'Keep these alliances together'

More than 100 veterans from all over the United States came to Orlando, Fla., to participate in the sixth annual Road to Recovery Conference and Tribute this December. It is American Legion Past National Commander William Detweiler’s hope that many of them stay in touch long after the event is over.

Detweiler was one of several speakers during Monday's general session of the all expense-paid event, which was co-presented by the Legion and the Coalition to Support America’s Heroes. The Road to Recovery provides veterans – many of them carrying the physical and mental wounds of their service – with information on careers, personal relationships, benefits and health care in a setting made to foster relationships.

“It’s very important that you take the opportunity, as you meet with your friends here, keep these alliances together,” Detweiler said. “Share those phone numbers. Share those e-mail addresses. And if you have a problem, give a call. Make a call. Send an e-mail. Stay in touch, because that’s extremely important to your recovery, without question.”

Detweiler briefed the audience on the Legion’s ad-hoc committee on traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress that was formed during this year’s Fall National Executive Committee Meeting. The committee is tasked with examining and then providing input on potential treatments for the two injuries.

“We had become very concerned about not only the number of individuals coming back with PTS and TBI,” Detweiler said. “We’re concerned about the fact that we don’t see a lot of things happening as far as treatment is concerned. There are a lot of good treatments that VA is using, and a lot of good treatments that DoD is using. We question whether or not there is a little misstep or lack of communication between those agencies, (and) lack of communication between the medical people who are coming up with some new treatments, things that are going to be the treatments of tomorrow.

“Years ago, The American Legion took the lead in dealing with Agent Orange. It took us 17 years to finally prove to the VA that there was a causal connection between... the injuries our Vietnam veterans were suffering and the spraying of Agent Orange. We hope we don’t have to wait that long... to treat PTS and TBI.”

Fellow American Legion PNC Clarence Hill also was a speaker on Monday. He talked about the Legion’s fundraising efforts, including more than $622,000 brought in for Operation Comfort Warriors, and the need to support servicemembers as they transition into veterans.

“We must continue to stand behind our men and women in uniform, especially when they are in harm’s way. And we must continue to stand behind them when they return,” Hill said. “America’s veterans deserve a strong VA system. This nation has a moral, ethical and legal obligation to care for the men and women placed in harm’s way. In order to serve our wounded warriors well, we must develop objective and validated testing procedures for the determination and treatment of PTS, TBI and mild TBI.”

Hill also said the Legion has thousands of service officers throughout the country to assist veterans in filing VA claims at no charge. He urged veterans to take advantage of their education benefits, and he praised those in the audience for their resiliency. “The wounded warriors in this room are pros at overcoming obstacles,” Hill said.

A breakout session conducted by American Legion national staff gave an in-depth look at the Legion’s involvement in helping with education benefits, its involvement with career fairs across the country, and its work with veteran-owned businesses. Verna Jones, director of the Legion’s Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division, spoke on the Legion’s System Worth Saving program, which included 60 site visits to VA health-care facilities across the country this year. “We’re out there, going to these VAMCs, looking around and trying to find out what’s going on,” Jones said. “We’re collaborating with VA to ensure you’re getting the best care possible. These are your benefits. You’ve earned them, and you deserve them.”

Chris McCabe, Heroes to Hometowns coordinator for the Legion’s Department of Florida, provided examples of how his department raises funds for its H2H program – using the example of a “Legion Day” at a Tampa Devil Rays baseball game that raises thousands of dollars for the program. And Ed Burford, Seminole County (Fla.) veterans service officer, gave an overview of the claims process and what veterans need to expect during it.

“Beware of anyone who wants to charge you for assistance,” Burford said. “Make sure they are accredited by VA.”

Operation Iraqi Freedom Marine Corps veteran Joe Bitz was at the Road to Recovery with his wife, Erin, and their nine-month-old son Cash. He attended the Legion breakout session, openly discussing his PTS and providing feedback on the needs of similar veterans.

A Tampa, Fla., resident, the 33-year-old Bitz came away impressed with the Legion’s presentation. “There are a lot of benefits out there that I didn’t know about,” Bitz said. “There are opportunities for jobs I didn’t know about. And it’s nice to see there is a lot of support in our hometowns.”