A Call for Veterans and ALL CITIZENS to use Social Networking Tool and Unify
December 18, 2009 posted by Denise Nichols · 11 Comments
Veterans we can ask the Senators while they are battling on Health Care to Squeeze some no cost actions in to get some small business done. I am working to network on Facebook and to build a bigger effort not only for Gulf War Veterans but all Veterans! WE need to use all the tools at hand to get action. This is a test of operations plan and I ask all veterans, military members, Americans to participate. I did a printout of veterans bills all 600 still doing analysis. SO Many Bills just DIE and Never get the Action even if they don’t cost big bucks. WE Have Facebook, Twitter, Linkin, etc and these tools can help us in Social networking with ALL -Veterans- Active Duty-Citizens-Young Americans to reunite the spirit of America and to educate Citizens on the needs of Veterans and Activy Duty Troops! Anyway Take A Look and Participate and Let us see what we can all get done.
See my other Discussion post. I am trying to harness FB groups…Yes Gulf War illness but other issues Veterans and Social Action that can help us too if we start interacting! Ths is a way we can pull together as Veterans and Citizens and do something more than play games Farmville and Mafia CR++ and make our time go to something to help! It is worth a try..
Support another forgotten veteran that defended and stood tall for our country Let’s help CPL Buckles our last surving WW1 veteran do the following join the FB page for him, invite your frends to do the same, ask them to duplicate efforts, then make a note on your own FB of this and publish to all your friends. Then get on twitter and do same
http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=33974746413
This FB is suppose to be a social network let’s make FB work for veterans! So here is your test! Let’s see if we can get Cpl Buckles story to go viral and get America behind getting his wish done to get the old WWI district of DC memorial to be a National Memorial so it can be refurbished and have the dignity and lasting memory for all Americans that visit the other memorials ie VN wall, Korea, WWII. This is a test case of showing we can use FB to make a difference and have all Americans to support each of our veteran’s needs
Post #Another Facebook Group and they got ACTION
and National News Coverage
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=14523&uid=125208941896#/group.php?gid=190716948379
Post #AND ANOTHER LARGE GROUP TO JOIN
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=14523&post=109603&uid=125208941896#/group.php?gid=201355981560
Post #AND ONE MORE
http://www.facebook.com/edittopic.php?uid=125208941896&action=8#/group.php?gid=13468216595
This way we network more to larger groups We support them and ask them to also support us and our GWillness efforts
we then branch out to college students and so many other groups on FB build the social network and interact instead of spending time on farmville or Mafia games and build your friends list
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=14523&post=109605&uid=125208941896#/group.php?gid=303228380472
VETERANS WANT ACTION BY CHRISTMAS
Posted on December 12, 2009 by dsnurse
Conside this a test to see if FB pages and groups can pull together and get simple honoring veterans issues done. Then we can use it FB more working together between groups and reaching out to student and all Americans to help! Facebook was formed to help with Social Actions Social interactions.
SIMPLE BILLS THAT COULD Have Been ATTACHED TO DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL TO DELIVER CHRISTMAS GIFT TO VETERANS!
WE could Still get these Bills pulled up to Floor of Senate for Up or Down VOTE!!!! Squeeze it in between all the debate on Health Care Call your US SENATOR MONDAY. These are simple NO COST BILLS!
H. R. 482
To authorize the rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial to honor the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War I.
H.R.2546 : To ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service flag on residential property not be abridged.
H.RES.952 : Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor should be permitted, at all times on the recipient’s property, to properly display the Flag of the United States of America.
H.R.1082
Title: To prohibit the importation for sale of foreign-made flags of the United States of America.
H.R.666
Title: To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the establishment of a searchable database containing the names and citations of members of the Armed Forces, members of the United States merchant marine, and civilians affiliated with the Armed Forces who have been awarded the medal of honor or any other medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces, the United States merchant marine, or affiliated civilians.
Five Bills ( HR666,HR482,HR2546,HR952,HR1082) that essentially are zero cost factor could be added as amendments to Defense Appropriations Bill that has to move and be completed by Christmas and sent to the President.
