GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) — U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough traveled to Greenville Thursday to meet with veterans and VA employees.
“I really wanted to come here because in this region, we are growing very fast with additional veterans,” McDonough said. “In fact over the last year, we ‘ve grown four percent overall. Importantly, this is one of the facilities with the fastest growing proportion of women veterans. It grew at over 14 percent last year.”
McDonough started his day at the VA’s Greenville, SC Vet Center, which provides free counseling services to veterans and their families.
“The secret behind our vet centers is they are counseling centers run by veterans for veterans,” McDonough said.
McDonough then traveled to the Greenville VA Outpatient Clinic. He awarded several healthcare workers and VA employees with a secretary’s coin, which is an honor given to those who go above and beyond to care for veterans.
“South Carolina shares a lot of its young men and women and has shared a lot of its young men and women with the country,” McDonough explained. “We at VA take very personally our commitment to those South Carolina veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.
According to McDonough, more veterans have sought healthcare and benefits from the VA in the last four years. He said the VA saw its numbers rise after the COVID-19 pandemic when more veterans sought mental health support. McDonough also said the Pact Act, which expanded healthcare for veterans who were exposed to toxic substances, led more veterans to the VA.
“We want to make sure that we’re well positioned to ensure that those veterans who come to us through the Pact Act have access to the care and benefits they’ve earned,” he said.
McDonough urged all veterans to access VA benefits.
“A lot of times, we have veterans who have dedicated their lives to caring for their fellow troopers, marines, airmen, coastguard men, sailors and soldiers,” he explained. “They think they shouldn’t file a claim because they think somehow if they file a claim, they’re going to be taking benefits from somebody else. The thing I want veterans in South Carolina to understand is to please file a claim. That claim will get you access to benefits that you have earned. You’re not taking from anybody else.”
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