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Four women envision giving back to veterans

By DENISE de VINES

SULLIVAN COUNTY -- Carol Morrison, Tami Wolcott, Gaynell Scott and Joan Symanski are four women with a mission: to solicit public support for Catagay House, a 30-bed assisted care facility for veterans. The planned facility derives its unusual name from the first names of three of the women.

These four Sullivan County health care professionals are working toward "providing the quality of care that every American deserves and, more importantly, to give back to the veterans what they've given to all of us." In this regard, they are circulating a petition with the goal of securing 10,000 names, which would allow them to apply for federal and state grant money. No county money is to be solicited.

To date, 3000 names have been collected.

Under the present care system, veterans' services are often conjoined with other social service branches.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-26) has been instrumental in the initiation of the petition. Hinchey, a Navy veteran, said, "I am very serious about keeping the promises made to our veterans, especially on issues concerning health care." Hinchey's staff has also committed to help "package the project" to meet funding requirements. Assemblyman Jacob E. Gunther III (D-98) has also offered his support for the facility.

The four activist women have seen first hand the need for a local veterans' home. Morrison, Wolcott, and Scott work with developmentally challenged individuals through Sullivan County ARC, and Symanski, an RN, works as a public health nurse.

"I love working with the elderly -- hearing their stories--you can learn a lot from their life experiences," said Symanski. "They deserve to grow old with dignity and respect."

"Most veterans have worked all their lives," added Morrison, who works part-time as a home care nurse. She recounted her father's war involvement. "[My father] spoke seven languages. He was a courier handling secret documents, and continued to deliver documents even after the war. It takes a lot of commitment to put yourself at risk like that… but most veterans did."

Though the Catagay project is at least two years from fruition, possible site locations include Liberty and Neversink. The planned facility would provide transportation for shopping and doctor visits.

Accommodations for spouses of veterans would allow them to live together. At many existing facilities, this is not possible.

The Veterans Administration for Sullivan County has established a one-day clinic at Community General in Harris, and according to Morrison, "it's packed!", showing that there is a need for greater and more specialized services for veterans. Morrison said there is talk of expanding the program when two additional vans are procured.

The nearest veteran nursing home is currently in Oxford, over an hour away. The two closest veteran hospitals for Sullivan County residents are in Albany and Castlepoint (near Newburgh).

To add your name to the petition being circulated in support of funding for Catagay House, write to: Catagay, PO Box 1015, Loch Sheldrake, NY, 12751, or contact your local fire department, senior citizen center, American Legion or Veterans Hall.