Let's Protest the Extreme Staffing Cuts in the VA

To the Editor,

I appreciated the ceremonies at Rosedale Cemetery on Memorial Day where we all had a chance to reflect on America's fallen, reflected in the annual reading of those from Manchester who died for our country.
It was mainly conducted by living veterans in the local American Legion post.  There are almost 16 million veterans across America, many of whom were deployed overseas in dangerous conditions.
Maybe we agreed with every President's reasoning for sending the troops; maybe we disagreed with some of the decisions.  Some volunteered, some obeyed the draft - and I am thankful for everyone who served - just 6.1% of all Americans.  The claim to the strongest military in the world is solely because of them. We owe them.
At least we keep saying that.
And sometimes Presidents and the Congress make improvements to our systems of helping them.  For example, after years of neglect, Congress passed the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act in 2022.  It provided health services, previously denied, to veterans exposed to chemicals used in war (such as Agent Orange in Vietnam or from the military's overseas trash burning pits).  During 2022-2023, the VA hired tens of thousands of people (many of them veterans) to process and treat a backlog of over one million veterans having PACT Act related claims.
Then came President Trump's plan to reduce the size of the government.

To me it looks more like abandonment of veterans than efficiency:

• 2,400 VA staff members fired, reduced, whatever: gone.
• 6,000 veterans who worked many jobs throughout the federal government have been removed and are now among the unemployed.
• 70,500 more VA staff cuts are planned according to remarks to a Senate Committee by VA secretary Doug Collins on May 5.
• 585 to 875 contracts will be cancelled including those that give life-saving care and are delivered by veteran-owned businesses. Hundreds of that unclear number already have been cancelled.

1 in 10 (1.75 million) veterans rely on Medicaid for healthcare coverage.  Currently the GOP Budget is planning drastic cuts to Medicaid (another, although related, topic).
A group of veterans staged a major protest in Washington and every State Capital on March 14 with up to two million protesting the cuts nation-wide. I guess this government is not listening.
Another group of veterans are planning a massive protest in Washington on Friday June 6 starting at 2 p.m. on the Mall.
I'm not a veteran, but I wish I could be there.  I do not know why every American is not really angry about how veterans are being treated in the last few months.
I have decided to protest instead, right here in MBTS at the fountain in front of the Town Hall.  At 1-2 p.m. on Friday June 6. I've made a sign to hold: "Honor Veterans:  Zero Cuts to the VA."  I would love to have others join me. Make your own sign and bring it!
For more details: rgoutal.substack.com/p/war-is-hell
If you plan to join me, email me so I can look for you at: june6mbts@gmail.com
Use same email if you have questions.

Dick Goutal
Manchester