Local VA shuttle service to continue despite changes

By Joel Davis
of The Daily Times Staff

A local volunteer program that provides free transportation to the James H. Quillen Veterans Administration Medical Center in Johnson City for veterans will continue despite recent changes.

The van used to transport the veterans will no longer be based at the Tennessee Drug Alcohol Consortium in Alcoa effective May 31. After that, it will be based at the American Legion Post 13, 224 Waters Road, Maryville.

"To my knowledge there won't be any break in service for the veterans at all," said Judy Fowler-Argo, public affairs officer for the Quillen Medical Center. "As far as the services go, there won't be any changes."

Sam Russell is in charge of the local volunteers. He said the van will now leave from the American Legion post. Transportation will be offered on Wednesday and Thursday of each week. Departure is at about 4:45 a.m. Veterans are encouraged to arrive by 4:30 a.m. The van will leave Johnson City at noon, arriving back in Maryville by 2:30 p.m.

To schedule a ride, Russell said veterans must call the VA Outpatient Clinic in Knoxville. The phone number is 545-4592.

Cleve Miller, owner of Tennessee Drug Alcohol Consortium, cited a lack of cooperation from the medical center administration in the decision to pull out of the program.

"Since this van was donated new by the AMVETs four years ago, Tennessee Drug Alcohol has provided volunteer services for transportation from Maryville/Alcoa and Knoxville to (the VA)," Miller wrote in an e-mail to The Daily Times. "... The costs have been absorbed exclusively by our company with nothing expected in return. This was a small token of our appreciation to help pay back the vets for serving our country.

"Our decision to discontinue the van service was not entirely financial on our part, but mainly the reflection of the attitude, belligerence and non-support to our community from the 'powers that be' at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center."

Miller had helped coordinate transportation for the veterans during the past four years. Fowler-Argo praised his and his wife's contributions.

"This has just been a great service to the veterans ...," she said. "They've been invaluable."

The van was donated by the Amvets but is maintained with VA funds.

"We really owe a great deal of gratitude to Sam Russell and the other van drivers," Miller wrote. "These local volunteers have transported over 1,100 veterans to and from (the medical center) safely last year and have asked nothing in return. Sam Russell has managed the van and scheduled the volunteer drivers. He spends many hours weekly and should be commended for a wonderful job."

There are more than 11,000 veterans in Blount County with at least half of these and their dependents being served by the local Veterans Affairs office.