Local Veteran Relocated After VA Contract Cancellation; State, Federal Lawmakers Ask Questions

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Local veteran Larry Stone bid the staff at the Knox County Nursing Home farewell during a tear-filled sendoff Thursday morning, April 10, before a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs transport relocated the 78-year-old.

After being hospitalized, Stone and his family waited more than five months for him to return to his home community’s nursing home in March through the VA’s Community Nursing Home Program. The KCNH was contracted to admit local veterans like Stone until the contract was unexpectedly canceled less than two weeks after he was brought home.

For this local veteran, the move marks the end of daily visits with his wife, Annie; their 23-year-old granddaughter, Emily Malone—who is a nursing staffer at KCNH; family; friends; and neighbors, some of whom were also residents of the nursing home.

Stone and Annie’s story of being pulled apart by a callous government decision made headlines in the rural community this week through the local weekly newspaper, garnering attention throughout the region and state.

Locally, citizens began a heartfelt campaign on the couple’s behalf via social media and word of mouth.

“This is unacceptable. My God. I really thought we were at a point where we were doing better by our veterans. I really did. I’ve made calls. I will continue to. There has to be something that can be done to stop this nonsense. I thought in a lot of ways we were doing better than years before—especially with our Vietnam-era veterans. This is on the front page of our newspaper, and people are not happy,” said Doug Kerr, Knox County Republican Committee chairman, to The Edina Sentinel.

“Reading the front page of the paper today?! Are you as concerned about the loss of our local long-term care VA contract as we are? Although it may be a minimal number of beds today, we have many veterans in our county who may someday need this service. Rural Missourians deserve the opportunities as much or more than our urban counterparts. Our people deserve to be at home,” said Lori Moots-Clair, Knox County Health Department administrator, in a Facebook post urging citizens to contact local legislators.

On Wednesday evening, representatives of the local American Legion and VFW posts hung flags in front of the Knox County Courthouse as a quiet acknowledgment and salute to Stone, who passed by them on his way out of the county Thursday morning.

Since news of the VA contract cancellation spread, local citizens have reached out to their elected officials, and state and federal lawmakers have started asking questions.

State Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin and State Rep. Greg Sharpe, along with U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, began advocating on behalf of Stone and the KCNH this week. Reports have also indicated that U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt were made aware of the VA contract cancellation and Stone’s relocation.

As of Thursday afternoon, the following comments were received by The Edina Sentinel:

“I reached out to the VA this week asking for answers about the situation and why this has happened,” said U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., Dist. 6, who is a veteran himself.

“I am deeply disappointed by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ decision to terminate its contract with the Knox County Nursing Home. This move represents a profound disservice to the veterans who have selflessly served our country and defended our freedoms. For many of these men and women, the ability to remain close to family during this critical stage of life is not just a preference—it’s a necessity. Uprooting them from a facility where they feel at home and are cared for with dignity is both unfair and unnecessary. I am actively exploring every available avenue to have this decision reversed. Our veterans deserve far better than this, and I will continue to fight on their behalf to ensure they receive the respect and support they have earned,” said State Rep. Greg Sharpe, R-Dist. 4.