VA & HUD Issue First-Ever Report on Homeless Veterans

Assessment Key to Preventing and Ending Homelessness

WASHINGTON – February 11, 2011 - For the first time, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development today published the most authoritative analysis of the extent and nature of homelessness among Veterans. According to HUD and VA’s assessment, nearly 76,000 Veterans were homeless on a given night in 2009 while roughly 136,000 Veterans spent at least one night in a shelter during that year.

This unprecedented assessment is based on an annual report HUD provides to Congress and explores in greater depth the demographics of Veterans who are homeless, how the number of Veterans compare to others who are homeless, and how Veterans access and use the nation’s homeless response system. HUD’s report, Veteran Homelessness: A Supplement to the 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, examines the data in the department’s annual report to Congress in-depth.

“With our federal, state and community partners working together, more Veterans are moving into safe housing,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “But we’re not done yet. Providing assistance in mental health, substance abuse treatment, education and employment goes hand-in-hand with preventive steps and permanent supportive housing. We continue to work towards our goal of finding every Veteran safe housing and access to needed services.”

Last June, President Obama announced the nation’s first comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness, including a focus on homeless Veterans. The report, Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, puts the country on a path to end Veterans and chronic homelessness by 2015; and to ending homelessness among children, family, and youth by 2020. Read more about the Administration’s strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness in America.

Key Findings of

Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness {continued}

First-Ever Report on Homeless Veterans -

Thanks on Thanksgiving

Message of 'teabaggers' {some being veterans} is heard, those meager taxes you don't want to pay, nor want your corporate sponsors to fork over, hit the issues like Veterans Care in shortfalls of treasuries! How are those magnetic ribbons, faded can't read now, gone never replaced, and them purple heart bandages?

Support?, in words and cheap symbols only!!



Governor Vetoes Soldiers' Home Funding

For the past few weeks veterans and health care workers at the Soldiers' Home have rallied in Western Mass. and Boston, fighting for Gov. Deval Patrick to restore funding. All were disappointed to learn the governor would not be sending funds their way.

"Closing this place would just be a sin on someone's soul," veteran Paul Camrye said...>>>>>

A chest full of medals and a head full of nightmares

Dr. Kernan Manion, a psychiatrist who was fired after he complained about conditions for his PTSD patients at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. (AP Photo/Jim R. Bounds)

Veterans with PTSD have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The Veterans Administration has made remarkable progress in identifying and treating veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the Department of Defense is finally doing something to find out how and why active duty servicemen and women get PTSD....>>>>>

Be better if we would not send our soldiers into Wars and Occupations of Choice, but after four plus decades and two more occupations the country has a growing understanding of the results, till the masses push those realities out once again!

This Is Your Community Too!!

Is Anybody Listening?

Many have already heard about the kids from Pomona California Village Academy High School, many have probably caught their little eight minute video that has launched them into the National Spotlight and Political Debate on what this Country is now going through. But this isn't new it's just affecting many more kids and families now, with more added each day. Kids can't learn and achieve any dreams they might have if their families are struggling and their living those struggles daily.

Last night on the PBS News Hour they showed a report on these kids and their videoed thoughts and feelings, that report is directly below.

Correspondent John Larson
Produced by: Karen Foshay; Edited by: Alberto Arce, Michael Bloecher, "Lil" Joe Whiting
Published On: March 19, 2009 4:41 PM

KCET SoCal Connected

It was a class project born out of a discussion of the American Dream. Five months later, it made it into a speech given by President Obama. “it” is an eight minute video titled, “Is Anybody Listening.” It’s the first person accounts of students struggling with foreclosures, hunger and the threat of becoming homeless.



The video feels like a twenty-first century version of a Dorothea Lange portrait. One student told us his American dream is modest - to have a refrigerator full of food. The goal of making the video was to get the attention of the nation’s leaders, specifically the President. It took a few months, but just last week, the video made it to the White House and President Obama told the students in a speech he is listening and promised to fight for their right to the American Dream. Although there is no assurance the President’s promise will change the lives of these Pomona kids, they are hopeful and for now are declaring “mission accomplished.”

