Helping Veterans Re-integrate To Life Back Home
By Doug La Rocque
We have all heard the stories, perhaps even seen it for ourselves. The homeless veteran living underneath a bridge, and on a street corner holding a sign, “Veteran, will work for food.” Many struggle with employment, education, social interaction, depression and desperation.
On Friday, November 8, 19th District Congressional Representative Antonio Delgado sponsored a panel discussion on the various ways to help ease veterans’ transition to civilian life. Part of that panel was 107th District Assemblyman Jake Ashby, himself a veteran who admits he struggled upon his return home. The Assemblyman is pushing legislation that would raise the NYS Division of Veterans Services to a state agency level, with a director that would have cabinet level status. The Assemblyman told those gathered at the Brunswick Elks Lodge, “current issues facing Veterans and their families require deliberate examination and our consideration every day.”
Also participating was Dean Koyanagi, the Program Director for the Cornell Farm Ops Program.
He said it is part of his agency’s work to help connect veterans interested in agricultural careers with the latest research and educational resources. “Our therapeutic programs utilize peer support and occupational therapy techniques that create a welcoming environment that gives veterans access to the tools required for successful reintegration.
The Deputy District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Dan Rickman said that military service often provides training and experiences uniquely suited to the challenges of small business ownership. “SBA programs can help veterans make the transition from serving our nation to owning their future through entrepreneurship.”
As if the need to find avenues to reach out and help our veteran’s was critical enough on its own, Assemblyman Ashby stated the suicide rate for veteran’s 18 to 34 is three times as high as is seen in the country as a whole. He also said Congressman Delgado “is on the right track trying to funnel funding down to the local levels.”
In attendance as well was Assemblyman Chris Tague of Schoharie, who proposed the Federal Government notify officials in a veteran’s community whenever someone is returning home from service. He bemoaned the fact they often return, only to not be noticed and fall through the cracks. He told the panel, “the notion there is not a warm, welcoming hand when a veteran comes home, is unconscionable.”
Tom McGrath, whose family owns Tipperary at Tara in Cropseyville and a veteran himself, told the panel, “no vet should ever be put in the position to need charity. They are entitled to be taken care of for whatever is wrong with them.”
In a press release following the event, Congressman Delgado labeled the day’s discussion as robust and informative, and that it gave him a number of ideas as to how we can work together at the state and federal level to better support our veterans.