Update regarding the status of the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center

We will be having another Save Our Hospital Rally on July 1, at the gazebo in front of the Civic Center in Muskogee.   We have a Patriotic Concert planned for the veterans and community members of Eastern Oklahoma.
    We have around 14,000 signatures opposing the closing of the hospital from all over this part of the state.   The support we have received from Eastern Oklahoma is amazing.   We are especially pleased with the support of the citizens of Muskogee and our mayor, The Honorable Marlon Coleman.  
We have been corresponding with the Director Kristopher Vlosich, Oklahoma City VA Hospital and the VISN 19 Network Director, Mr. Ralph T. Gigliotti.   We requested an Exemption to the closing of the Hospital from Mr. Gigliotti because it serves several groups of Historically Undeserved Veteran Groups. We explained to Mr. Gigliotti that the Hospital serves a large percentage of Native Americans.  The Hospital sets between the Cherokee and Creek Nation and serves the Choctaws all the way to Southern Border.    We mentioned as well that the Hospital serves six of the thirteen Black Communities in Oklahoma.  The hospital also serves the sons and daughters of the Italian Immigrants and others who originally came to rural Southeastern Oklahoma to work in the Coal Mining and Timber Industry.     
Southeastern Oklahoma is a Rural Area with very little Emergency Healthcare for veterans outside of the VA Hospital they rely on.  Many travel as much as two and one half hours now to receive emergency care at the Muskogee hospital.   Community care is not a Reliable option for this group of veterans.   There are 73 rural hospitals in Oklahoma with 42 at risk of closing.   The older veterans in Eastern Oklahoma are in need of reliable Emergency Service.     Closing the Hospital would only cause them to drive another hour to the downtown Tulsa VA hospital.    Many of the veterans in Eastern Oklahoma would simply not go to the downtown hospital for emergency care.

Mr. Gigliotti responded to our letter with the following comment, “Mr. Nichols thank you for your thoughtfully laid out argument on keeping the Muskogee VAMC open.  The remainder of the year is for important groups like yours to weigh in with the Commission and share how you feel.   I appreciate having this knowledge and will use it when called upon.”  He mentions the Air Commission in his comments.   Congress required the VA submit there Infrastructure Committees recommendations to the Air Commission. However the Commissioners have not been approved by the Senate.   The Commissioners were directed to submit there recommendations by January 31, 2023.  Support for the Recommendations of the Infrastructure Committee seems to be weakening.    In fact, several Rallys are being conducted around the country opposing the Recommendations of the Department of Veterans Affairs.     

I hope all of you will attend our Rally on July 1 and except our Thanks for supporting us in keeping our Hospital Open.    

Sincerely,
Donald R. Nichols
Commander
Jack C Montgomery Chapter 617
Military Order of the Purple Heart
Muskogee, Oklahoma