Guenst: Invigorating our efforts to help our veteran community
Our veterans are being forgotten at a time when they need our attention most. For those who may not know, I am the incumbent state representative for the 152nd legislative district representing Hatboro, Upper Moreland, Lower Moreland, Bryn Athyn, and parts of the Crestmont and Roslyn areas of Abington. Part of my office’s responsibility is to provide guidance and resolve non-partisan, state-related issues for all constituents. In the past two years, this job has brought with it many joys, but also brought to the forefront the sad fact that many veterans in our area are simply slipping through the cracks. We have a multitude of programs for outreach and veterans’ networks of every sort but we are still missing folks. I believe we need to double our efforts to reach out veterans one-on-one to check in. Many veterans that frequent my office want to feel heard and feel like someone cares for them. I think that our community does an outstanding job with acknowledging the courage and sacrifices of veterans, but we need to apply the human touch to the other veterans out there that may be struggling. It is the most important piece of the puzzle.
Constituents frequent my district office for other assistance, often not revealing their veteran status at first. Thankfully, my pleasant, talented, and compassionate staffers go out of their way to get to know them — As do I every chance I get to be person. Recognizing the need for robust veteran services, I fostered a partnership with American Legion to have a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) provide their services to our office. VSO services include but not limited to compensation/pension claims, enrollment in VA healthcare, burial and survivor benefits, state benefits, and more. I am proud that my office has been able to build trusting relationships with the local veteran community to direct them to the services they need and deserve. We could use your help.
While we have had great success in the three months since launching the American Legion partnership to help 20+ local veterans, there is more work to be done. According to recent demographic reports, there are 1,500+ veterans in this district alone. They are your neighbors, your friends, your family. Check in with them. Often their struggle is not visible. Make sure you are respectful of their boundaries if they decide they are not ready to talk when you engage with them. Please be accepting, empathetic, and let them feel heard. We owe them that and so much more. As an Army veteran myself, I understand how very important this is.
The latest statistics from the National Suicide Prevention Annual Report states that veteran suicides are trending downward in recent years but 6,146 losses is still astronomically high. My office has launched several outreach initiatives in addition to our VSO partnership including hosting veteran related events several times a year to connect with attendees. We hope to provide even more services next year. The final piece of the puzzle is you, the reader, to reach out to your neighbors. If you find that your friend or acquaintance is struggling, please have them call 9-8-8 then press 1. If you think they are struggling to understand the state and federal services they are entitled to, you can always refer them to our office or a local VFW post in your area. You can reach them in a way government initiatives cannot, one-on-one. Veterans have given so much for our country, no matter the mission, it is important that we do right by them.
This article originally appeared on The Intelligencer: Guenst: Invigorating efforts to help Pennsylvania's veterans
