Video by Suzanne Bartole
The San Diego Wolfpack is a wheelchair basketball team made up of active duty and veteran service members who have sustained an amputation, spinal cord injury or other orthopedic or neurological disorder.
By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office
In anticipation of Veterans Day, about 200 former military members attended a forum sponsored by Supervisor Bill Horn and the County Office of Military and Veterans Affairs.
The 2018 Veterans Forum took place at the County’s North Inland Live Well Center in Escondido. During the event, attendees listened to a Marine Corps motivational speaker, a keynote discussion on Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, inspirational stories and special recognition for Vietnam War veterans.
“I have such respect for our service members who put themselves second to serve a greater good,” said Supervisor Bill Horn, a decorated former combat Marine. “They’ve made sacrifices for all of us, and they deserve our time and attention.”
During the forum, participants also discussed jobs, services available to veterans, coping methods and support systems. They also talked about goals for the upcoming year, which include expanding successful programs like Vet Connect and the North County Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, as well as building new partnerships and collaborations and expanding outreach efforts.
The County of San Diego is committed to meeting the needs of the approximately 800,000 veterans, active duty military and their families in the region. Great strides have been made, including increased housing support, new facilities, simplified access to programs, strengthened partnerships and greater outreach. Those improvements are making a difference. Last year, the County was ranked the highest-performing veterans service office in the state.
The County Office of Military & Veterans Affairs serves the region’s population of veterans, the the second largest in the state. The office assists veterans and their dependents and survivors in getting benefits from the federal, state and local agencies administering programs for veterans, and provides advocacy to the veteran community regarding entitlement rights to benefits programs.
For more information, call (858) 694-3222 or email the County Office of Military & Veterans Affairs .
