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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0150.049 1998-2000 TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL MAY 5, 1999 Chairman Arakaki and members of the Council: I am Patrick A. Pavao, Veterans' Services Counselor, Office of Veterans' Services, Hawaii Branch, State of Hawaii, Department of Defense. I serve as Advisor to the Mayor's Hawaii County Veterans Advisory Committee and the Big Island Veterans Association, and have continuously served as a member of the Hawaii County Committee on Aging since 1970. I am a Vietnam Veteran and have humbly and proudly serviced the veterans and their dependents of the State of Hawaii and especially the County of Hawaii since 1970. My purpose today is to express support as a Board of Director of the Hawaii Island Veterans Memorial, Inc. in soliciting your support of our request for financial grant-in-aid from the County of Hawaii. First of all, we would like to explain that the planned purpose of this combined Veterans Center will be for the use of all veterans, veterans organizations, and hopefully the Veterans Affairs Administrative Center and the Community Based Outpatient Medical Clinic. It will also serve as a center for community activities, such as coordinated elderly programs, intergenerational programs such as, ROTC student training, programs with an emphasis on serving disabled, under privileged and low income veterans, State of Hawaii job orientation and volunteer training for disabled veterans, and educational programs coordinated with the University of Hawaii. There will be outdoor volleyball, basketball, and gateball courts. The future plan in Phase III provides fora 50 bed Veterans Home. This proposed Veterans Center will be a definite asset for all of our veterans and the County of Hawaii. Secondly, our presence here today is to request the funds needed for our organization to help kick-start this worthwhile project. Comm. No. / S~ ` ~ Y File No. B V Pres~eMed coviuew Rex. Tn: Ref. !)~Ge?___.s.__.~~-~,-. Page 2 We believe it is an opportunity for all of us to demonstrate by our actions and express to all our veterans from all wars our sincere appreciation and gratitude for their many sacrifices of time and talent, for their sufferings both physically and psychologically, and most importantly, we can truly say "Thank You" for a job well done and "Welcome Home ". As I reflect back to when I returned from Vietnam and started my career with the State of Hawaii, I remember being the only person providing veterans benefit services in Hawaii County. I recall there was no Federal VA presence on the neighbor islands through the first 17 years, except for once per year visits by a VA Social Worker or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. With continued advocacy and the tremendous support of our veterans and veterans organizations throughout our County and State, we had a U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing at the State Capitol in April, 1987. The result of this hearing was the establishment of the Federal Vet Center in December 1988 and Community Based Outpatient Clinics on all the neighbor islands, to include two in Hawaii County serving both the East Hawaii and West Hawaii districts. Most importantly, this brought about a visible Federal VA presence on the neighbor islands and established 12 Federal service providers, such as doctors, nurses, and administrative personnel serving our veterans. In June, 1993, the Pacific Center for PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Program (PRRP) opened in Hilo. This facility currently has 20 staff who provide intensive residential rehabilitation to veterans suffering war - related stress. This program is intended as a complement to the acute care currently provided to veterans at Tripler Army Medical Center and long -term outpatient care provided by the VA Outpatient Care Clinics, Vet Centers, and private providers. With our continued advocacy, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs currently sends Veterans Benefits Counselors three times per month to Hilo and Kona. Page 3 Additionally, staff are sent regularly to provide support clinics to address special concerns, such as women's health care and other specialities, including prosthetics, neurology, orthopedics, cardiology, and others as needed. It is our dream and vision to establish this Veteran Center to create aone-stop shop of all available services for our veterans and their dependents to obtain necessary medical care and veteran benefit services. We wish to create and establish an environment for veterans of all ages and eras to come together in mutual support and understanding. To bring to reality the vision of Abraham Lincoln and the VA's motto, "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan". We would also like to point out that bringing these valuable services to our veterans and their dependents, also brings millions of federal dollars into our economy each year. Finally, it is our sincere hope that you will support our request to help begin the process of a first class Veterans Center in our community to better serve those who have walked the walk. This affords all of us an excellent opportunity to remember with honor and gratitude, the countless veterans who have paid for our freedom-with their lives, their maimed bodies, and their tortured minds since the birth of this great state and country. And, Les, let us protect and defend them as they have protected and defended us. They deserve no less!!!