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Councilman Washington urges attention to veterans’ needs, cites county statistics and VA figures
Summary
A council member summarized local veterans statistics and urged quicker processing of veterans’ benefit claims, saying Sumter County has a high veterans-per-capita rate and local veterans face delays in receiving services.
Councilman Washington used the meeting’s reports section to summarize veterans’ statistics for Sumter County and to urge the council and staff to improve access and processing of veterans’ benefits and services.
Washington said Sumter County historically has a large veteran population and cited figures stating there were about 16,271 veterans in the county in 2003 and that the county’s annual veteran-related economic impact was about $1.4 billion. He said Sumter County has the highest number of veterans per capita in South Carolina, and he urged the county to ensure local veterans can obtain benefits quickly.
“Sumter County Veterans Affairs Office must have demand to quickly meet the request for services from the veterans that we have,” Washington said, adding that delays in processing applications can be a life-or-death matter for some veterans.
Washington reviewed age and service-period statistics he said the county recorded for the year: a youngest veteran age of 52, oldest 103, and an average age of 77; he also cited branch and campaign counts (Air Force, Army, Marines, Korea, Vietnam, World War II, Gulf War II). He reported a decline in veteran deaths compared with the prior year as recorded in the local count.
During public comment, Catherine Washington (a different speaker identified in the transcript) thanked the council for work that helped pay off a loan and acknowledged staff assistance; Tasha Gardner Green reminded the council of a community cleanup event happening that Saturday.
Councilman Washington concluded by urging the county to continue working with state and federal veterans’ agencies; he referenced the establishment of the South Carolina Department of Veteran Affairs by the governor as part of a broader effort to improve services.
Provenance (transcript evidence): extended remarks by Councilman Washington during the reports section and public comments from Catherine Washington and Tasha Gardner Green.
