Media
Wednesday at USS Midway Museum: San Diego Post-9/11 Veterans Highlight Community Programs
WHAT: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) will bring together post-9/11 veterans in the San Diego area Wednesday, January 22 at 5:30 p.m. to highlight support programs available and to discuss critical issues facing the veterans community.
San Diego is home to one of the largest veterans communities in the country. There are an estimated 237,000 post-9/11 veterans in California, with more than 26,00o post-9/11 veterans in the San Diego area. More than 400,000 veterans are stuck in the VA backlog, including about 10,000 in the San Diego Regional Office who are waiting more than 125 days for a claim. Suicide is also a growing concern for new veterans: at least 22 veterans commit suicide every day, and a new study has found that the suicide rate among young male veterans rose by 44 percent in the past three years. New veterans are also now facing a cut to their retirement as a result of a bipartisan budget deal.
WHO: Speakers expected to include IAVA Leadership Fellow David Curry and IAVA and California Case Manager Gerard Skiles, along with other San Diego veterans.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 22nd at 5:30 p.m. PDT
WHERE: USS Midway Museum, 910 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA