Local veteran outreach group "Hinanao yan I Minagahet yan I Ininna" also known as (the way the truth the light) is conducting a survey across the island to get a number of veterans who call Guam home. HMI's mission is to help veterans and their families on the island which is why they are conducting this survey.

Bill Salisbury said Wednesday on the Link that they've been doing outreaches in collaboration with village mayors to get an exact number of veterans within our island community. Salisbury said that while doing outreaches in the community he has learned that a lot of veterans on Guam aren't aware of their benefits.

"We've been finding out that there are veterans who think that because they didn't go to combat, because they didn't get hurt or lost a limb that they don't qualify for benefits but that is just not true," he said. "If you serve in the military at some point of your career you deserve whatever benefits legally that is what you qualify for."

After getting an accurate number of veterans on the island, HMI hopes it will justify why we need a VA hospital.
Tonight at 7 p.m., the HMI will be holding a meeting at the Piti Senior Center to answer questions about their initiative