Veterans protest Savannah VA over benefit issues

Posted: Updated:

By Don Logana - bio | email

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Dozens of veterans marched along a Savannah road Monday morning to protest what they call unfair treatment by Veteran Affairs.

The protest was held at the entrance of the VA clinic off Montgomery Cross Road in Savannah.

The vets say the VA is not living up to its promises.

With the American flag waving high and signs of approval from people driving by, more than 30 men and women, all military veterans, are hoping to send a message to Veteran Affairs.

"The veterans need the help and they are not getting the help. They are being delayed over and over and over," Edward Foster told WTOC.

Foster served in Vietnam in 1969 through 1970 and has suffered with a number of disabilities since. While he and others can go to the VA clinic in Savannah, they do not have local dental coverage.

"They said yeah, we can do the work on your teeth, but that will take several visits to Charleston. That's 150 miles away. 300 miles round trip," Foster said.

Even when the dental work was approved, Foster says he ran into more delays and what he calls excuses.

"What I was told in essence was I was too sick and too old for them to repair my teeth. So I still haven't got none of these teeth repaired," he said.

"We have been going through a lot and they make us go through a lot more," Sgt. Michael Santiago told WTOC.

Santiago just received his motorized chair, a necessity after injuries he suffered during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"I have been trying to get my benefits for six years and I just got approved. I got another one of the benefits, but have been fighting for two years," he said.

Up and down, sign to sign, each of these vets has a similar story.

"The VA is very, very slow. It takes a long time to get medical help. Sometimes you are refused medical help," Foster said.

"The doctor says, yes I can do what they said I have to do. But VA employees say no to what I have earned," Santiago said.

The protest may have worked. A new Veteran Affairs administrator has agreed to meet with the vets the first week of April. These people are hoping the VA will listen to what they are saying.

"We will keep fighting for what we earned," Santiago said.

The veterans have been in contact with both Congressmen Jack Kingston and John Barrow, and have been put in touch with several members of the House Veteran Affairs Committee in Washington. They plan on heading to the capitol later this year for a larger protest.