SUMTER, S.C. — GOP presidential candidates are making the final push throughout the state this week, hoping to get your vote during Saturday's South Carolina presidential primary election. On Monday, Nikki Haley made stops in Sumter and Camden hoping to appeal to her military supporters.
“We take care of this country and they should take care of us after we get out,” Sumter resident Bill Lyons shared.
Lyons joined the Coast Guard in 1964. Now, he says one of his biggest frustrations is difficulty getting healthcare through the Veterans Affairs system.
“When I was in Vietnam I fell and hurt my back and my left leg has been paralyzed and I learned to walk again. And so you know, things like that, I'm still fighting with the VA about my disability,” Lyons explained. “You have a hard time with the VA getting appointments and getting seen. In fact, I've been waiting since October last year to get my cataract surgery done. I'm finally getting it done Wednesday.”
But before that, Lyons made sure to stop by the campaign rally at American Legion Post 15.
“I am a member of the American Legion,” Don Bolduc, a retired Army general, said in his speech to introduce Haley. “And I consider this to be hallowed ground. Anywhere that recognizes and honors the service and sacrifices of our veterans, our service members and their families is hallowed ground.”
Haley used her time in the Gamecock City to rally the military community.
“We can't just love our men and women when they're gone,” Haley said on stage. “We gotta love them when they come back home too.”
Haley discussed her campaign goals, which includes getting veterans access to telehealth for mental health care and allowing them to access hospitals and doctors of this choice.
“Seven months ago, I dropped my husband Michael off for another year-long deployment,” Haley said. “And I watched him and 230 soldiers pick up their two duffel bags of belongings to go to a country they'd never been all in the name of protecting America. They're willing to sacrifice their lives and their families because they still believe in this amazing experiment that is America. So if they're willing to sacrifice for us there, shouldn’t we be willing to fight for America here?”
It’s a message that resonated with Sumterites like Jim Atkinson, an Air Force and Marine Corp veteran.
“Her husband’s in the military and if you're a president, you’re the Commander in Chief of the military so you should respect all of them,” Atkinson shared.
“I think any president or leader in our country has to recognize the value of a vet and what they've done for their country,” Air Force Veteran Mike Bachel added.
It’s an effort that Haley told attendees she would fight for.
“Right now in America, over 35,000 of our veterans are homeless,” Haley said to the audience. “One in three suffers from ptsd or thoughts of suicide. We lose 22 heroes a day to suicide. If a veteran needs a doctor's appointment at the VA on average, it takes 29 days. Why 29 days? Because on the 30th day they can go to the doctor or hospital of their choice. So midway through the 29 days, they get a call to reschedule and the clock starts all over again. It's shameful how we treat our veterans.”
Over the next week, Haley will be continuing to visit different cities in the Palmetto State, including Clemson, Beaufort, Myrtle Beach and Mt. Pleasant ahead of this weekend’s Republican primary.