1. What you can do re phone, fax, email your US SENATORS AND REPS in DC and tell them we want these five bills as amendments to Defense Appropriations Bill as Christmas Gift to COl MOH Barfoot and CPl Buckles Last WW1 Veteran.
2. Go to Faceboot and join the FB page for Support to COL Barfoot and also page to Support Cpl Buckles WW1 veteran send email and ask all your friends to do the same! Show support to these two American Heroes!
3. Then also go to Twitter and twitter the messages.
4. Notify the media and work the social networks to make the story go VIRAL NOW! Let’s see how much power we Veterans and Civilians have if we work together!
Bills information Follows:
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h482/show
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 482
To authorize the rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial to honor the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War I.
COSPONSORS(36), BY DATE [order is left to right]: (Sort: alphabetical order)
Rep Ehlers, Vernon J. [MI-3] – 1/13/2009 Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] – 1/13/2009
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] – 1/13/2009 Rep McHenry, Patrick T. [NC-10] – 1/13/2009
Rep Fallin, Mary [OK-5] – 1/13/2009 Rep Linder, John [GA-7] – 1/13/2009
Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] – 1/13/2009 Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] – 1/13/2009
Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] – 1/13/2009 Rep Bachmann, Michele [MN-6] – 1/13/2009
Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-24] – 1/13/2009 Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] – 1/15/2009
Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] – 1/15/2009 Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] – 1/22/2009
Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] – 1/28/2009 Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] – 2/9/2009
Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] – 3/5/2009 Rep Scalise, Steve [LA-1] – 3/19/2009
Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] – 4/21/2009 Rep Connolly, Gerald E. "Gerry" [VA-11] – 4/21/2009
Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] – 4/21/2009 Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] – 4/23/2009
Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] – 4/29/2009 Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] – 5/19/2009
Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [PR] – 6/2/2009 Rep Spratt, John M., Jr. [SC-5] – 6/2/2009
Rep Rogers, Harold [KY-5] – 6/2/2009 Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] – 6/4/2009
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] – 6/18/2009 Rep Taylor, Gene [MS-4] – 7/7/2009
Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] – 7/14/2009 Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] – 7/23/2009
Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [IL-16] – 9/25/2009 Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] – 10/20/2009
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] – 12/2/2009 Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] – 12/10/2009
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Twitter the message to -Call for DC Reps to attach bill HR482 to Defense APPROPS BILL! Get it done by Xmas!
Ask your US Representatives to cosponsor these bills AND ATTACH THEM TO DEFENSE APPROPS BILL AS AMENDMENT to DEFENSE APPROPS WHICH HAS TO BE DONE NEXT WEEK: Would be nice Gift for XMAS!!!
Ask them for an amendment that Medal of Honor Recipients or Receipients of any Medal Recognized by congress for exemplary Bravery in Military Service ie Distinguished Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star be provided funds to pay for a Flag Pole installation and supplies.
We also Need Senators to introduce Same Bills on Senate Side!
H.R.2546 : To ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service flag on residential property not be abridged.
Sponsor: Rep Boccieri, John A. [OH-16] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (30)
Committees: House Financial Services
Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
H.RES.952 : Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor should be permitted, at all times on the recipient’s property, to properly display the Flag of the United States of America.
Sponsor: Rep McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [CA-25] (introduced 12/8/2009) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 12/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
H.R.1082
Title: To prohibit the importation for sale of foreign-made flags of the United States of America.
Sponsor: Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] (introduced 2/13/2009) Cosponsors (5)
Latest Major Action: 2/13/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
————————–——————————————————
COSPONSORS(5), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] – 3/6/2009 Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] – 2/13/2009
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] – 3/6/2009 Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] – 6/9/2009
Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] – 3/6/2009
H.R.2546
Title: To ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service flag on residential property not be abridged.
