Letter to the Editor: Follow through is important

It has come to my attention that a complaint/opinion concerning the possibility of the Jasper County Veterans Affairs office “failed our veterans, again?” was sent to the opinion page of the Newton Daily News. Everyone has the right to voice their opinion, after all we live in America, and because of our veterans, we have the right to free speech. However, there was a statement in the opinion that does not give the full facts. When we were contacted by “The Vietnam Veterans Committee,” and asked to provide transportation for their event, they were asked to provide the number of attendees that would need transportation, then, we would be able to get an estimate from a transportation service. This would give us a cost/expenditure request to go before the Jasper County Veterans Commission. “The Vietnam Veterans Committee” never got back to us with this requested information. Without that information, we were unable to secure an actual estimate to take before the Jasper County Veterans Commission for approval or disapproval. I would also like to point out that several members on this “Vietnam Veterans Committee” attended the June Jasper County Veterans Commission meeting, where I was present, and did not bring this issue up before myself or the Commission. We had just completed a very similar project for Remembering the End of the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration at the Capital where the Jasper County Veterans Affairs Office assisted in coordinating and paid the cost of transportation for more than 100 Jasper County veterans to the capital building grounds for the event. As I stated, everyone has the right to free speech, and to voice their opinions, just be sure to lay out ALL the facts as they happened. The Jasper County Veterans Affairs office routinely assists over 100 veterans a month of every veteran demographic from veterans of the Korean War to the most recent veterans from the Afghanistan Conflict. It is our Honor to Serve ALL of those Who Served. Make up your own mind if our office failed our veterans.

 Semper Fidelis,

Gunnery Sergeant (RET)

Ray Maxey

Director

Veterans Service Office