Former Miss America is determined to help veterans get health, VA information

Former Miss America is determined to help veterans get health, VA information

Former Miss America, Heather French Henry, was determined to find a way to get information about Veterans Affairs medical services to veterans.  And she succeeded.

Henry hosted more than 300 veterans at a dinner Saturday to kick off Operation Veterans’ Health, a national effort to help veterans learn about health problems.

Originally, Henry had wanted the event to be a health fair at the Louisville VA hospital, but she had to move it to a union hall because of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ban on efforts to recruit veterans into its medical system.

Veterans who attended were able to pick up information on medical issues and benefits from veterans agencies and groups, along with autographed photos of Henry.

No one from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center attended the event.

“I would have loved to have them,” said Henry, whose father is a disabled Vietnam veteran.

In July 2002, a national VA memo said recruiting veterans is “inappropriate” because of a tight budget and growing demand for services.

Veterans attending the dinner criticized the ban.

“It’s just like they’re saying that they don’t appreciate what veterans have done for this country,” said Army veteran Dana Thomas, 50, of Buechel.

Ken Moore, a service officer with Henry’s foundation, called the ban “a real foolish move.”

“We all know its a money issue,” Moore said.

Robert Keller, a veteran who handed out information from the Vietnam Veterans Association booth at the dinner, said he volunteers at the VA medical center. Keller said he understands the system is short on funding.

“But this is the wrong place to do the cutting,” Keller said.

More than 300 veterans and their families attended an event in Louisville to promote veterans’ health benefits.

Former Miss America Heather French Henry had wanted the event to be a health fair at the Louisville V-A hospital.

She had to move the event because of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ban on efforts to recruit veterans into its medical system.

So the event turned into a kickoff dinner for Operation Veterans’ Health during the weekend. Veterans were able to pick up information on medical issues and benefits from veterans’ agencies and groups.

Henry says V-A officials told her the Louisville center would not be sending anyone to the dinner at a union hall.

Henry is the daughter of a disabled Vietnam veteran.