Sponsor: Rep Boccieri, John A. [OH-16] (introduced 5/21/2009) Cosponsors (30)
Latest Major Action: 5/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
——————————————————————————–
COSPONSORS(30), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] – 9/15/2009 Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] – 10/21/2009
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] – 10/21/2009 Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] – 10/7/2009
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] – 10/21/2009 Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] – 10/21/2009
Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] – 7/20/2009 Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] – 9/15/2009
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] – 10/21/2009 Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] – 10/28/2009
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] – 9/15/2009 Rep Jenkins, Lynn [KS-2] – 10/21/2009
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] – 10/21/2009 Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] – 10/28/2009
Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] – 10/21/2009 Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] – 11/4/2009
Rep Massa, Eric J. J. [NY-29] – 10/7/2009 Rep McClintock, Tom [CA-4] – 10/21/2009
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] – 10/28/2009 Rep Miller, Gary G. [CA-42] – 10/28/2009
Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] – 10/21/2009 Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] – 10/21/2009
Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] – 11/4/2009 Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] – 7/13/2009
Rep Peters, Gary C. [MI-9] – 10/28/2009 Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] – 7/24/2009
Rep Stupak, Bart [MI-1] – 9/15/2009 Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] – 10/21/2009
Rep Titus, Dina [NV-3] – 9/15/2009 Rep Tonko, Paul D. [NY-21] – 10/7/2009
GET THE US REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE THIS BILL HAPPEN
H.R.666
Title: To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the establishment of a searchable database containing the names and citations of members of the Armed Forces, members of the United States merchant marine, and civilians affiliated with the Armed Forces who have been awarded the medal of honor or any other medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces, the United States merchant marine, or affiliated civilians.
Sponsor: Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] (introduced 1/23/2009) Cosponsors (48)
Latest Major Action: 1/23/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. BACK GROUND: As webmaster for HomeOfHeroes.com, my initial purpose when I launched this site in 1998 was to highlight the stories of Medal of Honor recipients, a group of heroes who comprise fewer than 4,500 of the more than 40 million Americans who have served in uniform. In time, after requests to expand, I undertook the daunting task of finding, typing and making available citations for the awards second-only to the Medal of Honor: The Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, and Air Force Cross. When I began that in 2001 I believed it was an impossible dream and, 7 years later have surprised myself with the fact that I have digitized and posted the citations for more than 18,000 of the 24,00 awards (and hope to complete this in 2008).
LET US ALL PITCH IN AND MAKE THIS BILL MOVE NOW! Call Your US Representative in DC, Email Them, Fax Them. This should not be that hard to do! Let us Do Something Positive for the Holidays! A gift to some dedicated people over at www.HomeOfHeroes.com Can we get some action here ALL? Can you make the calls and light up the switchboards in 387 Representativs offices in DC and tell them it is the least they can DO!
HR.666
Title: To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the establishment of a searchable database containing the names and citations of members of the Armed Forces, members of the United States merchant marine, and civilians affiliated with the Armed Forces who have been awarded the medal of honor or any other medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces, the United States merchant marine, or affiliated civilians.
