Archive for April, 2010
Vets Salute Obama on Funding
President Obama is struggling to fulfill campaign promises to pass energy and immigration measures, but he’s poised to notch another victory for a stump-speech vow: to make sure veterans’ funding isn’t held hostage to the government’s bad finances.
While watchdogs caution there’s still a long list of problems for veterans, all sides agree the President Obama has made big strides on promises he made in 2008 when competing for military votes against Republican nominee and Vietnam veteran Sen. John McCain – to fully fund the Veterans Administration, expand access to care in rural areas and improve treatment for mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
“The accessibility with this administration has been outstanding. They listen, they reach out to the veterans’ service organizations, they see the value in communicating,” Peter Gaytan, executive director of the American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans’ organization, with 2.5 million members. …more
Congressman Moran and the Veterans History Project
Congressman Moran, in partnership with Fairfax County and the Library of Congress, would like to invite you to an event on May 15th at the Hollin Hall Senior Center. The event is an opportunity to meet with Library of Congress staff, help facilitate historical interviews with veterans, and help connect those interested in interviewing and engaging the project to have an opportunity to do so.
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.
Further details are available here .
Congressman Connolly Receives National “Friend of Our Military Kids” Award
One of Five Congressmen to Receive Award for Helping ‘Our Smallest Heroes” in VA and US
Congressman Gerry Connolly of Virginia was honored this week for his efforts to provide tangible support to children of National Guard and Reserve personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan and the sons and daughters of all severely-injured service members.
Connolly received the “Friend of Our Military Kids” award at an event recognizing April as the Month of the Military Child. The award was presented by Our Military Kids, an organization recognizing military children as our “smallest heroes” and dedicated to supporting children and families through grants for enrichment activities and tutoring while a parent is serving overseas.
Connolly was recognized for his work to help secure federal funding for the Our Military Kids program, which has provided more than $3 million in grants to military families in Virginia and across the nation.
“Too often we forget about the sacrifices and stresses our military spouses and children face when a loved one is deployed to a war zone,” Congressman Connolly said. “I am proud to be part of an effort to provide support to these military families during these very difficult times.”
Connolly was one of only five members of Congress to receive the awards this week at a Capitol Hill ceremony which featured Virginia First Lady Maureen McDonnell, General Craig McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and other distinguished guests. Also honored with Connolly were Congressman Jim Moran of Virginia, Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, Solomon Ortiz of Texas, and Mary Jo Kilroy of Ohio.
Our Military Kids began in 2005 as part of a pilot program with the Virginia National Guard. Since 2006, Our Military Kids has awarded more than 600 grants to military families in Virginia. In 2009, over $3 million in awards were distributed by Our Military Kids to families across America.
See further details on Our Military Kids.
An 81-Year-Old Foster Son?
New Program Pairs Veterans Who Would Be in a Nursing Home with Families Who Are Willing to Take Them In
Just outside Tampa, Fla., CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman found the story of an odd couple – a wonderful inspiring odd couple.
The house actually belongs to a sweetheart of a man named Rick Heady. Rick is a foster parent, of sorts – his foster “kid” just happens to be 81, and gruff as all get-out.
“What did you do in the Marine Corps?” Hartman asked.
“Kill people,” Charles Dowling said.
“But you survived to live another day,” Hartman said.
“To kill again,” Dowling said.
“Well you’re a lovely, lovely man,” Hartman said, laughing.
“Bulls-t,” Dowling said.
He actually is pretty wonderful, once you get to know him. Dowling served in Korea and Vietnam, and later became a drill sergeant – putting in close to 30 years with the Marines. Until recently he was living in a nursing home – destined for hospice – but then this total stranger came forward and offered to take him in.
“I’m not going to let our veterans, our veterans, be forgotten,” Heady said.
That’s a belief shared by all these people who are part of a new Veteran’s Affairs program called the Medical Foster Home program. It pairs vets who would otherwise be in a nursing home with civilians who are willing to take them into their homes instead.
“It takes a special caregiver who is really able to open their homes and their hearts to the veterans and it’s not easy,” said Beau Williams with Veterans Affairs.
Williams said medical foster homes are now in 34 states and within a few years could be in all 50. It’s partly because nursing homes average about $6,000 a month, while this only costs about half that. The money goes to caregivers like Heady, who quit his job as a sales manager to do this.
“Not only is it cost effective but more importantly the veterans feel like their part of a family, they receive love,” Williams said. “They receive a lot of attention, a lot of care.”
As for what the care giver gets out of it – let’s just say Heady has found the experience so rewarding he recently took in a second veteran.
“He’s helped me vastly in recovery,” said Clayton Smith.
Smith was in the Air Force when he got hit by a truck and suffered a brain injury. They were going to put him in a nursing home, too, until Heady stepped up.
“Rick is A-OK,” Smith said.
That’s glowing praise from a drill sergeant – and more than enough reward for Rick.
“This is what I’ll do until the day I retire,” Heady said. “It’s that good.”
Good for him, and good for America.
April – Month of the Military Child
Supporting military families is a top Obama Administration priority. April is Month of the Military Child and gives the nation the opportunity to recognize the character, strength and sacrifices of America’s military children as well as the role they play in the armed forces community. Today, there are 1.7 million American children and youth under 18-years-old with a parent serving in the military and approximately 900,000 children and youth with one or both parents deployed multiple times. Learn more about the Month of the Military Child here.
Watch a video of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden talk about the important role military children play in the armed forces community:
Veterans Society of GMU Race for Veterans
Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Task Force
The VA is committed to transparency and public engagement in finding innovative solutions to long standing issues.
To that end, the public notice of the Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Task Force Draft Written Report has been posted on the Federal Register. You will be able to review the notice, download the draft written report, and submit comments for the next 30 days.
Under the leadership of VAs Chief of Staff, the Task Force members reviewed existing literature and consulted with Veterans, Veterans’ advocates, program managers, Gulf War subject matter experts, and other stakeholders in developing the perceptions and recommendations presented.
General information relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and services related to the Gulf War may be found at www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/ or the toll free helpline at: 1-800-749-8387. You may also submit your ideas on VAs discussion board at www.yourgulfwarvoice.uservoice.com.