Rep. Smith organizes local summit for veterans' aid

Area veterans had the opportunity to meet with local service providers Saturday at the VFW Post 3838 during a veterans’ summit organized by U.S. Rep. Jason Smith.

The Republican from Salem, Missouri, said the event was the first one of its kind in the area, and the objective was to help veterans get the help to which they’re entitled without having to deal with red tape.

“Instead of having to go to 12 different places, they can go to one place and talk with 12 different people,” Smith said. “It’s just a way to get the information out there. A lot of vets don’t know the benefits they’re owed, and even more can’t get them.”

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Southeast Missouri State University, the Social Security Administration and several others were on hand to help attendees get services squared away.

Smith said there are more than 60,000 veterans in his district, and half of the case work his office handles is directly related to helping veterans.

Debbie Griffin, Smith’s constituent services specialist, said the congressman’s office has been working for a long time to get the event off the ground.

“Since the day I went to work for [Smith], he said that this was something he wanted to do,” Griffin said. “But it took a while to organize.”

Griffin, who served as the state president of the VFW auxiliary and has been involved at the national level, said it is frustrating to see veterans struggle to receive the benefits they’ve earned.

“[Our office] helps with things like getting them their appointments, getting them their medications, getting them into health-care systems,” Griffin said. “Even their medals. Nothing is more moving than helping someone get the medal they earned.”

Events such as the one Saturday are important, she said, because cases frequently fall through the cracks at the VA or Social Security level. She said once, a veteran was able to secure a surgery to remedy a pending brain aneurysm, but because of the volume faced at VA centers, it was six weeks away. Her office helped him find treatment sooner, but veterans’ summits help veterans help themselves.

Dale Rongey, a 20-year navy veteran, said his VA representative recently had moved away.

“I’ve got a couple disagreements with the Veterans’ Administration,” he said, adding he appreciated the opportunity to try and sort out the paperwork face-to-face with a representative.

He and fellow navy veteran John Crews had driven from Elsinore, Missouri, for the event.

“I like this,” Crews said. “I like what they’re doing here. Debbie Griffin has helped me out tremendously, and she said to tell everybody about it, so here we are. We’ve been spreading the word to everyone.”

Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger attended the event to show his support and said it represented a step in the right direction.

“I think it’s a very neat idea, and I think it will grow over the years to come,” he said.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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