If you are interested in helping the teenagers in the video, please contact Rick Motz at Village Academy High School, (909) 397-4900×2600.

KCET SoCal Connected Homepage

KCET SoCal Local

We live in an economic ideology called capitalism. We are taught that if we work hard, and in any job, develop the skills needed we can prosper and advance. Capitalism is supposed to be a system of sharing the profits of the work that goes into the making of or the services rendered. A bottom up economy, hard work, quality products and services, the bottom line grows and all should share in the benefits of that growth, from the top down.

These kids are no different than kids before them or that will come. All are endowed with gifts, each unique. Some will want and need the further education afforded in our universities and colleges, others will want to put there gifts to the test in many area's of employment, hobbies, and lives. All will continue to learn the lessons of life by living and growing. Most will find they have even more gifts as they mature. Most will want, and should get, the respect for what they do in their lives and in what they do in their working lives.

In just 8 minutes, the students from Village Academy High in Pomona articulated the struggles of millions of Americans. They did it by making a video called, "Is Anybody Listening?" and you'll be surprised to find out who is.

Is Anybody Listening - Where It All Began

Some how we've allowed that system to corrupt itself, businesses buying out smaller businesses to make huge corporations thus taking competition away by shutting down some as they absorbed others discarding the workers as they expanded, the money changers and business executives started reaping huge wages, benefits and business perks worried more about the money side and the investor than in quality product and customer service. This has left those producing he work with falling starter wages and stagnation in growth wages no matter how much is givin to their jobs as prices of commodities have risen.

The kids from Village Academy High in Pomona get the chance to meet President Obama.

Obama Visit

We once had a growing economy, workers had to fight for some of their share, and continue fighting, but it did grow, their was a sharing in the success on all levels.

How do I know, I grew up in it and than joined it. Workers would get raises on their quality of work, where most worked became their second families, their would be pretty much regular raises, I've known small investors, who did so on long term investing in companies, that reaped more wealth from those investment, than what they're meager wages produced, able to leave huge sums to their children. I watched as small businesses grew into larger and larger corporation, not through buyouts but quality work and service.

As our new President says, and many understand, a strong economy is bottom up not top down, if there really is that much money at the top for the money changers and business executives than that's where it's frozen, as the workers have become commodities to be brought in or discarded according to number figures on paper, everything is tossed aside for a bottom line percentage.

Bill Moyers Journal - Economy

March 20, 2009

Bill Moyers sits down with socialist historian Mike Davis for his critique of the government's response to the economic crisis and how he thinks it compares to Roosevelt's New Deal. Mike Davis is a writer and historian, who currently teaches creative writing at University of California, Riverside.

Watch the discussion

More about Mike Davis.

"We need more protests. We need more noise in the street. At the end of the day, political parties tend to legislate what social movements and social voices have already achieved in the factories or the streets or in the civil rights demonstration."

American Dissenters Dissident voices from Tom Paine to Ralph Nader.

Bill Moyers talks with Marta Peláez, president and CEO of Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc., a domestic abuse shelter in San Antonio, TX, for perspective on the human face of the economic downturn and how it may be pushing more families over the edge.

Watch the discussion

More about Marta Peláez

"Last year, at this same time, I had 68-70 on my daily census, women and children. Today, I just called this morning, we had 184 women — 114 of those people are children."

How to Safeguard Your Community Against Domestic Violence

What's One Thing Needed.......

Workers must once again unite, we've seen enough obscene behavior from the money changers and those they help as well as our representatives.

One place leaders can and should come from is the ranks of our returning soldiers, already well disciplined, many with great leadership qualities, and having experienced the worse man can bring on his fellow man.

We will find business and rank and file workers, leaders all, within those ranks!

Yesterday was the 64th Anniversary

And what Anniversary would that be, you ask, Well:

Of President Franklin Roosevelt's signing of the GI Bill, which enabled millions of veterans to go to college, and is credited for sparking the post-war economic boom.

