American Legion Post 53 launches ‘Van for Vets’ fundraiser

American Legion Post 53 launches ‘Van for Vets’ fundraiser

Veterans partner with local officials to raise money for service vehicle

American Legion Officer At a recent meeting at the local West Memphis American Legion Post, Crittenden County Judge Woody Wheeles and Crittenden County Veteran Service Officer Mickey Littlejohn, along with post members, discussed plans to raise money for a 10-passenger van to transport veterans living in Crittenden, St.

Francis and Cross counties to the new VA Clinic in South Memphis, which is due to open in August or September this year.

Post Commander Jim Fiveash reported, “Many veterans are unaware that their primary care providers and other VA clinics will relocate to South Memphis in August or September in a move to reduce parking congestion at the main VA facility located on Jefferson avenue. This move will significantly increase travel distance to their appointments and signficantly impact veterans living on fixed incomes, older veterans and disabled veterans already struggling to get to their appointments at the main VA facility.”

Commander Fiveash also reported that that this move is imminent and many veterans

are unaware this is

going to happen.

“Veterans will simply wake up one morning in August and September to find that their primary care provider has moved 8 miles south of the Medical Center,” he said.

This move coupled with the fact that the old I-55 bridge scheduling to close will add significant travel distance for veterans commuting from Crittenden, St. Francis and Cross Counties to the new location at 1689 Nonconnah Blvd.

“In order to stay proactive vs. reactive we have decided to raise funds for a 10 passenger van that will travel to designated pickup points in Crittenden, St.

Francis and Cross Counties,” explained Fiveash.

“The American Legion is charted to advocate for our veterans and this is what we plan to do. We were not part of the decision process in this move and we were not consulted but we can help soften the impact this will have on our veterans by providing transportation to the new VA clinic.”

The American Legion Post along with Judge Wheeles and the Crittenden County Veteran Service Officer are exploring ways to raise the necessary funding for a transportation van and have set a soft target date of 1 December 2016 to raise the necessary funding. Commander Fiveash reports that more information will be provided to the public at a future date with regards to progress in acquiring a transportation van.

By Jerry Wallis