Efforts on behalf of veterans applauded during opportunity to share experiences with Portland VA Medical Center.
Dozens of veterans and their family members came to Aloha American Legion Post 104 in Beaverton, Ore., on April 27 to share their health-care experiences using the Portland VA Medical Center and its surrounding community-based outreach clinics (CBOCs).
And while that occurred, a substantial portion of the evening featured local veterans – and one widow – heaping praise upon The Department of Oregon’s American Legion-accredited service officers.
The town hall was part of the Legion’s System Worth Saving (SWS) program, in which national staff visit U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) facilities to talk with local VA leadership and personnel, as well as give veterans using those facilities an opportunity to share their criticisms and praise for the VA services they use.
But on Monday, the town hall’s discussion also shifted repeatedly to praise for American Legion service officers. Both Department Service Officer Ed Van Dyke and Assistant Veterans Service Officer Mike Surrett were in attendance. The latter was praised by a widow whose husband was service-connected due to Vietnam War exposure to Agent Orange and died last December after a combined 27 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve.
The woman said that according to VA, the pair were not married, despite them having been so for decades and having a marriage certificate to prove it. She became despondent as she dealt with VA and considered giving up. But after being advised to contact an American Legion service officer, she was put in contact with Surrett after reaching out to Post 104.
“I was practically in tears (after multiple unsuccessful interactions with VA). I just didn’t know what to do,” she said, tearing up as she spoke. “Mike Surrett, thank you. He really was a Godsend. He hit several little buttons and said, ‘You’re in.’ He got me as the wife. So Mike, thank you so much for everything you have done for me.”
Surrett, who was able to secure Death Indemnity Compensation for the widow, said that’s his job. “I’m just here to help veterans,” he said. “That’s what I do.”
Praise for American Legion service officers also was shared by others, including Beaverton Post 124 Adjutant Fred Meyer, who said he developed cancer and went through a county service officer initially for his claim, getting denied. He later met Surrett at a meeting and explained his situation. Surrett took over the claim.
“Short story, the initial (claim) was in July 2025. In January 2026 I was 100-percent (service-connected),” Meyer said. “That is due to the work that Mike did. I think it’s a very, very high value that we have service officers in our organization.”
American Legion Benefits Policy Analyst Kenneth Harman told attendees that the SWS program “is about commitment and service to ensure that the benefits at the VA, whether they’re VBA or VHA, are still coming to you. And this (town hall) is the part where we hear directly from you. We want to hear from you what’s working well and what can be improved. We’re going to take everything you said and address it with the VAMC.”
Concerns expressed during the town hall included difficulties with getting specialized care appointments, expressing frustration with not being able to schedule with VA and then finding similar waits when trying to receive community care. The issue was shared by multiple veterans during the session. Travel distances also were expressed as concerns, as was that mammograms are provided through community care and the difficulty with scheduling an appointment with a CBOC through the Portland VAMC.
Once they have access to care, though, veterans said that care was good and met most of their needs. High praise also came from multiple veterans regarding their hearing aids they received there.
The town hall was attended by various Oregon American Legion volunteer and staff leaders, as well as Patrick Glang, district director for U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum. He asked the audience to remember that they are not only represented in the nation’s capital, but also locally through Bynum’s state offices.
“Every congressional office … and the two Senate offices, they all have case workers. We’re all collaborative,” Glang said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the Senate or another party affiliation. None of that matters when it comes to our roles here. We are public servants. It’s our job to do everything we can to assist you. That’s with the VA, but it’s also with the IRS, Social Security, the USCIS … a whole bunch of federal agencies.”
Surrett, Post 104’s service officer said events like SWS town halls provide an opportunity for VA users to “let leadership know what’s going on. A lot of times they don’t understand how hard it is for a veteran to get an appointment at the VA, or something like that. This gives them a way to find out about that.”
- Veterans Healthcare