By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice
Veterans from the distant regions of the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains are met with a challenge in order to receive medical treatment.
There are three Veterans Affairs medical centers serving the state, and only one actually in the state. Many veterans take appointments in Cheyenne, Wyo., and others in Albuquerque, N.M. That often means transportation is needed, even to get to an appointment at the Denver location.
The solution is Colorado’s Disabled American Veterans’ transportation program, but there exists a shortage of vehicles and drivers.
“We just purchased five more vehicles and at least three will need to go to Northeast Colorado,” said Benito Gonzales, adjutant and treasurer for the Colorado DAV. “These new vehicles replace the aging vehicles.”
One vehicle in Northeast Colorado is beyond its useable lifespan at 200,000 miles, and the other two to soon be replaced have 170,000 and 142,000 miles. The vehicle makes about a 300-mile round trip each time a veteran has an appointment in Cheyenne, Wyo.
“We really need to get that corner of the state stocked with vehicles to help us,” Gonzales said. “There are a lot of people who travel from there to the Cheyenne VA Medical Center.”
The transportation program was a point of concern during a recent meeting of Gene Doty Chapter 41 in Fort Morgan, not just from the standpoint of needing more vehicles but also finding more volunteers to drive.
“We need seven more drivers in the Northeast area,” Gonzales said. “We have one coordinator there who manages all the vehicles, and he even drives himself.”
The need is for drivers between Fort Morgan to the Loveland area, he added. But there are other geographical needs, as well.
“We don’t have transportation in Southeast Colorado,” Gonzales said. “We don’t have a coordinator or a driver there. I’m from that area of the state, so I really wish we had it. I’d love to make it happen.”
The situation is similar on the Western Slope, where the weakest point is in the area surrounding Salida.
“We have three vehicles based in Grand Junction, but we could always use more drivers,” Gonzales said.
The purchase price for each vehicle is about $40,000 and will have a lifespan of up to seven years, although some with more age are still in operation.
“We absolutely need drivers to help,” Gonzales said. “I can promise anyone that we will use these vehicles to their best effect. We have vehicles covering more than 80% of the population presently, and would like to cover all of it.”
Drivers are required to participate in a training program before beginning transportation activities and are required to use DAV vehicles. Anyone with an interest in volunteering as a driver is asked to call 303-922-3631, ext. 302. Donations can be directed to the transportation program by mail to Disabled American Veterans-Department of Colorado, 1485 Holland St., Lakewood, CO 80215, with a notation to direct the gift toward transportation. Veterans in need of transportation may call 303-922-3631, ext. 302.
Veteran compensation filing help
Disabled American Veterans’ Gene Doty Chapter 41 will hold a veterans compensation filing assistance event on March 16 at the Gene Doty Senior Center, 307 Linda St., Fort Morgan, CO 80701.
The event, intended for veterans from all areas of the state, will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Veterans will be assisted with new claims or with increasing the current percentage rating for compensation. Veterans must bring a DD214 and any other paperwork used previously for compensation claims.
Contact Jack Darnell at 970-768-4986.