Hollister
– Malcolm Lee Pearmean has a long and likely tiring road
ahead.
Hollister – Malcolm Lee Pearmean has a long and likely tiring road ahead.
The 59-year-old Vietnam veteran stopped in Hollister on Saturday to take a short break from his walk across the United States. Pearmean plans to arrive in Washington D.C. in late October or November, and when he gets there, he wants to speak to President Bush about the plight of disabled, homeless veterans.
“Hey, wake up,” Pearmean said. “These are Americans. These are people who fought for this country.”
Pearmean said he served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1972, but his current troubles began in a motorcycle accident more than 12 years ago. He spent many of the ensuing years in a wheelchair, unable to find work. Classified as 40 percent disabled by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, Pearmean had received payments of $500 a month – not enough to live on in Portland.
“I just couldn’t pay rent and buy food,” he said. “I couldn’t cover the bases.”
Pearmean eventually lost his apartment and ended up on the streets. He recalled one period when, still using a wheelchair, he lived under a bridge. But as he struggled to make ends meet, Pearmean decided he would use his story to draw attention to the hundreds of thousands of other homeless veterans.
Once Pearmean was able to walk again – albeit with a brace over his right knee – he decided to put his plan into action. He took a bus from Portland to Santa Cruz. On July 4, he set out on his long walk to Washington. Although he slept under the roof of a Hollister church on Saturday and Sunday night, Pearmean has spent most of his time camping out.
But he doesn’t mind the hardship.
“There are blisters on both feet, but I’m smiling ear to ear because I’m on my feet,” Pearmean said.
When asked about his route, Pearmean said his directions are a little vague because of pedestrian restrictions along major highways. He eventually plans to catch Interstate 50 near Reno and take it all the way east to the capital.
Pearmean also hopes to capture media attention during his hike and, perhaps, even a petition he can deliver to the president.
“I’d be happy to carry the poundage,” he said.
Cheryl Beversdorf, president of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, said there are 200,000 homeless veterans on a given night and 400,000 who spend some time homeless during an average year.
Federal aid for homeless veterans is increasing, but there are still many who don’t receive the help they need, Beversdorf said. She estimated the VA serves around 25 percent of homeless veterans, and other community nonprofits serve another 38 percent.
“You just need to do the math and see where the gaps are,” she said.
For his part, Pearmean said he’d be happy to accept help or company along the road. But without a cellular phone or a firm itinerary, supporters will just have to track him down.
“I guess they’ll have to come find me on the highway,” he said.
