Concerned Veterans for America say the fight for freedom continues

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– Veterans say they fought for freedom during war, but now their fighting for that in their home country.

The group Concerned Veterans for America stopped in Wilmington Friday night. This is an organization that takes on big issues they say threaten American’s freedom. The big topic right now is Veteran’s Affairs. Kathleen Volandt says she never thought she’d come home from war and have trouble finding help.

“I always wanted to be in the service,” Volandt explained. “I had decided at 15 I wanted to be in. At 17 I enlisted before my senior year of high school.”

But she says she did not expect her time to be cut so short.

“Unfortunately in a field accident, a piece of equipment fell on top of me and crushed me to the bed of my truck,” Volandt said.

That’s when she says all of her problems began.

“The very first time the V-A gave me a surgical procedure, they didn’t give me enough anesthesia and they punctured my left lung,” Volandt described.

Just recently it took her 150 days to get an appointment with the VA.

“It’s disheartening, it’s disgraceful,” she said. “That’s not what I signed up for. I know so many people that said they never thought that they’d get out and not get help.”

The CEO of Concerned Veterans for America says help is what they are fighting to get.

“We are getting veterans fighting for the freedom here at home what they fought for while in uniform over seas,” Pete Hegseth said. “We all take an oath to defend the constitution. There is no reason why when you come home and take off that uniform that that service should stop.”

Hegseth says the CVA was a big part in exposing the VA scandal in Washington and they plan to makes things happen. Veterans like Volandt jumped on the opportunity.

“I just couldn’t pass it up to serve my country one more time.”

The CVA says they also tackle issues that any American can relate to like the national debt and unemployment.
They want to encourage anyone to get involved in defending freedom. Saturday their bus tour will continue in Fayettville.