OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Cancer can strike anyone at any age.
The Marion County Memorial Honor Guard and Veterans Helping Veterans are pioneering a critical initiative to provide free cancer screenings for local veterans through the Galleri Cancer Screening Test.
“We’ve always had a concern for veterans and Bob and Grace (Levenson) have been working with Hospice for probably the last eight to 10 years, working with veterans and doing pinnings,” according to Capt. Stephen Petty, Vet Resource Center president, who along with his wife Joan worked closely with the Levensons to spearhead the cancer screening project, they have conducted nearly 1,200 pinning ceremonies for veterans in hospice care
A pinning ceremony honors veterans by recognizing their service, allowing them to hear Armed Forces songs, share their military experiences with fellow veterans, and receive a commemorative certificate during their hospice care.
“It’s a wonderful way to let them know because the services that we do at the Florida National (Cemetery) obviously are more for the families, the veteran has already passed,” says Petty. “A lot of times we’ll do a hospice ceremony, and then in a month or so we’ll be doing a ceremony down at Florida National. That’s something that we’ve always been interested in: working with veterans and helping veterans to get their benefits.”
Veterans often struggle to complete complex paperwork for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) while battling serious illness. Many are unaware of their eligibility, and those facing stage 3 or 4 cancer encounter even greater challenges in securing these critical benefits for their families
The Galleri Cancer Screening Test identifies 50 different cancer types, including pancreatic cancer, but typically costs $949. Marion County is leading the way by providing these critical screenings free to high-risk veterans, a model that could be adopted at federal and state levels.
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners and a local hospital district have approved grants totaling $350,000. The county’s $50,000 grant will provide screenings for Vietnam veterans, while the hospital district’s $300,000 grant will cover Gulf War veterans who were exposed to toxins.
Commissioners Craig Curry and Michelle Stone played crucial roles in securing the grants. “We can’t say enough about how wonderful we think they (the Marion County Commissioners) are,” Petty expresses.
Of Marion County’s 46,000 veterans, approximately 16,000 Gulf War veterans were “boots on the ground” and potentially exposed to harmful substances. Early detection could significantly improve treatment outcomes and reduce medical costs.
Petty highlights the broader importance of the program: “It’s something that our veterans need because of their exposure, but everyone out there, especially those over 50 might want to take advantage of the program, just to know.” He emphasizes that cancer screening should be a regular process, recommending tests every one to two years.
The initiative also addresses the complex challenges veterans face, including navigating paperwork for benefits like Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) when dealing with serious illnesses.
Veterans interested in learning more can visit vetresourcecenter.com.