Republican vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance spoke this morning at VFW Post 92 in Lower Burrell.
Addressing long VA healthcare backlogs, Vance said former President Donald Trump addressed the issue through veteran’s choice.
“Especially for our veterans living in rural areas,” said Vance. “I happen to think that those who put on a uniform and serve our country, we got to be always faithful to them and if they need to see a doctor, we got to give them veteran’s choice to give them that ability to see a doctor.”
Vance told the invitation-only crowd there are also 300,000 homeless veterans who should get priority over undocumented immigrants.
Vance's is the first visit in the next few days from candidates in the race for the White House.
Vice President Harris and Governor Walz will start a bus tour in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Vance was in Lower Burrell today, how aware was the local community for his arrival?
Vance's remarks began at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning inside the VFW Post 92 off of Wildlife Lodge Road. However, right across the street at Rose's Variety store...a local cashier, Lisa Cecilia, had no idea about Vance's arrival:
“I actually didn’t hear a whole lot about him coming here, because I didn’t know he was coming to Lower Burrell, no one told me that, “said Cecilia, who added she is a supporter of the Trump/Vance ticket.
Community Super Market Store Manager Chad Patterson said it was still “business as usual” with Vance in town.
“It’s been pretty normal, we’ve heard a little bit of talk through the store,” said Patterson.
Pennsylvania is a battleground state and will likely be visited several more times by the presidential candidates and their running mates leading up to the November election.
Before leaving the area, Vance stopped at popular bakery Oakmont Bakery.
Owner Marc Serrao told Marty Griffin on KDKA Radio that Vance stopped by after his speech, with the Secret Service in tow.
Serrao says they blocked off the bridge with 10 police cars and a helicopter hovering over the bakery.
“They came in, he bought some stuff . . . he asked what’s popular at the bakery. He paid with Apple Pay and they took at bunch of pictures with people that were in the bakery and they left,” said Serrao.
Serrao says Vance bought a box of donuts before leaving, but no word on which donuts he chose.