Three distinguished speakers from the veterans community addressed the VA scandal and its sweeping implications at our General Club Meeting Thursday June 5, 2014 at our new meeting hall, the Knights of Columbus, St Anne’s Council in Glen Oaks, Queens. The Dept. of Veterans Affairs operates the nation’s health care system for our Veterans with over 1700 hospitals, clinics and other facilities. Now news reports of gross mismanagement, corruption, and abuses are coming to light as whistleblowers coming forward are exposing the veterans we left behind to die waiting on fraudulent lists. Our country has not lived up to its obligation to all our veterans to provide the care they deserve. The videos below recorded our three speaker’s testimonies of the horrific scandal and what can be done about it.
The first speaker, Marvin R. Jeffcoat is the Past County Commander of Queens County VFW. He enlisted in the United States Army in August 1984 and retired from active duty as a Sergeant First Class in 2004 during which time he served in the Persian Gulf in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm. He is an honored veteran in the New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame and a member of the Sunnyside GOP Club. He is currently employed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as a Facility Manager.
Leann Murphy-Baker, Veterans Advocate was our next speaker. She advocates for disabled veterans who have applied for benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs and Board of Veterans Appeals. She is individually accredited by the Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington D.C. She has been highly recognized for her dedication helping her Community and Veterans and for her skills and devotion in helping veterans with their disability claims.
Our final speaker, Frank Weldon is the Commander Queens County American Legion. He also has a longstanding record of service as the Queens County Commander and State Chairman of the Americanism Committee in the Disabled American Veterans or DAV, the most long-lasting veterans advocacy and assistance group in this country. He also helped out the operations of the Little Neck Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Committee.
Click here for more detailed biographical information on our speakers.
Leann Murphy- Baker contacted me 10 yrs ago thru American Legion ppl saying my husband should never of been denied his benefits. He was recieving benefits thru VA for health care. He died before he could appeal claim yet again of being deñied 3 times. Leann Murphy- Baker contacted me within a month of my husband’s death stating she wants to represent me in my husband’s claim. I was told to give her all veteran/medical records to her office. I did so but never recieved all the paper records back. Been trying to get info from her for 10 yrs. She only responded 3 times but never gave me info about my husband’s claim. She made me sign a contract with her after my husband died stating I have o give her 40% of any claim. Now I find out she is NOT a real Lawyer. Don’t I have the right to file charges against her ???