As a remote island, Guam faces unique challenges in connecting veterans with federal resources but that doesn’t mean local and community support isn’t there. KUAM News sought more on how HMI Guam’s 4th Annual Veteran Symposium Is reminding veterans that they matter and that resources are available. 

Nearly 100 veterans signed up for a three-day veteran symposium at the University of Guam’s Lecture Hall. Anthony Taijeron is the president of HMI Guam, a non profit organization created by veterans, for veterans.  "What they want to do is get information. Yesterday, we had the governor here talking," he said. "This morning, we had the congressman. And we have all our veterans come here because there’s no other event like this where veterans can come, get together, get the services and have information they can ask for."

The symposium connects veterans to critical services locally, like Guam Legal Services, Guam System for Assistive Technology, DISID, Live Well at Home Care and more. 

"These folks are here because a lot of times, our veterans don’t get VA services. And when they don’t, there are still local services they can avail of. So them understanding that that exists allows them to have a different avenue to look for services," Taijeron explained.

Guam Congressman James Moylan was a key speaker at the second day of the symposium on Thursday. Taijeron says the delegate discussed his push to move the US Veteran’s Affairs' regional office in Manila to Guam.  "Services being here would allow for us to go direct and take care of that so we don’t have to be trying to get to Hawaii or the Manila office to get information about the VA or get the help that we need," he said. "It will be here already because the office will be here."

A major concern for veterans is the long wait times for VA resources and how to navigate the benefit claims process. A benefits boot camp aims to help guide them through that process.  "This is where they get to understand education about them owning the claim, the process and why it takes a certain amount of time for these things to happen. So by doing that, we’re allowing the veterans to say ‘hey, I don’t understand this.’ And then we help them understand, they learn about their decision letters, what’s on there and just because they get denied, don’t toss it to the side," he said.

The three-day symposium will wrap-up on Friday with a special demonstration from veteran Edward Toves. Taijeron said, "It looks like he’s going to do a demonstration with some service dogs. I won’t reveal what it is so they can all come, but come see what he’s done. It’s a step above needing to just have a service dog be there for the veteran.

"It’s going to be something even more advanced."