Hernando County has a large, active veteran population. These brave men and women span over 80 years of service, from the Greatest Generation to the recent wars in the Middle East. Our county has been shaped and molded by them. They are the small business owners, the volunteers, the unspoken heroes of our daily life.
As a physical therapist, I have been honored to help our veterans heal from their physical wounds. I am truly humbled by their dedication and love of our community. These veterans have given and sacrificed so much for our great Country. They are some of my favorite patients. But they also seem to have the hardest time getting services they need. Being in the medical field, I see firsthand how difficult it is to navigate the American health care system. Patients face issues with insurance, travel, or scheduling, among dozens of other potential problems. The health care issues our veterans face through the Veterans Administration is even worse.
Until recently, our veterans were forced to drive out of our county to get care. As a county commissioner, I played an integral part in bringing the VA to Hernando County for outpatient services in what was previously the Pine Brook Medical Center on Cortez Blvd. The services are still limited, but I am working with our current Congressman, Gus Bilirakis, to expand those services to make sure our Veterans are not forced to drive hours to get care that could be provided here.
One of the major issues our veterans face is obtaining transportation to get to their doctor’s appointments, especially the specialists that are not available locally. As Chairman of the Local Coordinating Board for the Transportation Disadvantaged, I work directly with the Veterans Administration and Mid-Florida Services to provide transportation services for transportation disadvantaged Veterans. No one should lose their blood pressure meds, or miss a cancer screening due to not having a ride.
As a County Commissioner, I voted to designate Hernando County as a Purple Heart County. This is a county-wide recognition to those who were wounded during combat and carried those injuries with them through their lives. It is also an important recognition to the families of Purple Heart recipients, because many times those injuries sustained affect the family forever as well.
As a physical therapist, and as a Hernando County Commissioner, I will continue serving those who have served us. Our veterans deserve nothing less.
I would be honored to be able to continue to work on these veterans’ issues. On Aug 20th, I humbly ask for your vote.
-John Allocco
Paid by John Allocco, Republican, for Hernando County Commissioner District 3.
