Veterans Affairs Secretary Plans Changes
Stephanie Lucero
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - As the nation paused to honor veterans on Tuesday, the City of Dallas rolled out the red carpet. But, this year, there is a cloud over the holiday, as the head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is letting the American people know about massive inadequacies in patient care.
The veterans administration in Dallas treats some 115,000 patients every year, and handles more than 1 million outpatient visits. But the problems plaguing the system nationwide fueled outrage in the last year.
The newly appointed Secretary of Veterans Affairs is hoping to get the department back on track. Bob McDonald said that hundreds of VA workers could face disciplinary action over how veterans were treated in VA hospitals. He has vowed to fix the issues, calling for the largest reoganization of the department since its establishment.
“We’re taking aggressive, expeditious disciplinary action consistent with the law,” McDonald explained. “And that’s why we have a lot of people on administrative leave. We’ve moved them out, because we don’t want any harm to our veterans.”
The new system will take two years to build, McDonald said, and will be called My VA.
“We want them to think of the department as embracing them and giving them a warm hug,” McDonald added, “a place they can go to get the care they need, a department that is totally veteran-centered, looking for only one outcome, which is good outcomes for veterans.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday morning, the City of Dallas joined communities across North Texas in honoring our nation’s heroes with a parade starting at Reunion Tower and heading past Dallas City Hall. This year’s theme was “Honoring Our Wounded Veterans,” and the parade included veterans organizations, military vehicles and 15 high school bands.
Despite chilly temperatures, an estimated 25,000 people lined the parade route.
The ceremony started at 11:00 a.m. with more than 150 people who just enlisted in all branches of the military taking an oath in front of Dallas City Hall. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst was among the morning’s speakers, and three wounded veterans served as the parade’s grand marshals.
A similar parade was held in downtown Fort Worth with the theme “Honoring Our Flag,” as this is the 200th anniversary of the National Anthem.
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