ORANGE PARK, Fla. – Long wait times for veterans at care facilities and extending Veterans Affairs benefits to National Guardsmen were some of the issues veterans discussed Saturday at a forum hosted by U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho.
It took place at Fleming Island High School in Orange Park.
Yoho came to Orange Park to speak to veterans. He said he wanted to take the problems veterans are having straight to Washington.
"We've taken ideas out of these kind of meetings, and we've taken them to Washington and we've seen those changes," Yoho said.
"I want what I fought for, for this country, and I want all the other veterans to receive the same," said Bill Eubank, who served in the U.S. Army.
Many said wait times at veterans care facilities are improving, but some believe there's still work to be done.
Steven McLeskey, who served in the U.S. Army and Navy, said he was referred to a veterans care facility. He said he thought getting care would be easy.
"When it didn't happen seamlessly, I was scared and that showed a little bit today when I showed up and talked," McLeskey said.
Yoho has spoken to veterans about care issues before. He still believes the problems with wait times need to be solved.
"To let the veterans know they have been struggling with a failed system or a broken bureaucracy. It's not a failed system, as much as it is a broken bureaucracy," Yoho said. "There are ways to make this better, but we need the input of the people to make it better. If we don't know what the problems are, we can't fix them. You know, it's just great to see this many people show up at an event on Saturday morning."
Melinda Screws is a veteran who now works to make sure veterans are cared for. She's glad events like this happen.
"What it does for me as the chief medical officer at the Jacksonville Clinic is it gives me a large group of veterans in one location, rather than talking to one at a time," Screws said.
Some at the event said there should be better benefits for National Guardsmen. After Saturday's forum, veterans said they believe things will continue to get better.
"Much more hopeful than when I walked in. Honestly, I have anxiety with just about any issues regarding the VA based on my experiences," said Bill Eubank, who served in the U.S. Army.
"God bless America and all the people that are here to help us," McLeskey said.
Yoho said he plans to hold other events like Saturday's in the future.