DONNA — Hundreds of Rio Grande Valley veterans gathered at a town hall meeting at Donna High School on Monday to further their push for a local hospital.

The Valley’s congressmen — U.S. Reps. Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes; Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi and Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo — along with U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Veteran Affairs, met with veterans to update them on legislation calling for a hospital in South Texas.

The legislators also heard from attendees about their experiences receiving health care at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in and outside the Valley.

Veterans and their families filled every seat of the auditorium and cheered as the congressmen told them how they will continue to work together to bring a VA hospital to the area.

The crowd gave Ortiz and Filner standing ovations as they approached the podium to speak.

A few people shouted “let the people speak” as the congressmen addressed the group.

Ortiz, who has been introducing bills calling for a veterans’ hospital in the region since he joined congress in 1982, said he and the rest of the South Texas delegation will continue to push for a hospital.

“It is shameful that you have to drive to San Antonio to receive what you fought for, what you earned, what is yours,” Ortiz said.

The latest bill, HR 538, is being considered in the House’s veterans’ affairs committee.

Filner thanked the veterans for their service and said the government has not done a good enough job of taking care of its veterans.

“You shouldn’t have to fight the VA to receive the care you need,” he said.

The California congressman said he would support the bill sponsored by Ortiz and the other South Texas congressmen.

“It’s going to my committee and it’s going to leave my committee passed,” Filner said.

After the meeting, some veterans said they remain hopeful a hospital will be built in the Valley, but remain skeptical about receiving help from the government.

“Before I came here I was from Missouri. Show me — talk is cheap,” said Mission resident Larry Schrader.

San Benito resident Jose Garcia said he felt the congressmen wanted to show the veterans they were doing their job, but “it doesn’t help us any.”

Garcia said he has seen improvement in how veterans are treated at the VA, but he knows many do not want to sign up for the government healthcare system because of stories they have heard about poor treatment others have received.

“Veterans will always, always need help in everything,” Garcia said. “Just give it to them.”

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Jennifer L. Berghom covers health, environment and science issues and general assignments at The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462. For this and more local stories, visit www.themonitor.com.