And fuel the growth of this Nation it did, I grew up in that time frame, not only of many getting the opportunity to further their education in our Universities and Colleges but the birth of Trade Schools teaching a wide veriaty of Professional Industrial Trades, many now no longer done in this country or are rapidly on the wane.

And as one progressed, either in the trades or in the corporate world, from the degrees of higher education, the rewards of long term employment and raises were common,as the economy expanded and new companies were developed by those who worked in them and went out on their own, some of the growth had to be fought for, but the education gave those fighting the tools they needed.

Most of the advancements in Industry, and other parts of the economy, came from the worker.

One thing hasn't changed, and that's the fight, of the worker, who seems to have lost that fire, but especially for those that serve the country and should already be getting back what a society owes for that service, after all we call it the Professional Military and those who serve but decide not to make it their careerer deserve more than just a chance to expand themselves in other professions, it should already be a given of what is owed.

Fighting for Those Who Fight Our Wars

There was no GI Bill for veterans of World War I. And when 17,000 jobless veterans descended on Washington, demanding help, Army troops moved in to disperse them. Several veterans were killed, and hundreds wounded.
Americans were stunned, and when World War II came, they were determined to take better care of those who had served their country in wartime.

ABC News Video Report

This country was once the envy of the World with it's expanding educational oppurtunities, it's quality workforce, it's quality products and developement of the new, it's ever growing journies into expanded technologies and developement of same, it's dedicated workforce making companies an expanded family...................................

Things haven't always been rosy, but we were a Nation pretty much Together, seems not to be the case anymore!

And the G.I. Bill was a big part of the engine that drove our developement and expansion into being the Envy of others!

They flooded college campuses, changing America in the process, producing better educated citizens, and playing a big part in post-war prosperity.

Veterans of our conflicts after WWII used their benefits but those benefits have never kept up with the growth in costs of higher education, especially as that higher education seems to have become more of a business model of waste and profit.

There's a New G.I. Bill a Comin!

For months, Pentagon officials argued that if benefits were too generous, troops would have little incentive to re-enlist. President Bush and Sen. John McCain agreed, and a new GI Bill became a major campaign issue.

Those opposed use the above false argument, many who are where they are because of their use of the G.I. Bill, which for those who have served recognize it for what it really is.

The Military, as a profession, has always been a comfortable fit for some, while others still looked outside it's boundries and looked at it as a way to give service to country than move on as a civilian after.

The comfortable factor is gravely strained when the Military is used for Wars and Occupations of Choice, of a few, and not as a deterant for Strong National Security.

Instead of creating goodwill, as a country, the use of strong arm tactics, especially by Military Actions, in these conflicts of choice give rise to more hatreds and enemies thus endangering the National Security for Decades.

Those using the Military for personal gains, Wealth, Power, Political, fight the attempts to really Support those that serve.

But they have lost their battle against those they've used, a battle that never should have been waged by a country who's citizens don't serve!

Both McCain and Bush say they support the new bill, which will provide $50 billion over the next 10 years for veterans like Bailey and for those still serving in uniform.

CBS News also covered this yesterday on 'Sunday Morning' with a great video report that they don't have up on their site, but the report is there.

PL 346 was the Congressional designation of a landmark bill signed into law 64 years ago today - legislation designed to smooth the transition to civilian life for millions of World War II servicemen. In the process it changed America for ALL of us. Congress is very close to approving expanded benefits for service men and women of today's Iraq War era. Our Cover Story is reported now by Thalia Assuras

Now lets Bring Them Home from these Occupations Of Choice and Take Care Of The Wounded, Physically and Especially Mentally As Well, that fight hasn't been won yet!

The Dilemma of Black Patriotism

route66 has a diary up about today, Flag Day here in these United States.

I was going to post up something I found recently that attempts to explain some recent occurances on the meaning of 'Patriotism', and a tie in with 'route66' diary is appropriate on this day.

After all I'm one of the millions, in this country, who have been called 'UnPatriotic' for having not walked in lockstep with the criminal cabal, and their followers, who have led this country into it's extreme failed policies of an Occupation built on Lies and Fixed Intelligence and done in All Our Names!

