It's Memorial Day, when we remember and honor our veterans who didn't make it home.
It's just as important to remember those who did and honor them by ensuring they have a smooth transition back to civilian life.
Veterans are like motherhood and apple pie in the United States - nobody's going to say a word against them. Ever. Politicans like to have uniformed vets and people who proudly wear their American Legion caps standing in the crowd at every campaign event.
Nobody's ever run a campaign saying we need to do less for our veterans.
But unfortunately, caring for wounded veterans is expensive, and it's easy to forget that a family and community surrounds each returning veteran. That represents a set of challenges that can't be handled with platitudes and patriotic speeches. It requires real committment on the part of the government and citizens.
a national non-partisan partnership of organizations committed to working with and on behalf of all military, veterans, families, survivors and providers to strengthen the existing system of care and support for all those affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Finally, if you're ever in Washington DC at night, forgo the nightlife in Georgetown and head over to the Korean War Memorial. It's on the Mall, close to the Lincoln Memorial. I took this photo there. The statues simulate a night patrol in Korea. It's ghostly, evocative, and one of the most emotionally affecting monuments I've ever visited.
(Josh Segall should have some fun with Mike's latest initiative! - promoted by countrycat)
The Anniston Star published an article about Mike Rogers and his new advisory board (Dan Whisenhunt, 22 May 09, www.annistonstar.com).
The article elaborates on the formation of a 31 member panel that will provide comments and recommendations to Mike Rogers and that will "guide him as he votes on veteran's issues". Well, he could use some guidance, after all, vetvoice has listed him as a someone "you can add to your list of elected officials that hate veterans."
If this at all sounds encouraging, then by all means read the article in its entirety. From it you will learn that what veterans really need is tax credits for their employers.
Mike Rogers took a beating today in the Anniston Star by a former supporter who believes Rogers completely ignores Veterans issues.
I have served for four years on the state Board of Veterans Affairs. I also am the chairman of the state Veterans Nursing Home Committee. I have not heard a single word from Rogers about the needs of Alabama veterans since he went into office. I have made numerous attempts to get help for veterans to no avail.
I am still awaiting an answer from his Washington office on a veteran's question raised the first week of June 2008.
As chairman of the state Veterans Nursing Home Committee, I could have given Rogers advice on the many ways his office could help the veterans who are residents of one of the nursing homes in the 3rd District. Not once has he contacted me about helping. He does make his "two-year visit" each election cycle. He was at the Bill Nichols Home recently.
In the alternative he likens Segall to past 3rd Congressional District representatives, Democrat and Republicans alike who cared about veterans.
While I don't know what happened to Rogers, I am going to vote for Josh Segall and hope that he has learned from Rogers' mistakes. Veterans deserve to have a voice in decisions that affect them. Bill Nichols cared, Glen Browder cared, and so did Bob Riley. If there is no one listening, then it is time for Rogers to take a "timeout" and let's see how the energetic Segall does. Oh, yeah, I will be voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin on Nov. 4, also
With the history of military in this area, making veterans groups mad could and should cause an outrage atthe ballot booth. Rogers simply shows up at election time for free press and photo ops.
It is becoming fairly obvious that the only obstacle in Segall winning will be funding. Please donate to Josh and help make a difference. Let's not make the mistake we did six years ago and fail to fund this race.
(This is an issue that is widely misunderstood. It's a must-read. - promoted by normboyd40)
We've heard it ad nauseum. The troops are happy to be in Iraq and don't support the Democratic plan for withdrawal. We have also heard how most of our military and most of our veterans are "gasp" Republicans!! Well, it seems that our troops in Iraq have given more than 6 times as much money to the Obama campaign than to Grandpa McCains!!
Deployed Troops Give to Obama Over McCain by 6 - 1 Margin
Open Secrets is reporting that troops overseas are giving to Barack Obama over John McCain at a rate of 6 - 1:
According to an analysis of campaign contributions by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Democrat Barack Obama has received nearly six times as much money from troops deployed overseas at the time of their contributions than has Republican John McCain, and the fiercely anti-war Ron Paul, though he suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination months ago, has received more than four times McCain's haul.
My name is Richard Smith and I am the Chair of Alabama Veterans for Obama. I served in the United States Army on Active Duty from 2003 up until last month. My assignments include the 6th Cavalry, 2nd Infantry Division, and 82nd Airborne. I deployed to Afghanistan from February of 2007 until April of this year.
I wanted to introduce myself here and invite any Vets, Active Duty, Reservists, Military family members, or anyone who supports the troops and would like to help Alabama Veterans for Obama to send me your contact and service information at richard.allen.smith (at) gmail (dot) com.
This isn't so I can send you a boring newsletter or fill your mailbox up with other garbage. I can assure you, if you contact me you WILL be involved with the campaign!
I'm hoping that the vote on the GI Bill gets more attention. Surely it will if Bush issues a veto as all political wisdom indicates. Tuscaloosa News did a good job this afternoon of summarizing this vote and how it could play into this U.S. Senate race. Everytime I see something like this I get a little more excited that people are taking note and especially the media in this state who usually only wants to talk about Sessions and the Immigration bill.
The Tuscaloosa article noted,
"In doing so, Sessions, who is up for reelection this year just may have handed his likely opponent, state Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, a campaign issue on a silver platter.
