Legion to conduct meeting, crisis center in North Carolina

Legion to conduct meeting, crisis center in North Carolina

The American Legion is sending a team of experts to Fayetteville, N.C., next week in response to a Department of Veterans Affairs audit that shows long wait-times for veterans seeking treatment at the city’s VA medical center.

Members of the Legion’s System Worth Saving Task Force will hold a town hall meeting and operate a Veterans Crisis Command Center in the city for local veterans and family members affected by delays in getting access to their VA health care.

The town hall meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT June 16 at American Legion Post 202 on 834 Ramsey St. in Fayetteville. The meeting is open to the general public and local veterans are encouraged to attend.

The American Legion's Veterans Crisis Command Center is also at Post 202 from June 17-20. Members of the Legion’s national staff, along with volunteers from other organizations, will be on hand to assist veterans and family members affected by delayed VA health care. Services provided will include assistance in filing for VA benefits claims, counseling on legal issues, and help with enrollment in VA health care.

Operating hours for the crisis center at Post 202 are noon to 8 p.m. on June 17, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the 18th and 19th, and 8 a.m. to noon on the 20th.

The American Legion is currently operating a crisis center at Post 1 in Phoenix. During its first two days of operation, the center assisted 328 veterans or family members affected by long delays in health care access at the Phoenix VA Health Care System.