Deliver: Make it easier for veterans to get the benefits they earned

Guampdn.com

Veterans groups and members on Congress are calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to overhaul its procedures to better handle claims by veterans.

Because of the years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States — including Guam — has an ever-increasing population of veterans, especially those disabled from service overseas in combat zones, who need and are eligible for benefits. These numbers will only continue to increase in the coming years.

Unfortunately, it often is a cumbersome process for veterans to actually get these benefits, one with layer upon layer of red tape. Some veterans spend years fighting the system to prove they are entitled to certain benefits.

In Guam, that process can be even harder because of the lack of a local veterans office with the power to make decisions. Veterans living here have to go through the Hawaii veterans office to get their benefits. The time difference and distance make this a cumbersome, frustrating and extremely inconvenient experience.

The men and women who serve in our armed forces deserve much better treatment from their government. The process should be streamlined and improved to make it as smooth and easy as possible for veterans to claim their rightful benefits.

For Guam, that means the creation of a local Veterans Affairs office that actually has the power and resources needed to take care of and see to the benefits of our local veterans.

The patriotism and service of the men and women in the Marines, Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves must be honored and rewarded by our nation. That means delivering on the promises we made to them when they enlisted by ensuring they get the full benefits they are due, and without having to fight the bureaucracy to get them.