Public should support local veterans clinic

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

SAUK VALLEY NEWSPAPERS
WHAT WE THINK
letters@svnmail.com A proposed new medical clinic for Sauk Valley military veterans is a fantastic opportunity local residents should strongly support. As outlined by U.S. Rep. Phil Hare on a trip to Sterling earlier this week, the clinic could be situated in either Sterling or Rock Falls, saving veterans lengthy trips out of state.

Currently, veterans living in our region must travel to distant cities to receive care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Some must drive or be transported as far west as Iowa City, about 110 miles away from our area. Others must go as far north as Madison, about 140 miles from us.

Hare, a Rock Island Democrat who just took over last month for his former boss, Lane Evans, wants to change all that. He has asked the House Veterans Affairs subcommittee to initiate the appropriations process to pay for a new clinic here.

Appearing at Monday's news conference with Hare was Ed Andersen, president and CEO of CGH Medical Center. It was to Andersen that a local veteran posed a question that sparked the medical clinic effort. The veteran asked why he had to drive all the way to Iowa City for a simple blood test.

That question got Andersen working toward a possible solution. He said the hospital is more than willing to cooperate with a veterans clinic, for instance, by offering services that the clinic might not be able to provide itself.

For his part, Hare said he is convinced there are enough veterans in the Sauk Valley to merit their own clinic. Based on U.S. Census figures for 2000, he's probably right. Whiteside County led the region with slightly more than 6,500 veterans. Ogle had more than 5,100 veterans, Bureau more than 3,800, Lee about 3,400 and Carroll more than 1,900, a total of almost 21,000.

Those figures are seven years old, however, so Hare said the first thing he needs to do is come up with a census of current veterans who would be interested in using a new clinic.

While Hare pursues this information through government channels, we think local veterans ought to give him a hand. We urge them to contact Hare's office with their names, addresses and comments of support for this important project. Write to Hare at his district office: 1535 47th Avenue, #5, Moline, IL 61265; phone (309) 793-5760.

A new veterans clinic in the Sauk Valley will save local vets time, money and quite possibly their lives.