Soldiers answer call; government falls short

When Fasi Filiaga was called to serve in the Vietnam War, he wasn't given an option on the timing. The country needs you now, he was told.

He was wounded and received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star as well as other citations for his actions while overseas.

Filiaga is among more than 100,000 Utah veterans who at some point answered a "drop everything and serve" call from the U.S. military. Like too many of them, he is now disabled.

Most World War II veterans are gone now. But there are many left who served in Vietnam and Korea and the Middle East, as well as other venues.

They're finding that the government's not nearly as good at returning calls from soldiers.

Filiaga is one of a very active and determined group of veterans who have been trying to take the concept of a veterans nursing home in Weber County from the hand-shaking, great-idea stage to a reality that will serve frail former soldiers from northern Utah. Salt Lake County has one, although it's small compared to the need. The waiting list is reportedly a couple of years long.

Sen. Orrin Hatch helped Utah veterans acquire land on 12th Street in Ogden, near the Weber County Fairgrounds for the nursing home. And the money's even been pledged, sort of. In 2005, Utah lawmakers came up with a bond plan that would pay its share, estimated then at about $4.5 million. The rest is the responsibility of the federal government, which has put the nursing home on a list, behind about 80 others that also are desperately needed.

Utah vets also hope to see veterans nursing homes in Utah County and southern Utah at some point.

The veterans were hopeful during the just-finished legislative session, noteworthy for the fact that lawmakers had a huge budget surplus available. They asked lawmakers to take advantage of a rare time of plenty and pay for the construction, before both construction costs and the number of frail vets who need the facility climb any higher. The federal government could pay the state back when the money became available.

Not a good plan, countered Utah lawmakers, some of whom explained they are not sure the federal government can be trusted to come through with the money later, especially if the home is already built. Besides, it's a federal issue, not a state one, they decided.

Veterans — and their friends and relatives — were deeply disappointed as the 2007 legislative session ended.

The facility, they believe, will benefit more than just veterans. A report to the Wasatch Front North Veterans Council estimated that the planned nursing home will bring in $3.5 million in salaries each year and provide full-time jobs for about 125 people.