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While waiting on hold, it's best to be able to walk around and do other things, Beckwell, 58, has learned.

"I have to call the same numbers as everybody else," said Beckwell, a member of American Legion Post 66. "Problem is, I'm dealing with a bureaucracy that doesn't have lots of people."

The difficulties encountered by veterans sparked the Prince George's County government to get involved, but the effort has stalled. County Council members passed legislation in 2006 calling for a new task force of veterans' groups to unite and recommend ways in which the county could better serve the population. Two-and-a-half years later, no one has been appointed to the group, though officials say they may make progress this fall.

"It's just kind of been a back burner thing," said John Erzen, spokesman for County Executive Jack B. Johnson, whose office is responsible for submitting nominees for the council to consider.

According to the most recent survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, Prince George's had 72,000 veterans in 2006, more than any other jurisdiction in the state.

Erzen said the administration hopes to send a list of names for the council to approve by year's end, and that appointments to other commissions took first priority.

It's a familiar response, said Fred Nordhorn, a retired Army sergeant who lives in Langley Park. Nordhorn said he submitted his application for the group more than a year ago.

"For the last year, I haven't heard anything outside of, ‘We're still working on it.'" he said. "It's like they don't give a care about the vets."

Under the bill sponsored by former County Councilman Douglas J.J. Peters and current Councilman Tony Knotts (D-Dist. 8) of Temple Hills, the 13-member commission is charged to "identify, analyze and evaluate all programs and services," and advise the government on ways to improve.

Knotts did not return a call for comment. Peters said he lost track of the effort after he was elected to the state Senate later in 2006, but said the same concerns remain.

"It's imperative that the county make the effort," Peters said.

A county Veterans Commission could take the lead by coordinating the scattered veterans' groups in the county and pushing for better services, like providing buses to the local VA hospital in Silver Spring or setting up group homes for disabled and homeless veterans in the county, Beckwell and Nordhorn said.

"This would make sure they're not sweeping them under the rug," Beckwell said.

Beckwell said he suspects that part of the reason for the delay is that it would illustrate the county's shortcomings on the issue.

"This is something we can do at no cost," he said. "But there's a feeling that if you get people who are civilians, who aren't elected or appointed, they might show the inadequacies in the system."

Vets are hoping the county may act on the commission appointments before Veterans Day, on Nov. 11.

"How hard is it to get 15 people together and say, ‘Come on up?'" Beckwell asked.