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| Contributed photo The Disabled American Veterans Transportation Network’s new van is dedicated to the late Joseph Martin, a volunteer driver in the Caribou area. During his 21 years of volunteer service, Martin logged more than 21,000 hours of drive time. |
How far will the Disabled American Veterans Transportation Network go to help veterans get to their medical appointments? In Maine, it’s the equivalent of nearly nine times around the globe each year!
Last year, the transportation network’s vans logged 205,766 miles as volunteer drivers drove 11,240 hours to bring more than 5,000 veterans from all over the state to the VA Medical Center at Togus and back home again. For various reasons, the disabled veterans served by the transportation network aren’t able to get to their doctors on their own. Some don’t own vehicles or can’t afford the gas. Others, particularly elderly veterans, find the often-long drives too difficult.
“We have 15 vans, and they’re located anywhere from Caribou to Sanford,” said Linda Neptune, a hospital service coordinator with the DAV Transportation Network. “We cover just about every part of the state.”
With that kind of heavy usage, the vans quickly rack up the miles.
A new van recently joined the fleet, thanks to a measure supported by Presque Isle lawmaker Rep. Bob Saucier, who serves on the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. The legislation he worked to pass provides $15,000 annually to the transportation network.
“An important part of making sure veterans have access to health care, especially here in Aroostook County, is making sure they are able to get to doctor’s appointments,” said Saucier, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Maine Army National Guard. “For veterans who don’t have other travel options, this service is really critical.”
Saucier is serving his first term in the Legislature, where he has advocated for a number of measures aimed at improving the lives of Maine’s veterans. They include the transportation funding measure as well as initiatives that encourage private employers to hire veterans and ensure men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan are eligible for a modest property tax exemption already available to other veterans.
The new van is based in Caribou. The vehicle is dedicated to the late Joseph Martin, a volunteer who proudly served his fellow veterans as a driver in the Caribou area. During his 21 years of volunteer service, he logged more than 21,000 hours of drive time.
The transportation network uses donations to buy the vans from Ford Motor Co. at a discounted price. The vehicles are turned over to the federal government and the VA maintains them and pays for the gas. Volunteers do all the driving.
The transportation network aims to replace one or two vans each year. Neptune said the funding measure is critical to the replacement schedule.
“It may determine whether we get one van or two vans. The mileage adds up pretty quickly. If we only get one, it puts us behind the eight-ball,” Neptune said.
The Disabled American Veterans Transportation Network is always in need of volunteers. If you’re interested in being a volunteer driver, call 623-8411, ext. 4886.
Disabled veterans in need of rides to Togus can get more information by calling Neptune at 623-5790 or toll free at 1-877-421-8263, ext. 5790.
