We are writing as the veterans of East Lewis County who are members of Vets Coffee in Randle, a monthly coffee for 10 years for all veterans and military personnel.
Our letter is written in support of U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, our elected Third District congresswoman, currently running for a second term.
Few paid any attention to our Vets Coffee group when we asked why the VA Medical Clinic in Chehalis closed. Marie did and wanted to know the “why.” She learned about vets who did not receive help from VA, vets with difficulty driving to Chehalis, let alone the added 30-plus miles to Olympia; and expenses for vets to travel for gas even if they did have a vehicle.
Marie cared enough to come to Vets Coffee and meet us in person and ask about our problems — hours on hold to reach VA, months to wait for appointments, etc.
With a no nonsense approach, she really wanted to hear our concerns and issues. She went back to Washington, D.C. and talked about us — East County vets, as only one veteran group of many nationwide needing help from VA — to Veterans Affairs.
In D.C., she submitted amendments to the VA Committee addressing the needs of vets.
In 2022 and 2023, we spent hours and weekends encouraging people to sign a petition for VA to restore a VA Medical Clinic in Lewis County.
She and her staff supported us. We are grateful for her and her husband signing our petition. We are grateful to all three of Lewis County’s commissioners, mayors and elected officials for their support, including our Washington state Sen. John Braun.
When our representative was unable to go to D.C., Marie delivered our petitions in person with over 16,000 signatures to the Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Yes, Marie cares about our Veterans and helped us in Lewis County and America. We are appreciative of the work Marie has done, not only for us but farmers and other groups in our Third District. We need to keep Marie in office to continue her work.
Vote for Marie!
John Stough, U.S. Navy
Robert L. Zacher, U.S. Army
George Schaefer, USMC
Travis Podbilski, U.S. Army Ranger
Edward A. Smith, U.S.A.F.
Dennis E. Herron, U.S.C.G.
Jack L. Kerr, U.S.M.C.
