RI Veterans help Martha’s Vineyard Veterans raise funds for program cut by VA – John A. Cianci

April 28, 2025/John Cianci

It was a rainy day, but our veterans writer, John A. Cianci, had to be there. So, it was over on the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard and back. Why? To support the MV Veterans Center who learned earlier this month that the federal contract for a veterans counseling program on Martha’s Vineyard would not be renewed. A call went out to the island community. But it reached further than just the island. It reached John and the Italian American Veterans group (ITAM).

Here is John’s accounting:

Rhode Island Veterans Helping Martha’s Vineyard Veterans Raise Funds for Program Cut By VA

Rhode Island veterans supporting their brothers and sisters for necessary funds to fund VA in-person counseling CUT by the VA.

John A Cianci, Department Commander, Italian American War Veterans of US, and his wife, Wendy Cianci traveled to Martha’s Vineyard Saturday (Exeter to Woods Hole, Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard) to present $500 plus GOFUNDME fundraiser to the VFW at the fundraiser to raise the remaining 40K of 80K.

“I lived on an island that had limited VA services. When the former Secretary of VA visited the island, veterans told him how inconvenient it was to travel to Puerto Rico for a colonoscopy. Moreover, after the colonoscopy, to fly back hours later,” said Cianci. Immediately after the Secretary’s visit to St Croix, US Virgin Islands, changes were made so that veterans no longer had to travel off-island for a colonoscopy.

Cianci hopes the veterans on Martha’s Vineyard reached their goal of 80K (40K of 80K already raised). Moreover, the plight of Martha Vineyard veterans who want and need in-person counseling. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins reviews plans to cut any type of counseling veterans seek, whether in person or through telehealth.

“Myself, and many of my veteran friends choose neither in-person or tele-counseling. More who choose prefer teleservice, which is the option for the Veterans on Martha’s Vineyard, ” said Cianci.

“I attended one session of group counseling when living on St . Croix at the VetCenter. The VA counselor missed her flight, and the telephone service was too poor for any ongoing conversations. After an hour wait, Vietnam Veterans and I left, all ended up at the local bar drinking rum and Coke. Clearly, not the end result we planned,” said Cianci. Cianci and other veterans never chose to attend any other group sessions/counseling hosted by the VA while living on St Croix.

Bottom line, when a veteran chooses to seek help with counseling and other veterans, ALL options should be on the table. Right then. Right there.