A chair sits in Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins’ office that reads, “Remember the one that’s not here.”
The message is about saving a seat for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“This is the best part of the job,” Collins told Yorktown News about being with veterans in local communities. “There's no way you can run the VA from Washington, D.C. and me being able to come out here and see fellow veterans, see folks that have served—being able to work with the congressman to put this together—this is what makes it special.”
Rep. Mike Lawler hosted Collins in Yorktown Monday for a roundtable with local veterans at VFW Post 8328, following a visit to the Montrose VA Medical Center.
At the VFW, veterans raised questions about staffing, access to mental health services, transportation challenges, appointment wait times, navigating the VA benefits system and records management.
Lawler said his district (NY-17) has a veteran, active-duty service member, law enforcement officer or first responder in one out of every two households.
“That speaks to the service of our community,” he said. “We want to be able to give you the opportunity to talk about things that matter to each and every one of you.”
Collins, a native of Gainesville, Georgia, took office in February 2025 after being nominated by President Donald Trump. He said he was inspired toward public service by his father, a Georgia State Trooper. He earned a master’s degree in divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and served as a pastor. While serving in the Georgia House of Representatives, he graduated from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and later opened a legal practice.
He has served as a U.S. Air Force Reserve chaplain since 2002, including a 2008–09 deployment to Iraq at Balad Air Base, and holds the rank of colonel. He also previously served in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
He represented Georgia’s 9th Congressional District from 2013-21.
Collins praised the dedication of the men and women who work with the VA.
“I have great VA employees, and I’ve said this: There are two things that you’re not going to do as long as I’m secretary. One, you’re not going to scare my veterans. And number two, you’re not going to scare my boys. Those two are off limits,” Collins said.
His department is focused on accountability and improvement.
“We’re the largest integrated healthcare system in the country,” Collins said. “By God, it's time we act like it.”
The event at the VFW post centered on a question-and-answer session that allowed veterans to address their concerns to Lawler and Collins. Local veterans called it an opportunity and said they appreciated their in-person appearance.
“Thank you for standing alongside our veterans,” VFW Post 8328 Commander Alex Mandara said. “Thank you for listening, for cutting through the red tape, and for commitment to ensure our service members come home to their families.”
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PollMan
What the heck is Collins referring to when he says we are "not going to scare my boys." Was there some kind of threat?
Also, what a waste of time if Lawler and Collins only talk in generalities and don't talk about specific issues, such as how can they defend booting 70,000 VA employees from their jobs? Or why the administration ended a mortgage support program that caused 10,000 veterans to lose their homes? Sad.
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