Published: August 07, 2008 11:54 am      

Topic: Veterans Issues

Elected officials back Cumberland's hopes of converting hospital into care facility

CUMBERLAND - Maryland's two United States senators said Wednesday they like the idea of converting the Memorial Hospital property into a veterans' care facility, but didn't offer much encouragement.

During a session in which Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin met local veterans at the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter, City Council member Mary Beth Pirolozzi talked about the city's hopes that the soon-to-be-vacant hospital can become a haven for veterans.

Mikulski said she has tried without success for seven years to get the VA to establish such a facility at Fort Howard near Baltimore.

"It's been nothing but meetings," she said. "I want to work with you on this, but it's like climbing Mount Everest."

Mikulski said other members of Congress may have taken "fancy trips" during the August recess, but she and Cardin "decided the most important thing was to talk to our constituents, particularly to meet with our veterans."

"We are here to thank you," Cardin said. "That's the easy part. The hard part is living up to the commitment."

He and Mikulski are considered champions of veterans' issues, and much of the discussion centered on health matters.

Irene Melotti, co-owner of Re-Entry Associates Inc., a private counseling service, thanked them for helping convince the Veterans Administration not to cancel an arrangement under which veterans receive mental health services from her organization.

About 150 veterans go to Re-Entry, many for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), under counseling relationships that in some cases have lasted for years. Veterans had been generally dismayed at the thought going to the local Veterans Administration instead.

Bruce Whitaker, Region 3 director for the Vietnam Veterans of America, said the organization was concerned about the level of care available for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly those who are suffering from PTSD.

Ron Lewis said a reduction in staffing at the Maryland Veterans Commission's local field office means there is limited help for veterans who need assistance with claims or other matters. "There was a backlog of 300 recorded calls," he said.

State Sen. George Edwards told him the General Assembly had cut two staff positions statewide with the idea of consolidating the local office with one in Frederick.

Unless the legislature changes its mind, "the governor or the secretary (of veterans affairs) will have to do it," he said. "We've got to try to convince them we need another person here."

Carl Garlitz asked about restoration of benefits for Navy and Marine veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange while serving on ships that transported the defoliant to Vietnam.

"Blue-water sailors" like Garlitz had been eligible for the same benefits as troops who served on the ground in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, but those benefits were canceled.

"Most of us are over 60 and may have some Agent Orange-related illness," said Garlitz.

A bill to restore those benefits is pending in Congress, but the matter may go to the Supreme Court. Mikulski said if the court doesn't act or delivers an adverse ruling, she and Cardin would support the bill.