I'm not a Black American, I'm one of us many Lilly White Folks.

I happend upon this article Defining patriotism the other day, with a Video at the top.

The article leads off with this:

Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama’s patriotism came under suspicion when he decided not to wear the flag lapel pin.

Than a comment about what his wife said as well as the once Rev. of the church he attends had said, which we all know to well.

In the video we hear from Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Roger Wilkins, who says:

blacks have just as long a history of patriotism as other Americans, but “our patriotism is rooted in a country that abused us, our ancestors, in a terrible way.”
Wilkins wrote a book, Jefferson's Pillow: The Founding Fathers and the Dilemma of Black Patriotism, to answer the question of black patriotism: “How can you be patriotic when the historic moment that we revere the most, The Revolution, was run by a bunch of guys, many of whom owned slaves.”

Watch the video:

http://www.livevideo.com

Do I understand what Barack says about the lapel flag pin,Yes!

Do I understand his wifes statement, Yes!

Do I understand where Rev. Wright is coming from, Yes!

Do I understand Roger Wilkins, Yes!

I grew up when Segregation was still very rampent in this Country, also learning the history of same through the books and movies on how we tried to totally eleminate the Natives of this Land and almost succeeded as some of our Lily White ancesters placed those that survived under our control!

When I finished the Navy Bootcamp, '67 to '71 was my tour of duty to country, my first duty station was the Meridian Naval Air Station, Meridian Miss., which is now also called McCain Field.

When I arrived there the trial of the killings of the young civil rights workers was just gearing up, made more infamous in the movie 'Mississippi Burning' and was to take place in Meridian some 15 miles from the base.

I was still there when Martin Luther King was Assasinated.

Back than Meridian was still a Heavily Segregated town, as was still most of the south. Black Americans who were serving this country stationed there were denied the freedoms and human rights they were serving under the constitution and flag for. When going into town they had seperate, and labeled, drinking fountains, movie theaters, eating establishments............................................................., everything!

After leaving there, a years tour, I went to Panama for the next year and a half. Panama is a country of many Black Latin Americans, yet right from the get go the Racist Attitude from the States hit.

On arriving and checking in, though being a seaman gunnersmate, I was to work at the Waterfront for the first couple of months, taking over the Base Armory later as the Gunnersmate running it was preparing to leave. One of the first questions asked, by the Navy LT, I was to work under, when checking in with him was "If I minded working under Black Navy Chiefs?", you had to see the way he looked to get the point, I sat there and just looked at him for a few than simply asked "Why?", his response was that there were two Black Chiefs in charge of the Waterfront. My response back was a simple "Nope" and again "Why?", no answer came.

Leaving there, and heading into my last year, I was sent to CounterInsurgency training in Coronado Calif, than In-Country Vietnam. Let me just say here, there are a huge number of Black and Brown and other skin color Americans, who served in Vietnam, whose names now are Honored on "The Wall", and if you pay any attention an awful lot who are dying and being maimed in todays Occupations!

Who are those accusing others, especially today, of not being Patriotic, why the Lily White Crowd!

Who are the ones condemning others for not wearing a tiny lapel flag pin, why the Lily White Crowd!

Who are the ones condemning Mrs. Obama and not understanding her statement of the History we now are living, why the Lily White Crowd!

Who are mostly the ones slapping cheap magnetic ribbons, now disappearing, on their vehicles to show their patriotism? and support?, why the Lily White Crowd!

Who are the ones Condemning Others for not walking in lockstep to their definition of patriotism, why the Lily White Crowd!

I could go on but I Hope you get the Picture I'm trying to paint here, We're Still A Racists Nation, and not only as to color of ones skin, Racism covers Hate of Others under any Reason, being Intolerant towards those who Share not only this Country but this Planet!

Happy Flag Day Everyone!!

And for you Fathers, Happy Fathers Day tomorrow!

Why is Peace Not Patriotic?

That's the question asked by The Real News Network

Back on Thursday, May 15, 2008 I asked a question as well: PEACE Is A Political Statement?.

