Reply #22: It's much the same in my area, Northern NY, very rural.

[Rhiannon12866]

I've heard of cases where those way north of here have had to travel several hours south, to the Albany VA, including those from WWII and Korea, older Americans, Dads of friends of mine. :(

My congressman is very proactive on veterans' issues, is on the Armed Services Committee, and when I worked on his last campaign I learned how much he has been doing for area veterans. He was endorsed by the VFW, had drafted a bill to pay for additional benefits from money already budgeted and worked to obtain medals for area Vietnam vets, that they deserved, but had never received. He also supports repeal of DADT, compared it to Truman's desegregation of the military. :thumbsup:

And yet, he lost last month to a teabagger, recent ex-military, who favors repeal of the health care bill (which my congressman voted for) and believes the decision on DADT is not the business of Congress. I fear that conditions are going to only get worse for vets, with this new Congress. Veterans in my district have lost a good friend. ;(