TESTIMONY
Ashton Stewart, Veteran Liaison at MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., on Enhancing Support and Recognition for World War II and Korean War Veterans
0:52:41
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5 min
Ashton Stewart advocates for increased recognition and support for World War II and Korean War veterans.
- Stewart highlights the unique challenges faced by aging World War II and Korean War veterans and the need for more supportive services.
- MJHS's role as a level 5 provider in the We Honor Veterans program and its efforts in mentoring other hospices are discussed.
- The testimony emphasizes the significant number of veterans not accessing necessary VA benefits and the importance of raising awareness.
- Specific ceremonies and recognitions, such as honoring a Korean War veteran and celebrating significant anniversaries, are examples of how MJHS acknowledges veterans' service and sacrifices.
- Stewart calls for support of resolutions that would publicly honor the bravery and sacrifices of these veteran groups, aiming to bridge the gap in benefits awareness and accessibility.
Ashton Stewart
0:52:41
My name is Ashton Stewart.
0:52:42
I'm a veteran liaison at MGHS in the hospice and palliative care program, careful and the members of the New York City Council Committee on Better and Regina.
0:52:51
Thank you for all your work and for holding this hearing today.
0:52:54
To address resolutions, number 10, 157, 7279 that will publicly recognize the bravery and sacrifices made by our World War 2 veterans and Korean veterans.
0:53:07
Since joining MJHS, the number of veteran patients we care for continues to grow.
0:53:12
As does the complexity of their needs, our aging veteran population efforts particular World War 2 veterans and Korean war veterans face unique challenges on a daily basis that we see that they need additional support and planning that are vitally necessary for patients and caregivers.
0:53:26
Since 2010, MJHS has been a member of the We Honor veterans program, a national initiative between the in the National Palliative Care Organization.
0:53:35
We are a level 5 provider, which is the highest you can get, and we mentor other hospices across the country in last we won the we honor Veterans Outstanding Programming Award for our robust program.
0:53:46
We encounter far too many veterans who have not enrolled in the VA and are not receiving compensation for their injuries, and it frustrates me to meet a veteran at the end of life who's dying from a service connected injury yet never applied for benefits or sought support from the VA.
0:54:00
To better help veterans admitted to our program, I recently earned Brooke ignition as a credential veteran service officer.
0:54:08
And all who served received accolade through our rehonor veterans program.
0:54:13
Whenever we have the opportunity to offer an in person ceremony or hybrid pending ceremony, we do, and we meet with veterans in families to honor them for their service and listen to the heroic stories of sacrifice and patriotism and provide them with a sense of comfort.
0:54:26
One such ceremony took place last summer when we honored a ninety year old Korean war veteran on July 27 2023 was the 70 anniversary of the end of the Korean war, but living in New York City wouldn't have known it.
0:54:38
We acknowledged this anniversary through an incredibly powerful and moving pinning ceremony the presence of the veteran, his wife, and his family for not one but 3 milestones.
0:54:48
We acknowledged his valor as a US marine, fighting in a war on foreign soil, while trailblazing his way in the US military history as he was 1 of 300,000 black soldiers who were the first to fight in a newly de segregated military.
0:55:02
This ceremony marked the 75th anniversary of executive order 9981, which above segregation in the military signed on July 26 1948.
0:55:11
It was a powerful ceremony for all president, but nothing compared to the jubilation felt when celebrating this couple 68 wedding anniversary.
0:55:19
Among other accolades, this marine was presented with a special citation from New York City Department of Veterans Service commissioner James Hennon acknowledging his exemplary service and leadership.
0:55:29
There is so much richness in the veteran's life that often goes by unnoticed or unspoken.
0:55:35
There are also many missed opportunities for red veterans to access benefits.
0:55:39
The VA has recognized that less than a quarter of veterans accessing memorial benefits even though almost all veterans and her spouses are eligible.
0:55:47
This number likes far behind the interest shown by MJHS veteran families indicating that awareness is crucial.
0:55:53
Matthew Quinn, the VA is under secretary for Memorial Affairs recently stated at the senate committee on Veterans Affairs hearing that increasing awareness is a top priority.
0:56:01
To inform the underused memorial benefits.
0:56:05
By supporting resolutions 10157279, there's an opportunity to connect veterans and their families to empower them with the knowledge on how to access these benefits.
0:56:14
Veterans often have unique circumstances that affect eligibility outcomes, and they need help understanding how to navigate the application process, and one such case was one that we saw last year with a POW.
0:56:25
MGHS cared for a Jewish World War 2 veteran who was held prisoner by the Nazis for 90 days, and he was discharged with 20% service connection disability.
0:56:34
And it wasn't until 2020 when he was diagnosed the PTSD that his in he was increased to 100%.
0:56:40
Unfortunately, this rating of a 100% allowed us to submit a DIC claim for his survival living spouse.
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So it's not just veterans who are unaware of their benefits.
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It's also the surviving family members.
0:56:52
Public debt declarations that celebrate bravering sacrifice of our veterans.
0:56:57
As these 3 resolutions resolutions will do, we'll help address this gap and engage those who were still with us and who served during World War 2 in the Korean war.
0:57:06
And in closing, MGHS is grateful for this opportunity need to share experience and observations with the committee on veterans.
0:57:12
And we're also grateful for the collaboration that we've shared with the New York City and the New York State Department of Veterans Services and the many VSOs we collaborate with.
0:57:21
MGHS saw 46% increase in our hospice patient's lab last year, the fact that we can attribute to the increasing number of veterans in New York City over the age of sixty five that reached 71% in 2020.
0:57:33
We seek to collaborate with you and your colleagues and other veteran community stakeholders to advance our shared work in supporting this vulnerable population to ensure they receive the best possible care throughout their entire life journey.
0:57:44
Thank you.