Both of these are asked as to the Why? a Veterans Organization was banned from marching in Memorial Day Parades. Mine covered two chapters of Veterans For Peace

Chapter 139 (North Olympic Peninsula) and Chapter 016 (Washington D.C.) have both been banned from parades! In both cases, being too political was the reason cited for the ban.

The Real News Network covers the Parade in Washington D.C., the Capital of this Country, The Country And Citizens We Veterans Served For!

The Washington, DC chapter of Veterans for Peace is barred from DC's Memorial Day Parade

Thousands of people gathered in downtown DC for the annual Memorial Day parade. American flags lined the street and viewers showed their support of US troops and their patriotism. Instead of a flag, Michael Marceau held a banner, which called for peace and stated that his veterans' organization had been "kicked out of the parade." The Real News Network spoke with Michael and parade attendees to understand where Americans believe peace belongs in this day of patriotism.

There is a transcript at the Real News Network link above { their video can be found there as well }, but here are a few statements from that transcript:

Transcript
National Memorial Day Parade
Washington, DC
May 26, 2008

TEXT ON SCREEN: The Washington chapter of Veterans For Peace tried to take part in this year's National Memorial Day parade. The coordinators of the parade refused their application.
PALEVSKY: There was a veterans’ organization called Veterans for Peace, which states that it is for bringing the troops home from Iraq, that was kept out of this parade.

JEROME, PARADE ATTENDEE: Well, I guess whoever organized the parade has some kind of a right to keep people out that they don't want in, but I also think that those people have a right to march, I think. I mean, a war is supposed to bring a country together, not divide it.

PALEVSKY: What was your intention of joining the parade?

MARCEAU: Well, we just wanted to give—we have two World War II veterans who are still active in chapter activities whenever they can be, plus the widow of the man, Delwyn Anderson, for whom our chapter was named. We had planned to put them in convertibles and just go down the street carrying our Veterans for Peace flag here and several American flags, and that was about the extent of it. All we wanted to do was be visible and be acknowledged as someone who has stepped up to serve their country when their country asked them to.

Now when did this Nation, who puts out Human Rights Violations Lists Yearly, calls for Peace amoung Nations, Condemns those that Wage Wars or Criminal Terrorism, Believes itself a Christian Nation of Peace, Excepts those who are Persecuted in their own Countries for Speaking Out about their own governments Unpeaceful Actions and Human Rights Violations..................................................,you could write a book on what we say we are and what we think we are, Start Believing That PEACE Is Not Only Political But Unpatriotic???

And why are We, the citizens of this country, excepting this Double Speak of the few who use their Political Ideologies to push their Fear and thirst for Wealth and Power!

Many of us who belong to Veterans For Peace served in a theater of War and Occupation, Vietnam, that was Sold to the Nation, and us, as to Stop The Expansion of a Political Ideology, Communism, that this Country Condemns as being one that wants to wage War to Control others and spread their Ideology, 58,000 of our Brothers and Sisters names are etched into the marble of a monument, in that Capital city, it's called "The Wall"!

There's a new monument, in that same National Capital city, finally after all these years, dedicated to those who fought and died in the Righteous War against another Ideology, Nazism, in Europe, and the Waring threat waged by the Japanesse, in the Pacific!

There's also another monument dedicated to those who died and served in the War of agression by the North Koreans and their supporters the Communist Chinesse!

There are Veterans of those Conflicts as well as our other adventures in War, and in 'Peace' time who are members of Veterans For Peace with chapters spread around the country!

Peace is Democracy, Peace is Patriotism, Peace is Freedom, Peace is Leadership, Peace is Religion, Peace is Tolerance, Peace is Righteous, Peace is Personal, Peace is that which we should be leaving to the generations coming, World Peace Was this Nations Main Goal, NO MORE!

'Don't rain on our parade'

Well once again it's 'Veterans Day', I'll borrow a description of another holiday that really has lost it's meaning, Bah - Humbug!!