Sponsor: Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] (introduced 1/23/2009) Cosponsors (48)
Latest Major Action: 1/23/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
——————————————————————————–
COSPONSORS(48), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] – 3/17/2009 Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] – 7/31/2009
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] – 1/23/2009 Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] – 3/11/2009
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] – 1/23/2009 Rep Boyd, Allen [FL-2] – 1/23/2009
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] – 1/23/2009 Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] – 2/23/2009
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] – 1/23/2009 Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18] – 1/23/2009
Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] – 3/3/2009 Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] – 1/28/2009
Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] – 1/23/2009 Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] – 2/9/2009
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] – 2/25/2009 Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] – 4/21/2009
Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] – 2/23/2009 Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] – 2/9/2009
Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] – 1/23/2009 Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] – 1/23/2009
Rep Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] – 2/23/2009 Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] – 1/23/2009
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] – 3/30/2009 Rep Kline, John [MN-2] – 1/23/2009
Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] – 3/30/2009 Rep Linder, John [GA-7] – 1/23/2009
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] – 1/23/2009 Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4] – 1/23/2009
Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-8] – 2/9/2009 Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] – 2/10/2009
Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] – 1/23/2009 Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] – 1/23/2009
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] – 1/23/2009 Rep Murphy, Patrick J. [PA-8] – 1/23/2009
Rep Murtha, John P. [PA-12] – 1/23/2009 Rep Olson, Pete [TX-22] – 9/30/2009
Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] – 1/23/2009 Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] – 3/17/2009
Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2] – 3/11/2009 Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] – 1/23/2009
Rep Rogers, Harold [KY-5] – 1/23/2009 Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] – 1/23/2009
Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] – 1/23/2009 Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] – 1/23/2009
Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] – 2/9/2009 Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] – 1/23/2009
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] – 2/9/2009 Rep Young, C.W. Bill [FL-10] – 2/9/2009
—————————————————————————-
As webmaster for HomeOfHeroes.com, my initial purpose when I launched this site in 1998 was to highlight the stories of Medal of Honor recipients, a group of heroes who comprise fewer than 4,500 of the more than 40 million Americans who have served in uniform. In time, after requests to expand, I undertook the daunting task of finding, typing and making available citations for the awards second-only to the Medal of Honor: The Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, and Air Force Cross. When I began that in 2001 I believed it was an impossible dream and, 7 years later have surprised myself with the fact that I have digitized and posted the citations for more than 18,000 of the 24,00 awards (and hope to complete this in 2008). At times I became myself discouraged but, in those moments I received emails such as the following simple, but brief exchange from a former Marine in Boston, Massachusetts:
"Your web site helped us get this done."
What Ed Driscoll had done was to bring to the attention of his community that the headstone at the grave of a fellow Marine and personal friend made no mention of the fact that in the moment of valor that cost him his life, John C. Calhoun had been awarded the Navy’s highest military honor, the Navy Cross. The forgotten hero was remembered with new reverence on Veterans’ Day 2005, and his headstone engraved with the text "Navy Cross" to identify a forgotten hometown hero.
The successful passage in 2006 of the Stolen Valor Act was a long-need step in protecting the integrity of our military awards, prohibiting and providing penalties for impersonating a decorated hero. That problem is severe and the Stolen Valor Act has already proven to be a highly effective tool to uncover fraud and phonies, but FAR WORSE is the fact that the REAL HEROES, men and women who REALLY DID EARN high awards like the Silver Star or highly-respected awards like the Purple Heart, have been forgotten.
Try to find out what medals your grandfather earned in World War II, or even to get the citation that describes the heroic action that earned your father a Silver Star in Korea or Vietnam, and you will understand rather quickly how poorly has been preserved the records of our REAL heroes. Send a letter to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis to get a copy of your uncle’s awards and citations for service in the Army or Air Force in World War II or Korea and you will most likely get a letter in return that "His records are not here, they may have burned in the 1973 fire."
Over the last five years I have been able, through my own database, to help hundreds of families get those citations, thanks to the time and effort I have put into building my own awards database. (It would NOT have been humanly possible to do so without the great prior work done by other independent historians like the late Colonel Albert Gleim who started much of this and passed away before completing what others considered impossible to do.) Like Colonel Gleim, I am one person (who is not getting any younger), and know that I too, will live out my own life before I can do all that needs to be done. FURTHERMORE, it should NOT be the job of dedicated, independent historians, to insure that the history of our heroes is properly preserved.
The LEAST our Nation owes to those who have served is to properly preserve for history, and for their children and grandchildren, an accurate history of that veteran’s service, sacrifice and heroism.
In 2007 Congressman John Salazar, who successfully fought to enact the Stolen Valor Act returned with the logical follow-up legislation. He was joined in this by Congressman Patrick Murphy (PA), the ONLY Iraqi War Veteran currently serving in Congress. Their new BILL is titled:
The Military Roll of Valor Act
111TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 666
To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the establishment of a searchable database containing the names and citations of members of the Armed Forces, members of the United States merchant marine, and civilians affiliated with the Armed Forces who have been awarded the medal of honor or any other medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces, the United States merchant marine, or affiliated civilians.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. SALAZAR introduced the following bill;
Which was referred to the House Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Military Valor Roll of Honor Act of 2007’’.
SEC. 2. MILITARY VALOR ROLL OF HONOR.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
§ 1135. Military Valor Roll of Honor
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish and maintain a database, to be known as the ‘Military Valor Roll of Honor’, which shall contain the names and citations of all members of the armed forces, members of the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service), and civilians affiliated with the armed forces who have been awarded the medal of honor or any other medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces, the United States merchant marine, or affiliated civilians. The Military Valor Roll of Honor shall include the names of those members recorded on the ‘Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll’ maintained pursuant to section 1560 of title 38.’’
‘‘(b) SOURCES OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop the Military Valor Roll of Honor using the records of the military departments and such other sources of information as the Secretary considers to be appropriate and accurate. The Secretary of Homeland Security, with respect to the Coast Guard, and the Secretary of Transportation, with respect to the United States merchant marine, shall provide the Secretary of Defense with information regarding the names and citations of members of the Coast Guard and United States merchant marine for inclusion in the Military Valor Roll of Honor.’’
‘‘(c) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Military Valor Roll of Honor shall be a searchable database and available for public inspection.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
‘‘1135. Military Valor Roll of Honor.’’.
CURRENT STATUS:
HR 666 has been referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel (Chaired by Representative Susan Davis of California), of the House Committee on Armed Services (Chaired by Representative Ike Skelton of Missouri.)
As of April 21, 2009, the Bill is Co-Sponsored by 47 Members of Congress including:
36 Democrats and 11 Republicans
11 of the 62 Members of the Armed Services Committee
5 of the 15 Members of the Military Personnel Sub-Committee
————————————————————————
The Military Roll of Valor Act
Co-Sponsors
As of April 21, 2009, the following 47 Members of Congress
are currently Co-Sponsors in support of HR 666:
State Dist. Name Party Committee Sub-Committee
AR 4 Ross, Mike D
AZ 7 Grijalva, Raul M. D
CA 11 McNerney, Jerry D
CA 18 Cardoza, Dennis D
CA 20 Costa, Jim D
CA 43 Baca, Joe D
CA 51 Filner, Bob D
CO 1 DeGette, Diana D
CO 2 Polis, Jared D
CO 3 Salazar, John D
CO 4 Markey, Betsy D
CO 5 Lamborn, Doug R Armed Services
CO 6 Coffman, Mike R Armed Services
CO 7 Perlmutter, Ed D
A special congratulations to COLORADO where all SEVEN members of Congress,
both Democrats and Republicans, are co-sponsoring HR 666.
FL 2 Boyd, Allen D
FL 10 Young, C. W. "Bill" R
GA 7 Linder, John R
GA 8 Marshall, Jim R Armed Services
GU Bordallo, Madeleine Z. D Armed Services Personnel
IA 3 Boswell, Leonard L. D
IL 17 Hare, Phil D
IN 5 Burton, Dan R
KS 3 Moore, Dennis D
KY 5 Rogers, Harold R
MI 11 McCotter, Thaddeus R
MI 13 Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. D
MN 7 Peterson, Colin D
MN 2 Kline, John R Armed Services Personnel
MO 3 Carnham, Russ D
NH 1 Shea-Porter, Carol D Armed Services Personnel
NY 14 Maloney, Carolyn B. D
NY 19 Hall, John J. D
OK 2 Boren, Dan D Armed Services
OR 1 Wu, David D
PA 1 Brady, Robert A. D Armed Services
PA 7 Sestak, Joe D Armed Services
PA 8 Murphy, Patrick D Armed Services Personnel
PA 12 Murtha, John P. D
SC 1 Brown, Henry E., Jr. R
TN 6 Gordon, Bart D
TX 15 Hinojosa, Ruben D
TX 20 Gonzalez, Charles A. D
TX 23 Rodriguez, Ciro D. D
TX 30 Johnson, Eddie Bernice D
VA 1 Wittman, Robert J. R Armed Services Personnel
VA 8 Moran, James P. D
VA 10 Wolf, Frank R. R
If you are planning to organize support for troops and veterans by networking… fine I support you. GOOD! DO IT!
I see and am dismayed with the seemingly disconnect of the majority of our citizens in regards to our troops and veterans. “Support the Troops” is a bumper sticker to me. Okay, we don’t hate them and send them cookies and write them letters… but if we really supported our veterans and troops… we would be more involved in the wars that our country is involved in BEFORE there is a draft.
May I say something? With all due respect to Corporal Buckles… when you write,
“Support another forgotten veteran that defended and stood tall for our country.”
… I think of the forgotten veteran who defended and stood tall for our country living right here in my home who is sick with diabetes and heart disease from Agent Orange… who has his fifteen year old PTSD claim going through for the fourth time and currently having the V.A. do every stall technique imaginable while we have no income for quite some time now and have a home only because of the graciousness of our landlord. It would not be so bad except that it is not just he and I that are affected. We have minor children. It is them that my heart goes out to right now, even though they are so strong and patient.
Finding out the dirty tricks that the V.A. has played on this man for the past fifteen years and seeing even more up front and personally… makes me sick. It is STILL going on.
So… it is very difficult for me to get all excited about medals and flags right now… I’m just trying to make a good life here as we are treading water everyday.
My heart goes out to the men that are in the same position as my husband… the newer veterans and troops that we have now… knowing what I know… the V.A. is a maze that is difficult enough to manage without TBI and/or PTSD… it is made that way on purpose… to protect the taxpayers’ money. It is a bureaucracy that makes all the rules in its favor and takes veterans rights away that other citizens have. The V.A. will prove a veteran wrong BEFORE it even considers to try to prove the veteran is right. The V.A. will deny a veteran EVEN when that veteran submits proof that can be substantiated and proved correct… hoping the veteran will be discouraged and give up. The burden of proof is on the veteran to prove his claim and the not on the government. Try that when there are few, if any records for their tour of duty.
Although they believe they were ‘just doing their job’… all of the men in my husband’s Combat Aviation Group were heroes. They may not all have ribbons and medals, but they are heroes… and so many of them are abandoned by the very country they loved so much and served proudly. Who’s networking for them and the younger generations of abandoned and forgotten heroes?
Truly, the only website that made sense to ME was the ‘Veterans Helping Veterans’ which addresses homeless veterans.
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=14523&post=109605&uid=125208941896#/group.php?gid=303228380472
Really and truly, I appreciate everything you are doing… I hope that this works as well for addressing our disabled and forgotten warriors and their families.
I just needed to get this said.
Veteran Wife and ALL,
AS a Gulf war veteran ill with GWI and a VN era vet with family members that served also VN, Peace time, WW2, WW 1 believe me I know what yu are saying loud and clear! I have been actively advocating for GWI since 1992! I connected with VN vets and atomic vets and even our current troops and know this is a history long bad situation! When we started in 1992 the internet was in its infancy and we did alot to share information and guidance and organize gulf war veterans…emails, bulletin boards, phone calls, faxes, websites…even hand typing government reports in and then scanning them with hand held devices to try to get the information and communications haring out to all…and guiding to resources, as a nurse officer answering questions leading them to resources as needed, assessing health over phone, over internet, in person etc etc.
Now we have social networks and social interactions and having seen how this can affect elections and fund raising of the different parties and other efforts. I see sites of support for these different efforts with tens of thousands signed on. Now is the time to continue the education connect these groups to real action! REAL ACTION MEANS ORGANIZING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WIDELY
IT MEANS keeping all people including veterans and active duty. It means asking citizens and teachers and college students to get informed what active duty and veterans have done for them and asking them to get involved and help. It means spelling out actions of how they can help! To join efforts!
To mobilize that force to be heard in DC and this mess to be corrected! It takes the individual, the individual veteran, their family members, their extended family, their employers, their employees, the teachers of the world, the young college students to be informed and want better for those that serve and to get them activated to help!
It takes writing the stories of the veterans and their familes and getting input so we can tell those stories and document them, it takes reaching out and networking to authors and film people, to people on the hill staffers and elected representatives to get everyone to do something to educate inform and get action. It takes testifying, educating, informing, asking for help, networking…suggesting actions to help make it happen.
