American Legion to host town hall meeting Monday night in Charlotte

All veterans encouraged to attend

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Aug 24, 2014, 10:45 ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Legion will conduct a town hall meeting here on Aug. 25 for veterans to discuss the quality of health care they are receiving from Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities in the region.

Veterans and family members in the area receive medical care from the W.G. Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, N.C., and a VA community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) here.

The town hall meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 25 at the Charlotte Convention Center, Rooms 209 and 210, Ballroom Level. The meeting is open to the public, and veterans are encouraged to attend, especially those affected by VA delays in medical care or claims processing.

The American Legion will also set up a Veterans Crisis Command Center (VCCC) at the convention center in Rooms 204 and 205, Ballroom Level. Operating hours for the crisis center are noon to 8 p.m. on Aug. 26, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 27 and Aug. 28.

Members of the Legion's national staff, along with local Legionnaires, staff from VA facilities and volunteers from other organizations, will be on hand at the VCCC to assist veterans and their families. Services provided will include assistance in filing for VA appointment scheduling, grief counseling, benefits claims and help with enrollment in VA health care.

Verna Jones, director of the Legion's Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division, said the decision was made to hold the meeting and crisis center in Charlotte "because not only will we be able to provide assistance to veterans in region, but also to veterans from across the country who attend our national convention."

The American Legion, with help from the VA and other organizations, has been operating week-long crisis centers for veterans and family members since June in Phoenix, Fayetteville, N.C.; El Paso, Texas; St. Louis, Baltimore, and Fort Collins, Colo. The Legion plans to operate such centers through October in several other areas seriously affected by delays in VA health care and claims processing.

Media contacts: Marty Callaghan (Cellular) 202-341-8900; Joe March (Cellular) 317-748-1926.

SOURCE The American Legion