Lets take a look at how a Country "Supports it's Veterans", a Country of citizens whose greater majority never serve in it's Military, a majority who never do much of anything of service to Country, a majority who don't even bother to Vote, and a majority who readily bitch about paying their contribution to it's Society, not about how that money is spent just that they have to Contribute.

Huge Defense Budgets means a Strong National Defense! At least one political party takes that Mocho stance.

Do the citizens question where those Huge Budgets actually go, Nope, they believe what they're told and most certainly don't want to hear where it's not going, where it's actually needed, that would mean they'd have to contribute more because they're not worried about the corruption engrained in the systems already.

They readily cheer on their War's, like they're Sporting Events, believing all the false reasons given in waging them.

I have yet to hear, from any we hire into our Societies leadership, say that the Tens of Thousands of us, out of some 300miliion plus population, belonging to the "Focus Groups", had it All Right and that they had it All Wrong about the present Debacles!

But it's "Veterans Day", Non - Political{?}, lets go to a Parade and "Support Our Troops and Veterans", than we can put them, once again till next year, out of site and out of mind!

The subject title comes from this Article of which has this sub-title:

HOLIDAY: Most in attendance support panel's decision to bar anti-war groups.

This isn't an isolated event, this happened in small towns to large cities across this country, and does so every year. Why?, because the excuse given in all these cases is we can't have a Parade, for Military Troops and Military Veterans, who are making a Political{?} Statement!

Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Military Families Speak Out said their First Amendment rights were violated when the parade committee, a nonprofit organization, rejected their application.

Organizers have said the groups were trying to push a political agenda at an event that's supposed to be free from politics.

Although they weren't allowed to march this year, Jason Lemieux, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, said members came anyway to support the veterans.

"We came out today in the spirit of Veterans Day," said Lemieux, a Marine who served three tours in Iraq.

Jason Lemieux Testifies at the Long Beach City Council


What Political{?} statement would be made from the 'Iraq Veterans Against the War', why they might just be wearing their tee-shirts stating who they are and maybe a banner will be carried, some of their members having served Multiple Tours probably in both present Theaters! 'Veterans for Peace', members of conflicts from WWII till the Present, might just be doing same, tee's and caps, maybe a VFP flag or two and possibly also a banner. The same for 'Military Families Speak Out', who's Sons and Daughters this Country sends into battles, some having lost a Son or Daughter to the canage of War based on Lies.

But lets see the reasons given by the organizing committees on why the ban of Veterans and Military Family Members:

Fred Dunn, an 84-year-old World War II vet who was born and raised in Long Beach, said the anti-war groups should march in their own parade.

"This is to honor the veterans who have served," he said. "It's not a political deal."

Political Statement?

"Don't rain on our parade," said Shirley Oglesby, whose husband Jack served in Vietnam. "We don't want war either. But here is not the time nor place."

Political Statement?

"I wonder what the men who died would think if they allowed protestors to march," Jack Oglesby said.

Political Statement?

{Ahhhhh Jack, most would probably rather be Alive!}

"I'm against the war in Iraq too," said Sasha Kilauren, who served in the U.S. Navy during the Cold War. "But these groups shouldn't be allowed to march in this type of parade. It's inappropriate."

Political Statement?

{Lets see, 'This Type of Parade', a Parade for Veterans of Conflicts and Military Families would be "Inappropriate", gotcha Sasha, thanks for your input!}

Vet George Kerr, 65, said seeing the anti-war groups on Saturday was reminiscent of the atmosphere in 1967 when he returned home from Vietnam.

"I was kicked and spit on," he said. "But it's OK. That's what we went to war for. So people could have their rights."

Very Political Statement?

{Right George, I've yet to meet a fellow 'Nam Vet who can Prove they were physically Spit On, oh and adding 'Kicked' also a New twist to the false fables, but figuratively it's Alright for you to 'Spit On' fellow Veterans and Military Families!}

Now there was also a previous article about the coming parade where a few thoughts were expressed:

“They do not fit the spirit of the parade,” she said. “The spirit being one of gratitude for what the veterans have done. We do not want groups of a political nature, advocating the troops’ withdrawal from Iraq.”