Bush and his die hard congressional supporters contend that passage of the bill would hurt retention of troops by giving them incentives to leave the military earlier than otherwise, since they currently don't qualify for educational benefits until longer stints in the military."
There were more positive comments from this article
Figures, who has two marginal opponents in the June 3 primary, has yet to raise much money and has received little out of state attention, although some national organizations are beginning to take a long look at her chances in what had seemed a "safe" GOP seat this year. Look for much more attention to be paid, and with it much more money to be raised, after she wins the primary and becomes a viable, if still long-shot nominee.
My question is why Sessions, who also faces only token opposition in next Tuesday's GOP primary, cast such an easily exploited vote, since it only strengthens the narrative that he is a "Bushie" to the core. Even in Alabama Bush's approval ratings have fallen below 50 percent, although Sessions has an approval rating of around 60 percent.
Figures, who visited The Tuscaloosa News editorial last week seeking our endorsement, has some smart people around her and they certainly took note of Sessions' vote last week, even if it did not get much attention in the state media
.
Hopefully the blogs and netroots across the nation will pick up on this story as the campaign moves along. I think this vote really shows where these Senators are on veterans benefits as a whole.
(Support Our Troops, with more than a damned magnet! - promoted by mooncat)
What happens when you deploy troops who have seen high intensity combat time and time again with inadequate dwell time between tours? You see skyrocketing mental health issues.
After months of investigative work, talking to our troops and veterans, we released a report on the situation at Fort Drum in Watertown, New York. Since 9/11, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team has been deployed for more than forty months, more than any other brigade in the Army, and we are seeing what is nothing short of a cry for help from the men and women on the base; a cry we will answer here in Alabama, in the shadow of Fort Rucker.
A cry for help that is also coming from the leadership on the base. In a New York Times article today about our report, Major General Michael Oates, commander of the 10th Mountain Division, says: "We recognize that there is stress on our force and their families from this conflict, but until recently, we have not fully appreciated the extent of some of the mental stresses and injuries or how to best identify them." Please read the rest of the article here.
What is happening at Fort Drum -- with Soldiers still on active duty suffering from PTSD, with Soldiers and their families in need of counseling, with Soldiers literally dying while still on duty -- is going to happen all around America unless we begin to address some of the basic issues of this war. As our report explains, DoD itself has stated that the likelihood of troops having mental health problems increases by 60% with every tour of duty. So, in short, through ourdeployment policies, we are consciously compounding the wounds of war.
This is unacceptable to us. Veterans for America's Wounded Warrior Outreach Program will continue to address these problems from the bottom up.
We are going to go to as many bases as we can afford to go to, see what is happening on those bases and see how we can help. If you can help us, we would greatly appreciate it.
We are going to continue our Wounded Warrior Registry Outreach -- if you or someone you know needs help getting help with PTSD or TBI, please click here.
And above all, we are going to continue to serve and help those that serve and have served us with the same level of dedication and courage they have shown. Click here to learn more about what we are doing.
Around the United States, including here in Alabama, we see that the military is overwhelmed as it tries to assist servicemembers.
Here at Veterans For America, where I am proud to be Director of Policy, we are determined to do something to help the men and women who have served us. Part of our efforts include our easy-to-use registry that will help us get you the help you need (or help for someone you know).
If you or someone you know needs help, we will work to make sure that you get it -- it's as simple as that. We will answer every single request we get. Sometimes it can be just knowing how to fight through the bureaucracy and get the mental health appointment you need or it might be how to get your family counseling.
Please let us help you or someone you know get the help you need and deserve.
Veterans For America was founded over thirty years ago by Bobby Muller, who was paralyzed by a bullet in Vietnam while leading a Marine patrol. Originally named the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, VFA now works all across the country, focusing on the high rates of mental health problems and mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) as a result of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This Wounded Warrior Registry will help us determine how many military men and women need help and what is the best way to get them that help.
All too often, here in Alabama, and all across the country, people love to talk the talk about doing something for our troops and our veterans.
Well, Bobby Muller, from Veterans For America is doing more than just talking the talk. And if you know anything about Bobby, who was paralyzed in Vietnam and has been helping veterans for more than three decades, you know Bobby's all about talking the talk and walking the walk.
The below is not an original Diary. It is a direct reprint of a statement released today by Benjamin Lodmell, candidate for Alabama's First District Congressional seat. Please read it. Please think about it. And please consider supporting this good man.As we all know, it's an uphill climb for any Democrat running against an incumbent in Alabama.
As I have said previously, yard signs are good, but dollar signs win elections, so please show some support.
(Following reprinted with Mr. Lodmell's permission)
Thousands of children, veterans and seniors face another winter without health care - putting off doctors visits, prescriptions - and crowding emergency rooms when they have nowhere else to turn.
Unfortunately, Congressman Robert Aderholt isn’t doing anything to help.
Aderholt has stood with President Bush and voted against the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and against a bill to fund veteran’s health care and community hospitals - all while voting to fund the war in Iraq.
Aderholt and Bush would rather spend half a trillion in Iraq than a fraction of that here to help our kids, veterans and seniors get the health care they need.
Congress is preparing to vote to override Bush’s vetoes of these health care measures - giving Congressman Aderholt one more chance to decide - does she/he stand with us or Bush.
Call Congressman Aderholt at (202) 225-4876 and tell him: override Bush's health care vetoes.
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