BAINBRIDGE – This past Friday, on National Purple Heart Day, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) hosted a virtual roundtable with representatives from local veteran organizations to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Northeast Ohio veterans.

“Wehave the responsibility to ensure our servicemembershave what they need to live healthy, happy and successful lives when they return home,” said Joyce. “Our commitment to fulfilling that responsibility can’t waver during times of crisis like the one we are in now. In fact, it needs to strengthen. That’s why I organized this roundtable – to better understand what local veteran organizations have done over the last several months to support and serve our nation’s heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The more Iknow about the success they’vehad and where they’ve faced theirbiggest challenges, the better I can advocate for them back in Washington and support their efforts at the federal level.”

During the roundtable, each participant provided the Congressman with an update from their organization. The discussion that followed included a wide range of issues impacting veterans during these challenging times, including access to broadband that supports crucial telehealth services, the Veteran Court of Appeals’ transition to entirely virtual hearings, and relief checks such as those that the Disabled American Veterans chapters conduct. Attendees of the roundtable included:

• Beth Lumia, Associate Director of the Cleveland VA
• Jon Warmeling, Executive Director of the Lake County Veterans Service Commission
• Ben Schwartfigure, Director of the Ashtabula County Veterans Service Commission
• John Gennaro, Director of the Erie VA Medical Center
• Greg Davis, Founding Member of Patriot at Home
• Jermaine Ferguson, Veteran Affairs & Rehabilitation and National Security Coordinator at American Legion (Department of Ohio)
• Douglas Beckley, Paralyzed Vets of America (Buckeye Chapter)
• Tim Dibble, Sr. Vice Commander of Disabled American Veterans (Ashtabula)
• Jake Drost, National Service Officer at Disabled American Veterans (Cleveland)

“Each time I walk into my Washington, D.C. office, I see my father’s Purple Heart,” said Joyce. “I keep it there as a reminder that the freedom and rights we enjoy every day are not free. They are paid for by the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women of our Armed Forces. We are forever indebted to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much to defend our nation, and I will forever remain committed to fighting for them.”

You can view the roundtable in its entirety here.

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