Veterans Town Hall

(WOLO) COLUMBIA,S.C.,– ” I’m glad to have a chance tonight to come out. the whole concept of letting people come in and see what is going on, it’s a real eye opener.” William Barlett was one of dozens of military veterans who packed the medallion center to find answers to some of the questions he says they’ve not been able to have answered until now. Booths full of information lining the hall of the center just prior to a forum. Dorn VA Director, Tim McMurry who held the town hall meeting says it’s they goal to make sure those who’ve served our country are now being served as well. ” I think the biggest concern is the culture of the va making sure we are really meeting veterans expectations and treating them with the respect and dignity they deserve.” Some veterans in attendance say the town hall is a good resource, but a little much too late. Just ask Staff Sergeant R.C. Acosta who says the need to see progress for him is very personal. ” Nobody has been fired, terminated everyone has been transferred and given more bonuses. Veterans waited and they died waiting and that is just unconscionable, it criminal.” While wait times still exist – director mcmurry says it is getting better. back in may it was an average of 71 days for new patients to get an appointment. as of today it’s dwindled to 42 days. Dorn VA Director says ” it’s not perfect, we want to do better but every 2 weeks we make a little more progress toward that.”