Miguel requests that you send pictures of you and your family member who have served or currently serving in our Armed Forces and your comments relating to military issues. Your pictures and comments will be posted in our Veterans Corner section. To send a message and/or post comment click here or e-mail your comment to manray1963@aol.com.

As a veteran, I understand the needs and struggles of soldiers and their families. I am committed to bringing the necessary changes today so that tomorrow might hold a better future for the men and women who sacrificed so much in order to keep us, our nation, and our freedom safe.

I ask you to join me to help give our nation’s veterans the benefits they have earned.  We need to change the system. We need to reevaluate and eliminate the bureaucracy that disables veterans from receiving the care they need. We need to work hard to increase funding. We need to open regional clinics and medical centers that provide our veterans prompt and quality health care. Together we can attain the much-needed reform our veterans deserve.
It is clear that my fellow veterans are having a difficult time receiving the benefits our country has promised them. For years, Congressmen have promised they would work hard to improve the services provided by the Veteran Administration. They have driven their political campaigns based upon false promises and false hope. It is obvious we have seen no change. Our Veterans Administration is failing you, and your representatives have done nothing to help.

Today, it takes more than nine months to process an initial claim for a veteran to receive medical care and/or financial help. Routine services are not immediately accessible and medical care is often far to reach. Throughout our country, we are seeing more and more veterans struggling to understand the complicated and confusing system. Even worse, with the influx of veterans returning home from the current wars and the demanding missions in the Middle East, it is vital we take the necessary steps to improve the veterans system.  We need to be proactive instead of reactive before the alarmingly high number of active duty soldiers who will soon be part of the Veterans Administration system overwhelms it.

We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude for their service and commitment to our Nation.  For their unyielding service and sacrifice, we should, without hesitation, ensure that they receive the care and support they need: NO QUESTIONS ASKED.