The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Town hall focuses on helping veterans
Community comes together to discuss solutions to problems
A Country over Party Town Hall was held June 30 at the American Legion Post 717 in North Ridgeville to discuss solutions to the problems faced by veterans and first-responders.
Many veterans of the military in Lorain County listened to real-life experiences and solutions from experts through a panel discussion.
The panel was made of veterans and first-responders who have served and are continuing to serve for others in the military and their communities.
Guest veterans were able to share any stories, complaints and suggestions with other fellow veterans for a better life in their community and for others. Panelists also listened. Ken Harbaugh, a former Navy Intel Pilot and president of Team Rubicon Global, was the head of the town hall and part of the panel.
Harbaugh’s Team Rubicon Global is a disaster relief organization that has helped retrain more than 50,000 military veterans to respond to disasters around the world.
He shared his efforts and experiences alongside panelists Seth Moulton, a former marine infantry platoon
commander who fought in Iraq and congressman for the Massachusetts’ 6th district; Sam Felton, a former marine who fought in Vietnam, commander of Disabled Veterans of America Chapter 20 and 2010 Lorain County Veteran of the Year and Dean Marks, captain and 23-year Veteran of Elyria Fire Department and former combat of the Medic Army Reserve.
Harbaugh said the event was meant for veterans to talk about the issues that matter most and ensure that those who protect the rights of veterans, keep their promises to the them.
“Military veterans and first responders run towards the danger while others run away from it,” Harbaugh has said. “As a community, we must uphold our promises to them. When we put country over party and
service before ourselves, we can built another Ohio.”
Harbaugh expressed during the event he is currently running to represent Ohio’s seventh congressional district to continue to protect and fight for fellow veterans and issues they are still dealing with.
Some of the current issues that many of the veterans showed their concerns on were the power of voting for their community, struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, assistance on health and dental care and more.
All issues shared were some faced by the panel veterans who stand for those struggles today.
Felton, who shared his struggles of PTSD, said times were hard in his transition after war.
He expressed that he decided to become better for
himself in order to help others.
“Sometimes you don’t want to talk about the things you’re going through unless you’re with other veterans,” Felton said on the importance of bringing their community together. “These conversations can be tough, but we have to have them to make things happen.”
Other issues discussed were supported by not only the crowd of former veterans, but by U.S. Representative Moulton and candidate Harbaugh.
Both said they agreed and stood behind all issues shared and want to fight to make changes.
Harbuagh expressed that a time where veterans can come together to discuss shared issues and experiences can create advocacy and change for the better.