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Improving services for veterans discussed by new task force Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - The director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs said Tuesday he is optimistic that the new Arkansas Yellow Ribbon Task Force can come up with ways to make life easier for older veterans in the state and those returning home after military service in Iraq and Afghanistan. "It's an opportunity to promote awareness of a lot of the agencies as well as the community efforts," said David Fletcher, vice-chair of the panel. "This really gives us an opportunity to pull all of these efforts together and then it will be a greater opportunity ... to see where we can match these and hopefully provide better services to veterans." Fletcher said there are more than 265,000 veterans receiving services in Arkansas. The 19-member task force met for the first time Tuesday at the state Capitol to discuss its goals and objectives. During the meeting, Gov. Mike Beebe, who appointed the panel earlier this month, spoke of its importance and need. "Hopefully we can see where there are holes and whether there are holes that can be improved in the delivery of those services and be made better," the governor said. Beebe told reporters later he did not know if the task force would recommend changes to state law, but he was looking forward to hearing their ideas. "I'm totally open minded," the governor said. "Sometimes it may need regulation or rule change. Sometimes it may not need any of that and it's just doing a better job of being more responsible and more sensitive in doing the things that we already have the authority to do," he said. Members of the panel include directors of the state Department of Higher Education, the Department of Education, Department of Health, and representatives from various agencies that support veterans, including former Arkansas First Lady Janet Huckabee, who works for the American Red Cross. Chairman of the panel is Maj. Gen. William D. Wofford, adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard. |
