Veterans service officer defends office move
Truax offended by social media allegations that veterans cannot access services on upper floors
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Just because a veteran is disabled doesn’t mean they can’t use an elevator. That was the simple statement Howard County Veterans Service Officer Dale Truax made this week as he responded to a smattering of online criticism about the relocation of his office to the second floor of the Howard County Administration Center.
Truax was disturbed by online allegations on social media that moving the office, originally a temporary relocation that later became permanent, would make it difficult, if not impossible, for some disabled veterans to reach the office and receive services. As a disabled veteran himself, he took offense to the idea and spoke out at a Howard County Board of Commissioners meeting on Dec. 18.
“Over the past two months, it has come to my attention that there have been multiple social media posts bashing certain officials in this county over the move of the county veteran's service office,” said Truax. “We live in a day and age that people can get their opinions on social media without facts, without understanding.
“The way that they are characterizing veterans, I think, does a disservice. In dealing with veterans and being a veteran myself, I know that we are proud people. We're autonomous. We want to be self-functioning. To relegate veterans to a category where they cannot use an elevator or their wheelchair somehow can't get up here, I don't understand that.”
Truax explained that many people who are disabled access services across all three floors of the administration building without difficulty, as the building is ADA-compliant. In the event that a veteran cannot reach the office, Truax and his staff go to them.
“We do have veterans from time to time who need help getting in,” said Truax. “We help them. We have a lot of veterans who can't even make it into the office because they're so disabled. We do house visits. We do a lot of at home visits. It happens frequently.
“I don't really understand where the animosity or hostility comes from. I'm a disabled veteran myself. I know of other disabled veterans in this room. Some have mobility issues. I don't have a problem coming up here. I don't think that most vets do, and I think most would really be disheartened if they knew that somebody was saying they're incapable to get anywhere except the ground floor.”
Truax was very appreciative of the treatment his office receives from county officials. He stated that neither the commissioners nor the Howard County Council have ever denied his office a request. And he praised the county for the accommodation it has made for his office. Other veterans service offices aren’t so fortunate, he said.
“Some of the veterans service offices I've seen around the state are literally a janitor's closet,” said Truax. I’ve seen other ones where veterans had to go upstairs to get to the office. Here's the simple truth of it. Out of the office space we had downstairs, we utilized about a third of it. I've realized over the last month and a half we had a lot of junk sitting around we didn't need at all.
“We had office space basically going unused. When I found out there are other departments crammed into a little office with twice as many or triple the staff we have, I thought they might need to utilize some of that space. It seemed like a righteous move. It still seems like a righteous move. And it just disheartens me that people are using disabled veterans.”
Howard County Commissioner Jeff Lipinski responded to Truax, admitting that he initially resisted the idea of relocating the veterans service office.
“I was looking at convenience for the veterans, thinking it was much more convenient for somebody who might have a handicap (to be on the first floor),” said Lipinski. “I still feel that way somewhat, but I'm willing to understand the situation and understand that the county can benefit from this growth.”