Veteran groups and politicians unite at Gonzaga to address service gaps

SPOKANE, Wash. — Veteran groups and politicians gathered at Gonzaga University to transform conversations into action, addressing critical gaps in care, housing and benefits that affect veterans and their families.

The event, hosted by Wounded Warrior Project, a national program dedicated to supporting veterans, brought together organizations including the Veterans Affairs office, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled Veterans. The collaborative effort featured 27 different resource tables staffed by representatives ready to discuss solutions.

Lani Kelp, representing Wounded Warrior Project, emphasized the solution-focused nature of the gathering.

“We’re going to talk about the holes and gaps in services, not to point fingers or you know assign blame, that’s not what it’s about,” said Lani Kelp. “We are a solution focused meeting so yes we identify problems, but we want to come up with solutions.”

Kelp expanded on that collaborative approach, calling on all organizations to pool their resources.

“Why don’t we come together and start offering help?” Kelp said. “W-W-P, D-A-V, American Legion, B-F-W…all of us and everyone else here with all their resources, everyone coming together can fill those holes and gaps in services while we wait for the legislation to be passed.”

Kelp’s message reflected the collaborative spirit of the gathering. Rather than waiting for government action alone, the organizations represented at the event committed to pooling resources and expertise to address immediate veteran needs.

Among the revisions being pushed forward are improved retirement benefits and increased access to childcare for military families. These changes reflect feedback from veterans about their most pressing needs as they transition to civilian life or manage ongoing service-related challenges.

Command Chief Bob Wyman of Fairchild Air Force Base emphasized that taking care of military personnel benefits the nation as a whole.

“The nation as a whole benefits in that…the nation knowing they can count on the military to be scored away where we are ready at all times no matter what the nation needs,” Wyman said.

Wounded Warrior Project plans to hold a second meeting in May 2027.