South Dakota cowboy Tony Jones, recently made a stop in Paris at the Elks Lodge, as he continues his 1,600 mile trip to Washington D.C. in hopes of bringing awareness to changes needed for U.S. veterans and first responders by the country’s politicians.
“There comes a point where you have to step up,” said Jones. “I looked in the mirror one day and said I need to stop talking and start doing. So I began talking with veterans and learning from them the changes that needed to happen to provide better services and a better quality of life for them.”
Jones began his journey in 2016 when he rode across the country on horseback and spoke with veterans in thousands of small towns before descending on the nation’s capital. Now, being a new election year, he said it was imperative that he again hit the trails to continue to be a voice for those who protected and continue to protect this country.
When it comes to what veterans are looking for, as far as to change, Jones said it’s the same answer everywhere he travels. And if he’s hearing the same problems, in each town and from each veteran he speaks with, he said it is even more important to help give them a voice in hopes of solving those problems.
“There are two things they need; the first is no more programs; the bureaucracy of the programs is getting too much and not helping them. Second is they need better health care whenever and wherever they need it,” said Jones.
Further explaining that the VA hospitals are exceptional, but many veterans can’t access them quickly, so to have a better program that will allow them to access health care quickly and without substantial cost would be an excellent thing for them.
This year, Jones has already gained more popularity than his last trip. “It’s been a great ride so far this year,” he said. “Our plans changed a little when we attempted to visit a vet in Wichita Falls, but he fell ill and had to go into the hospital. Even though we couldn’t visit him, it allowed us to visit more places we wouldn’t have been able to get to this year, including Bonham and Paris.”
The stories that Jones has come across during his travels so far, he says, continue to be of the same nature.
“I’m hearing a lot of frustration, a lot of heartache from veterans and their spouses and family members of the hardships that they are facing just to get some basic help,” he explained. “Bottom line, they shouldn’t have to go through a circus or unnecessary red tape just to get help.”
Jones added that it’s not only veterans he is talking to, but he has also been making an effort to chat with first responders to better understand what they are dealing with at the moment.
“They are tired, they are on edge, we need to do something to help them, and we need to be proactive in doing so. Talk only gets you so far, and the more I hear, the more I learn, the better I can help them be a voice in Washington,” said Jones.
A 2019 report from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs shows that more U.S. veterans committed suicide between 2008 and 2017 than those that died in the Vietnam War.
“They need to have that support, that’s what’s keeping them alive. And that’s why we’re losing so many because a lot of them don’t have that support. They come back; they wander off. We haven’t been where they’ve been, we haven’t seen what they’ve seen, we don’t know what they know,” said Jones.
Jones and his two traveling partners Deanna Lehrkamp and Rodney Wallace, headed towards Clarksville on Hwy 82 Friday morning after visiting some local hot spots like the Eiffel tower and veterans memorial.
With a borrowed truck and trailer, and three ex-racehorses bound for the slaughterhouse, Jones and his team are making their way to D.C. on a wing and a prayer.
“Our Cowboys Ride for Veterans page and donations are given are what we are using to fund this trip,” said Jones.
But no matter what obstacles may lay ahead of him and his team, they are determined to get to Washington D.C. and let their voices be heard for the thousands that can’t.
“There’s no sense bringing awareness to something if you don’t go out and find solutions for it,” he said.
Any veteran, first responder or supporter can contact Jones through his Facebook page.
