Published: April 17, 2008 10:50 pm      

Vets the focus of C-Span visit

ALTOONA — This region’s and military veterans’ needs were the focus of national attention Thursday as C-Span, the nation’s public affairs cable television network, brought its election bus to central Pennsylvania.

The perceived failings of veterans services – which are being asked to do more because of the physically and mentally injured soldiers returning from Iraq – were debated by those involved in the issue during the network’s 90-minute “Washington Journal.’’

The program, including questions from C-Span host Susan Swain and call-in viewer questions from across the country, was kicked off with U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

Shuster represents all or part of 14 counties of the 9th Congressional District, including Cambria and Somerset.

The Van Zandt Medical Center, used as a backdrop for the C-Span camera, has no significant problems, yet serves 87,000 veterans, Shuster said.

“It’s a model. It’s not a huge facility, but it’s a good example of how small faculties can provide veteran services,” he said from the front steps of the Capitol.

The three-term congressman supports an idea of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who wants to issue veterans a plastic card allowing them to seek medical care from physicians and hospitals close to home when no veterans facility is near.

Shuster said he also supports efforts to improve veterans medical facilities.

The card system is supported by Lou Anne Leamer, of the U.S. Armed Forces Mothers.

Leamer, who had two sons in the military and is married to a Vietnam veteran, said the card would be helpful for ex-military personnel in need of emergency care.

“It might actually be a good idea in some areas. Fortunately, we have a hospital in this area,” she said during the 20-minute segment when she was featured from the C-Span bus near the medical center.

Frank Rosenhoover – the Blair County Democratic Party chairman, a military veteran and retired school teacher – was featured on the show and said the system is failing veterans old and new.

He fears there is a significant difference between what the veterans say they need and what they are getting, he said.

“We have veterans coming home with very significant emotional and psychological problems. And it’s going to be more difficult to get these people help,” Rosenhoover said.

The third and final guest speaking from the bus was John Foy, head of the Blair County chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America.

Foy said the bureaucracy in the veterans system wears people out and they give up trying to get benefits.

“Some of these things they say they’re going to do every time an election comes up,” Foy said of the hands-on approach McCain and Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are promising.

“I think they should take a better look at what’s going on in the VA system,” Foy said.