U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough made the Lieutenant General Richard Seitz Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Junction City a stopping point on Thursday. He was on a two day tour to visit VA health care centers across the state where he is meeting with VA leaders, medical staff and veterans.
He wanted to get a good picture of the veteran's experience in Kansas. "But in particular get a really good look at the experience our rural Vets, the care and the benefits that they've earned. That's why I was here, and it's been really productive, in fact an inspiring visit."
Numerous veterans from the Junction City - Manhattan area utilize the clinic on the west side of Junction City. "I was reminded of the fact that the real strength of the VA was our people, said McDonough. He noted that he heard remarkable stories. "I heard about one of our social workers who got a single mother of five kids into a house. Those kids are now stably housed, in school and that's very concrete work that resulted from that work of a veteran."
McDonough is visiting VA medical centers and facilities in Leavenworth, Emporia, Topeka and Wichita. He is being accompanied on much of the trip, which ends Friday, by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran.
McDonough told JC Post he has compiled several note cards of notes, ideas and innovations to ensure everything possible is being done in Washington D.C. to support the work of the people in the field.