On Wednesday, the Vermont Veterans Outreach Program announced it will phase out unless it receives the critical funds needed to function. “I have begun to sunset the program; we will only take on veteran issues if I deem them to be short term solutions. I am hopeful that our will be able to turn this around as this program is invaluable….” Program Manager Andre Wing wrote in a social media post. The program receives supplemental congressional funding from Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. The funds provide about $25 million to states per year nationally. Vermont receives roughly $2 million for the program, which started in 2007.”It’s a unique situation, and we hope that there’s still time for Congress to pass the supplemental funding that would allow for these programs to continue,” Scott Detweiler, Joint Resilience Director with the Vermont National Guard, said. Detweiler added the program helps thousands across the state. Its outreach services help to connect veterans to medical care and provide explanations of their benefits, among other assistance methods.Vermont Senator Peter Welch said he and Vermont’s delegation are dedicated to doing everything they can to keep the program running.”It’s extremely disturbing to me that the House cut that budget because that means we’re going to cut services that have been very important to our veterans,” he said. On Memorial Day, NBC5 spoke with veterans about the program at the West Rutland American Legion. They said they would tough it out and help their fellow service members if needed. “My job as a commander is to make sure that we don’t forget them, we don’t overlook them. We keep reminding the community, don’t forget the loved ones that have gone.”Silas Loomis, a former Marine and well-known public safety official from Castleton, said the bonds that veterans have are like no other. “They’re like family,” he said. “You lose a family member, you’ve lost something. They’ll never be back, but you never forget them.”If the program does not receive its funding, it will shut down by the end of June.
On Wednesday, the Vermont Veterans Outreach Program announced it will phase out unless it receives the critical funds needed to function.
“I have begun to sunset the program; we will only take on veteran issues if I deem them to be short term solutions. I am hopeful that our [congressional delegation] will be able to turn this around as this program is invaluable….” Program Manager Andre Wing wrote in a social media post.
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The program receives supplemental congressional funding from Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. The funds provide about $25 million to states per year nationally. Vermont receives roughly $2 million for the program, which started in 2007.
“It’s a unique situation, and we hope that there’s still time for Congress to pass the supplemental funding that would allow for these programs to continue,” Scott Detweiler, Joint Resilience Director with the Vermont National Guard, said.
Detweiler added the program helps thousands across the state. Its outreach services help to connect veterans to medical care and provide explanations of their benefits, among other assistance methods.
Vermont Senator Peter Welch said he and Vermont’s delegation are dedicated to doing everything they can to keep the program running.
“It’s extremely disturbing to me that the House cut that budget because that means we’re going to cut services that have been very important to our veterans,” he said.
On Memorial Day, NBC5 spoke with veterans about the program at the West Rutland American Legion. They said they would tough it out and help their fellow service members if needed.
“My job as a commander is to make sure that we don’t forget them, we don’t overlook them. We keep reminding the community, don’t forget the loved ones that have gone.”
Silas Loomis, a former Marine and well-known public safety official from Castleton, said the bonds that veterans have are like no other.
“They’re like family,” he said. “You lose a family member, you’ve lost something. They’ll never be back, but you never forget them.”
If the program does not receive its funding, it will shut down by the end of June.
