HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — An entire year dedicated to honoring veterans for their sacrifices for freedom, the Year of the Veteran, as promised by elected leaders, brings progress and potential.
Each elected leader addressed veterans who attended the Year of the Veteran Kick-Off Event on Thursday. First to speak was Del. James Moylan who indicated that he advocates for veterans in the halls of Congress.
“All of your experiences you share with me, I do bring it across during our committee hearings,” Moylan said. “It is crucial that we continue to support you and navigate the well-being of our veterans ensuring that they are receiving the care and assistance that they deserve. Because without that, what are the freedoms we are fighting for? If we can’t take care of our veterans, what are we fighting for?”
Moylan, who is also a veteran, can relate.
“As a veteran myself, I do understand the struggles that you’re facing, and I spend much of my time in Washington, D.C., to focus on work that will benefit you,” Moylan said.
He told attendees that he would be introducing a bill “to force the (U.S. Department of) Veterans Affairs to develop a plan to reduce the timelines for the compensation and the process that is necessary for you to get your benefits.”
Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio announced that progress has been made to improve the Guam Veterans Cemetery in Piti.
“A notice to proceed has been issued to a contractor to start the first phase of the veterans cemetery repairs,” said Tenorio.
First phase repairs include the chapel, the maintenance area and the Abbott office that is on site of the cemetery.
“Contractor is Mega United. I’m not sure who they are, but I know, based on the selection criteria, they have the capacity to do their job,” said Tenorio.
The second phase is the expansion through construction of additional crypts to meet the capacity of veterans living on Guam.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, who is also a nurse, told veterans that during a recent trip to Washington, D.C., she met with the head of medical affairs of veterans in an effort to fill veteran prescription drugs locally.
“I am in the process now of working with the pharmacists to see what are their ideas, how can we get you here to get your prescriptions on island,” Leon Guerrero said.
On the issue of medical care and the hospital, the governor mentioned the medical complex center plan, which includes co-locating the veterans center, potentially serving as a regional hub.
“I’d like to ask you and this organization to help us try to make our case, because the more the numbers, the more you will be heard,” said the governor, who wants to improve veteran care regionally.
“If we can get veterans from Palau, (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), Pohnpei, and those places even in the Philippines and have that one number that would go a long ways. They can justify having a claims processor here, justify having a more stable kind of health care medical personnel here,” the governor said.
While the exact number of veterans on Guam is difficult to quantify, the governor estimated 30,000 local veterans.
Leon Guerrero stressed that Ypao Point is not suitable for the medical complex she envisions.
“This is why I am very passionate about moving. … There are other options to make that happen,” the governor said.
The governor expressed that she wanted to “staff the veterans’ facility with people, medical people, that are there for a long time.”
Their longevity would ensure continuity of care, according to the governor.
