead of their service to veterans.

Those who were conscientious were silenced or sacrificed.

Southern Nevada veterans must become firm advocates and let our congressional delegation know that the inequities of the past must be corrected.

Extra funding must be given to bring VA health care up to par.

We need a veterans' hospital in Southern Nevada. The Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital must also be expanded to provide the care that aged veterans earned, were promised and require.

Health care out of state is not good or adequate.

I hope that budget constraints are not used as excuses for not providing this care.

Tell our congressmen to divert money sent to foreign countries here to Southern Nevada.

Call Sen. Harry Reid, Sen. Richard Bryan, Congressman Jim Gibbons and Congresswoman Shelley Berkley with your concerns and also follow up with a letter.

Veterans, this is your chance to get good health care.

FRANK PERNA