Rally to bring a Veteran’s Home to Monterey Bay

MARINA, Calif. (KION-TV)- Central Coast leaders and veterans will gather at Veterans Transitions Center in Marina calling for a Veterans Home in the Monterey Bay region.

California has the largest veteran population in the U.S. with over 1.6 million veterans, according to numbers from the Military and Veterans Affairs Office.

Monterey County is home to 20,000 veterans, according to county reps. But getting long term care is difficult on the Central Coast.

Some need to travel hours to see their doctors. 

“The status quo is not okay and we need to start today do something about that,” said Jack Murphy, the Acting Director for the Office of Military & Veterans Affairs in Monterey County.

Murphy, along with other local leaders, want state legislators to introduce a bill that would bring a veteran's home to the area.

Veterans at Wednesday’s rally told KION the need on the central coast is great, especially for long term care.

 “As an aging veteran myself, we're looking at all of our comrades,” said Mary Estrada, a Navy Veteran. “We believe that's very important that they're able to stay in their communities and be around their loved ones.”

There are eight veterans’ homes in the state. The closes to Monterey County are the homes located in Fresno and in Yountville in Napa County. From the home in Yountville, it is about 164 miles to Monterey County, while it takes about 145 miles from Monterey County to Fresno.

Both facilities have a wait list time of five years.

Lois Flint, who is also a Marine Veteran, lost her husband 10 years ago to a military related illness.

“If we had a veteran home, it would've been so much easier for him,” said Flint.

Santa Cruz County is home to close to 10,000 veterans, while in San Benito County, there are almost 2500 veterans.