Peter Germanowski experiences balance issues, slower reaction time, hearing loss and other side effects from being exposed to Agent Orange as a result of his service in the Army from 1969-71.

He came to the Henry Parham Veteran Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Monroeville on Wednesday to find out what resources they have to offer.

“It’s hard to find programs that are available,” said Germanowski, 75, of Monroeville. “I try to help other veterans get this information.”

Germanowski was joined by other veterans and their families for a resource fair and town hall hosted by the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

Attendees had the opportunity to learn about programs and services that are offered for veterans and their families as well as hear from speakers representing the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Veterans Benefits Administration’s Pittsburgh regional office and the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.

The event kicked off the annual summer Veterans Town Halls on the Move, which will be held throughout Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington and Beaver counties in the coming months. Dates and locations are being finalized.

The goal of these events is to create a comfortable space for veterans to address what resources are working for them or not, said Donald Koenig, executive director of VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

“It is part of our regular practice to make sure that we reach out to our veterans, close to where they live, to find out if they are having problems, how we are meeting their needs and if there are any unmet needs,” Koenig said.

Veterans learned about benefits including community care, adult day healthcare and caregiver support. They were also shown how to reach the Veteran Benefits Administration and the goals of the Million Veteran Program, a national research initiative that aims to better understand the health and wellness of veterans.

Veterans seeking resources

Mike Milliron usually travels about an hour from his home in Greensburg to seek treatment at the Pittsburgh Veteran Affairs Medical Center on University Drive in Oakland. He came to the clinic in Monroeville to see if they could fulfill the medical needs he has after he suffered a heart attack eight years ago.

“If we could find other service here, to stop us from going to Oakland, it would benefit us,” he said.

Koenig said the Westmoreland County clinic will be moving and expanding to twice the size of the existing 17,000-square-foot clinic in the next couple of years.

Milliron said he hopes the new facility will offer more services that he can use.

Despite the drive, Milliron said his “experience with the VA has been nothing but positive.”

He said these town halls are important for veterans because not everyone is aware of the different services beyond medical support the VA has to offer such, as education benefits and psychiatric help.

Judy Horak’s husband, John, is an Air Force veteran from Mt. Pleasant who has an above-knee amputation. Throughout the time they have used VA services, Horak said it has been a good experience, and she recommends it to all veterans.

“I think it’s a very good thing to have so the veterans come and see what services they get for serving our country,” she said.

Germanowski said there needs to better information at the disposal of veterans regarding VA services. He said if he wasn’t at the clinic at the right time, he wouldn’t have known about the resource fair and town hall.

“Veterans that are still alive need to be aware of what the VA can do for them,” Germanowski said.

Cuts and funding freeze

Horak is aware of Veterans Administration Secretary Douglas A. Collins plan to make staffing cuts within the agency and the federal funding freeze.

“I’m afraid it will impact the healthcare,” she said.

On the other hand, Milliron doesn’t worry about it; he sees it as figuring out how to get rid of excess expenditures.

“I have not experienced any negative aspects … because of a lack of staffing,” he said.

Koenig said critical workers who care for veterans directly are exempt from hiring freezes.

“The funding freeze has had a minimal impact on anyone who directly takes care of veterans,” Koenig said.

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