New City Council committee to address veterans needs

Lawton’s City Council now has a special committee dedicated to veteran issues.

Council members approved a new ordinance this week that specifies the membership and tasks of the Veterans Affairs Committee, a group dedicated to enhancing and coordinating efforts that benefit veterans in the Lawton-Fort Sill community. That coordination is important, said Erica Traxler, commander for the Oklahoma Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of Lawton’s VFW Post 5263.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a count taken between 2018 and 2022 set the number of veterans in Comanche County at 14,388, and state and military officials say Comanche County has the highest per capita population of veterans in Oklahoma.

Traxler and City Manager John Ratliff, an Army veteran, said that population has unique needs, which is why Ratliff proposed the committee as a good resource. Traxler said she envisions a body that is a bridge between the VA Council (an umbrella entity for 18 organizations) and a local veteran community that isn’t always aware of events and activities.

“There is a huge gap in how we’re communicating with our community,” she said.

The new committee will be comprised of nine members, with the mayor and each council member selecting one representative. Members will serve indefinite terms after being confirmed by the full council, and will meet on a regular basis to “enhance coordination, collaboration and responsiveness to specific needs of the local veteran population.”

The new ordinance sets specific duties:

• Coordinate and conduct needs assessments.

• Facilitate collaboration between existing local veterans’ organizations and agencies.

• Ensure efficient and effective delivery of services.

• Advocate for veteran rights and wellbeing at the local and state levels.

• Research and propose policies to address gaps in services.

• Organize events and initiatives to raise awareness of issues.

• Foster community support and celebrate the contributions of local veterans.