Talk About A Political Statement!

Thuente said Veterans for Homeless Veteranswas allowed to march last year because parade coordinators did not fully check the group’s application. “Perhaps if we had checked out their agenda, they would not have been allowed,” she said. “We didn’t realize they had marched until after the parade.”

Gee Now That's A Political Statement, Ya Think!

“These veterans groups certainly have First Amendment rights,” Shannon said. “But the parade committee also has the First Amendment right to exclude whoever they wish if (the entry) does not keep within the theme.”

Hmmmm, Theme? Veterans and Military Families don't fit the 'Theme' of a Veterans Day Parade? Political Statement!

The city provides the staffing, flags, banners, utilities and police protection, Shannon said, but does not play any role in the approval of parade participants.

“The fact that the city does provide staff is a disconnect,” Shannon said.

As Thomas, over at The Military Project/GI Special puts it, "No shit. That’s public tax money being used to keep Veterans they don’t like out of march.

“They voted unanimously to exclude a group, believing it had a political agenda,” said Lerch, whose 9th District includes the parade route. “And I agree with the board’s actions. For 11 years, this has been a parade to honor and support this nation.”

Wow another Political Statement and from a Pol!

Once again, this isn't an isolated incident, it happens across this country, small to large villages, towns, cities!

What happens to a huge number of Veterans who serve this Country, how about this:

Homeless Veterans


Homelessness High Among Veterans
{There's a verbal report, in broadband and dialup, at above link}

Homeless vets can, should be helped

US Veterans Among Homeless Despite Government Initiatives

Seattle mayor calls homeless veterans "a national disgrace"

Or how about the Care for Veterans:

Soldier Brain Injuries Challenge Doctors


What's The Cost? Suicide - PTSD


Mental BattleField


Yesterday I put up a post on my site, and a few other boards, titled 'PTSD - Katrina, Combat Theater Vets, Psychologist Who Developed It Herself'. This covered two NPR interviews with further information of both. At the bottom I had the following links:

Here are just a few of the recent reports, articles, and studies on PTSD as well as Traumatic Brain Injuries:

Veterans For America Releases Major Report: Trends In Treatment Of America’s Wounded Warriors.

by jamesboyce on Nov 7, 2007

Today, we are proud to release a ground-breaking report on the challenges facing our wounded warriors who are suffering from the “signature wounds” of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and psychological trauma.

Having visited every single demobilization site in the United States and overseas, Veterans For America investigators found that care for these injuries is significantly lacking and that the decisions made by the military will negatively impact our veterans for the rest of their lives.

DNC: Bush Talks About Veterans Funding in Texas While Threatening to Veto it in DC

War Veterans Receive Poor Treatment for Combat-Induced Mental Illness, Says VFA Study

Tom Harkin: Rising Number Of Homeless Veterans A Disgrace To Our Nation

Stars and Stripes - PTSD and TBI awareness programs launched

Mental health services for returning vets in short supply

Help for soldiers outside Ft. Carson, with Video

One US soldier's father calls it the silent injury. Now Britain's forces centre is braced for an influx of cases

Outpatients move into new digs at Landstuhl

Demand Action For Our Veterans

There are many many more of these trickling out. But who is really paying attention to them, in a Society that seems to be, once again, Apathedic about a Combat Theater, two actually, that sent our Military in to destroy and be destroyed.

This Society gives more credance to it's stars and starlets than it does to those who serve in it's Military, which makes up an extremely small percentage of the whole!

As this Veteran says "Happy Veterans Day, NOT!"

So enjoy the Parades, banning many Veterans from participating! Enjoy the day off tomorrow, especially if you work a government job, most not being Veterans!

For we always have Next Year to once again "Honor Our Troops and Veterans"
as their numbers of Homeless and Maimed Grow!

If they were sent to fight, they are too few. If they were sent to die, they are too many!

Is 'Funding' Really For Troops?

What Happened To Funding and Oversite For Military/Veteran Care In Previous Congresses?