Event Raising Awareness Of Veterans' Issues Held In Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Concerned Veterans for America's 'Defend Freedom Tour' wrapped up its 2016 national tour in Pittsburgh.

Over 200 veterans and their loved ones packed the Heinz History Center for the event, designed to raise awareness about the challenges facing America's veterans and encourage all citizens to take action.

Former U.S. Army Sniper Cody McGregor is the organization's National Outreach Director. He told KDKA's Kym Gable it's important to continue fighting for the principles they fought for while in uniform.

"When you look across the landscape of this nation, you see a VA that's broken, veterans dying in line, and patriots who've forgotten about why they've fought," said McGregor.

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Karen Vaughn is a Senior Military Families Advisor who lost a son in Afghanistan in 2011.  She said she hears heartbreaking accounts from people who've lost loved ones after they returned from war and couldn't get the mental and emotional support they needed to recover from PTSD and related conditions.

"You know, I got a call on a Saturday morning and (my son) was gone.  There was nothing I could do," explained Vaughn. "But I cannot imagine the rage and brokenness I would feel if I got him home from war and lost him here because the people that promised to take care of him wouldn't."

The group said passing the VA Accountability Act in the House is a small victory.  The organization supports reform in the Veterans Administration and said it will continue to encourage vets to exercise their rights at the polls.