Ron Black Sr., a local veteran, has been appointed to the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee (VAAC) this spring by Governor Inslee. This is a first for Pacific County since most positions are filled by veterans from more populated areas.
"I am not aware of anyone from Pacific County ever holding the position before," said Black. "It seems that historically most everyone has come from our larger cities and counties, so for me I am glad to bring to the VAAC my experience with issues and concerns of veterans living in rural southwest Washington."
The VAAC is a committee made up of 17 members appointed by Washington's Governor. Each position lasts four years and the committee advises the Governor and the Director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.
Herald: Please tell us a little about your military service?
Black: I am a Marine Corps Veteran and I served as a Flight Medic with the Washington State Army National Guard. I am a service connected disabled veteran.
Herald: What sort of qualifications do you have that you bring to the appointment?
Black: For the most part, all of us who serve on the VAAC come from different Washington cities or counties. We have different backgrounds, education, personal and military experience. We each represent a different veterans organization, but we support all veterans. What makes us similar is that all VAAC members are veterans who have served their country honorably and continue to assist veterans and their families throughout Washington State. We are not compensated for our efforts, we do it freely in gratitude for those who have served.
My background is that of a Veterans Service Officer with 40 years volunteer service to veterans. I have been a Level 2 Disabled American Veteran (DAV) Service Officer at the Veterans Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Chehalis, since it's opening over a decade ago.
I have had the honor to play taps for hundreds of veterans at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, state veteran cemeteries in Washington, Oregon and Ohio, and here at home. I currently serve as Chaplain for the North West Division Marine Corps League covering five northwestern states. I am the Police Chaplain for the Raymond Police Department, the Pacific County Sheriff, the South Bend Police, and the Lewis County Sheriff. I have served on the Pacific County Veterans Advisory Board. Most veterans locally seem to know of me and I have had the privilege to assist many of them over the years.
I am a life member of several veteran post service organizations. My administrative experience comes from my "past" working history for the Pacific County Sheriff Department as the Superintendent of Corrections and as a Mental Health Counselor 1 for the Washington Department of Adult Corrections. That experience has allowed me to better understand how the government works and the politics involved.
Herald: How do you feel about the appointment by Governor Inslee?
Black: It is an honor to have been appointed. The opportunity to serve on the VAAC does not occur very often. The appointment allows me to be of greater service in support of veterans state wide and to work closely with the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) which in my opinion is one of the best State Veterans Affairs in the nation.
I was chosen in October 2020 by the Department of Washington Marine Corps League to be their representative. That recommendation then goes to the WDVA for recommendation and on to the governor for final approval, as anticipated due to the pandemic the application process took a bit longer than usual. I officially began my 4-year term May 1, 2021.
Herald: What are your duties?
Black: There are opportunities to serve individually. My experience so far as a new appointee is the importance of contributing alongside the other VAAC members to fulfill a common purpose. The Community Town Hall meetings are one of the more visible programs Washington Veterans may be aware of. The Town Halls allow the VAAC and the WDVA representatives to meet with veterans, veteran families, local support agencies, and the public closer to home and in person.
The first Town Hall I attended and participated in was held in Aberdeen a few years ago to honor the service given by Marine Veteran Irv Stephens of Raymond and Jim Evans of Hoquiam. The WDVA presented them with their long overdue Purple Heart for service during the Korean War. The Pandemic has put a temporary hold on in person Town Hall Meetings. These meetings are important to veterans and veteran families so I am ready to go when we are able to safely hold Town Hall Meetings again.
Herald: The online VA tools are difficult to use and it is hard to get a hold of anyone. Is there something you can do about this in your new appointment?
Black: Personally, I am not able to assist with this issue. I also use the Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care System for my own health care so I am well aware of the problems veterans have experienced trying to navigate the VA Health Care Services.
As a veteran, I have expressed my own frustration and that of Pacific County Veterans whom I have heard from everytime I have opportunity. I can be very persistent when need be. Nationally,the VA has promised to provide quality veteran health care to veterans that are enrolled in the VA Health Care System. I believe we veterans have the right to expect nothing less and to hold them to that promise.
As a VAAC member I had the opportunity in July to attend a ZOOM meeting with representatives of the VA Puget Sound Health Care. Numerous questions and responses were exchanged regarding veteran health care. I believe they have heard loud and clear from veterans all across Washington, myself included. The VA Puget Sound Health Care said they are currently working to improve on the time it takes to schedule appointments and respond to phone calls.
As of this writing I needed to check the status of my request for community care and since it has been several weeks since the ZOOM meeting with the VA Health care administrators it was a good time to test the system for improved phone contact. I am happy to say that on this occasion things had improved, after a short hold I was able to talk with a community care specialist and schedule a visit to my VA approved community care doctor. It is my sincere hope that this will be the start of widespread improvement so veterans can get answers and be scheduled for care in a timely fashion.
Herald: Why does Pacific County seem to have more veterans than other counties?
Black: For generations, the people who call Pacific County home have historically been very patriotic. This is reflected in the high number of veterans for our population size. Our veterans are in part the reason Pacific County is a great place to live, many go on to become police officers, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, teachers, or hold public office. I learned as a young child to recite the pledge of allegiance in school and to be respectful of our nation's flag. My grandchildren can still experience that patriotism today by talking to any of our veterans.
Herald: Anything else you would like to say to Veterans throughout Pacific County?
Black: They have heard it before but it deserves repeating. Thank You For Your Service! You are our Nation's Greatest Treasure. Each of you deserve more than you ask or are given and without your service life would be far different for all of us.
You may not be getting all you can out of your browsing experience
and may be open to security risks!
Consider upgrading to the latest version of your browser or choose on below: