Member-only story
They Finally Heard Us: West LA Veterans Affairs Transformed for Warriors Like Us
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”
— G.K. Chesterton
I never thought I'd see the day.
But here we are. A presidential pen finally moved in our favor, and I’ve got to say it out loud: this is personal. As a U.S. veteran, this moment means something deeper than just another executive order. It’s not about politics. It's not about sides. It’s about promises kept. About honoring sacrifice. About finally putting action behind the words: thank you for your service.
Trump signed an executive order to transform the West LA VA campus into something bold—the National Center for Warrior Independence. Yeah, let that sink in. Warrior. Independence. Not patient. Not case. Not liability. Warrior.
For decades, that land—nearly 400 acres—was just sitting there, misused, mismanaged, even leased out to people who had nothing to do with veterans. Meanwhile, thousands of us were out on the streets. Forgotten. Struggling. Self-medicating. Fading. That place was supposed to be a…