Veterans rarely have the opportunity to sit down with their member of Congress, ask questions and discuss the issues that matter most to them. On July 6, Hezzie Griffis American Legion Post 30 in Edgefield, S.C., made that happen by hosting Congresswoman Sheri Biggs for a meet-and-greet with veterans and their spouses from across South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District.
Planning for the event began nearly a year earlier with the assistance of veterans service representative Teresa Mahaffey, whose support was instrumental in arranging the event. After brief opening remarks, Biggs presented every veteran and spouse in attendance with her congressional challenge coin before spending nearly two hours listening to veterans, answering questions, and discussing issues ranging from VA healthcare, disability benefits and travel reimbursement to military readiness and national security. She and her staff took notes, exchanged contact information with attendees, and encouraged veterans to submit unresolved cases for follow-up.
Throughout the discussion, Biggs emphasized that hearing directly from veterans helps shape both her constituent services and the way she evaluates legislation. After learning during the event that World War II veteran Billy Prince was celebrating his 100th birthday later that month and lived nearby, she made an unscheduled stop at his home to personally wish him a happy birthday and present him with her congressional challenge coin before continuing her schedule.
One of The American Legion's four pillars is Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation. Hosting events like this is one way Post 30 fulfills that commitment by connecting veterans with elected officials, veteran service organizations and resources that can help them. Our goal is to ensure veterans have opportunities to be heard, receive assistance and remain informed about the issues affecting them. Post 30 looks forward to creating more opportunities that connect veterans with the people, information and resources that can make a difference in their lives.
A video compilation of the event is available at https://www.alpost30sc.org/in-the-news/event-videos.
