The State of Veterans' Services

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Story Published: Nov 11, 2008 at 6:37 PM PST

By Molly Kelleher

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KENNEWICK - On this Veterans' Day we're taking a closer look at vet services in our region.

It's one of the largest crowds ever at the Veterans' Memorial at Columbia Park. About 200 people gathered on a rainy day.

This is a ceremony of symbols, colors and uniforms. But standing in the back, with no uniform quietly sits one of the youngest veterans here, 24 year old Brenton Burkhart.

This marine served as an infantry gunman in Iraq. His time there took a toll on his body, he has a separated shoulder and back problems.

"Physically I'm able to fight again if our country needs me, but my body isn't the same it feels like the body of a 40 year old," said Burkhart.

Brenton just got his first disability check, but it wasn't easy he says the system isn't user friendly.

"I really don't know who to work the system but luckily there are people out there," said Burkhart.

People like retired navy man Jim Kion. He started the veterans service center in Richland, it's run by volunteers.

"My goal is to make sure those not near a military base can still get the benefits they're entitled to," said Kion.

The group helps young vets link up with the VA system and retired vets tap into their insurance.

"It's challenging to them just to find a doctor and how to work with in the insurance system is really unknown to a lot of people see we get them into that type of system," said Kion

Both men we talked to say the state of veterans services in our region is good. There's so much available to veterans, they just have to know where to look.

In a speech on the west side Tuesday, Senator Patty Murray spoke about the state of vet services. Murray is on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and says there are still a lot of challenges facing veterans, including long waits for benefits.

She also says only half of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post traumatic stress are getting the help they need.

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