Randy Griffith
rgriffith@tribdem.com
—
Many of the troops fighting for freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming home with brain injuries that rob them of their freedom.
“Traumatic brain injury is the signature injury of that (Iraq) war,” state Rep. Bryan Barbin said. “Why aren’t we looking at this as our highest priority?”
The Johnstown Democrat on Wednesday morning set off on a seven-day motorcycle ride to call attention to the issue.
He presented information later Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio, the first of seven state capitols he will visit before wrapping up the 1,800-mile journey Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
Barbin set off from the Johnstown Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center in Upper Yoder Township, calling the facility a model for the nation.
More than 100,000 troops have suffered traumatic brain injuries, but many do not have access to facilities such as Johnstown’s to help them recover, he said.
Working with its community re-entry home in Moxham, the brain injury center’s assisted living facility at the Hiram G. Andrews Center prepares veterans disabled from brain injury to return to civilian lives.
“They can do more things on their own,” Barbin said. “That is what we do here that nobody else does.”
Improved early treatment can help keep wounded warriors out of veterans nursing homes that are funded by the state, Barbin said. He is a member of the state house Veterans Affairs Committee.
“We have 1 million veterans living in Pennsylvania,” Barbin said. “They have the right to go into our facilities. If the care they receive initially is not given highest priority, we can become overwhelmed at our seven nursing-care facilities.
“Moreover, it is the right thing to do.”
Barbin said he is delivering his message to state capitols because the issue hits every state. He will include copies of a Pennsylvania resolution calling attention to the issue that was unanimously approved last month.
Today, Barbin plans to meet with leaders in Indianapolis and Springfield, Ill. Additional stops will be Friday in Jefferson City, Mo.; Saturday in Frankfort, Ky.; Sunday in Charleston, W.Va.; Monday in Richmond, Va.; and Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