I said sign up to the pages, ask others to do it, start networking, start unifying and education process and reaching out, give clear steps to show action ie CALL YOUR SENATOR in DC to get them to pass these 5 bills which are no cost items that show support to veteran wishes. That is the test! Then we start step by step to use this total network to get real action! AND TO FIX IT using concrete steps and actions! Calling your US Reps and US Senators in DC and home offices to support existing bills is a way to show them we are alive and a growing force to be heard! But we have to get others ie citizens and press to gt involved to make it happen. WE use our voices in an organized way to be heard, we network and build that force to work together to better the situation for our veterans and our active duty.
When we need people to be present in person we get the word out and we go out in public to do the same in mass. It is consistent and getting a building awareness, and networking, and attack from all levels to get this mess corrected.
It should not take each veteran battling over and over to get their rating and to get the best care possible, to get them the financial ability to continue their lives, to get the medical researchers to get us better treatments available . It is time for change!
It also takes guiding the veterans and their family members etc to use the tools, be it to get educated on steps to take on their claims, to share info among the veterans and the help and guidance that is there. That they also have to not only fight for themselves but join the effort and to not go away when they win their claim but to help others!!!!
It takes the veterans and their family and friends to submit their stories so others can publish it and push those stories out to the media as examples. It takes each of us to use all our skills and develop more skills to make a bigger difference!
I am talking about mobilizing to get that change to happen for each active duty and veteran! What I put out was a method for us to start that process.
Alot of people do not understand that the media is watching facebook and twitter for trends and news to cover. So we use those tools and test the system and keep building! By signing up on those sites you offer the numbers to build, by asking your netowrk of friends to do the same all that pops those sites up to media as a story…then we use all those networks to educate and ask them to support the next effort. Again this was a proposal to see if we can make this all work just like the campaigns for election and tea parties do!
Okay all make your comments
Put lets try to make a difference help each other with advise and support and guidance to good resources and information. Try to help each individual veteran as we can.
Speak out mobilize call your local TV and newspapers ask them to cover your situation.
Speak out and call your US REP AND SENATOR both local offices and DC offices, Use the internet and their web sites to write and write some more. Fax them. GO to their town hall meetings and push them to do more.
Network with others and support them and ask for their support!
Educate/Inform others what they can do to help Be creative!
Use the power of the internet and network….you can put a facebook page up and ask for support
and what support is needed but be specific individual needs to guidance to resources to bigger action to make a change.
Join forces! There are a million claims pending at the VA and this is unacceptable.
It is unacceptable that the claims have to go thru over and over and that some vets just give up!
It is unacceptable to have doctors not informed on Gulf War Illness or Agent Orange and not to give appropriate screening and testing and care!
It is unappropriate that veterans dont harness the power and file complaints re Form 9 at VA and to then forward to VA OIG for action and not to follow thru and notify their elected officials that something must be done not just for that individual but for others.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO REMAIN A VICTIM!
IT is unacceptable for DRS or claims raters to not provide the services correctly without bias or incomplete information to cloud their actions that not only affects one veteran but hundreds!
It is unacceptable to elected officials to let this go on for decades.
It is unacceptable to think that they can not make the VA work right and think they can now go solve the health problems of all the rest of the citizens when they can not get the veterans and active duty health care right.
WEll enough of my rant!
DS Nurse-
I agree with you on 96% here.
- to be cont. later.
Again, thanks for everything that you are doing.
P.S. Those foreign made flags really stump me. Really, what the heck? That is just plain wrong!
Just wrong. Think about it America.
and the other 4% want to hear you!
All please share your thoughts this is needed to develop and fine tune plans!
As a VN vet and a Gulfwar vet with problems I support you efforts and am trying myself to do things. We have two US Senators in our state of MI that just don’t care about veterans. Levin does not have a good record for veterans issues and won’t even respond to letters but I will keep trying. On a somewhat lighter note, a neighbor of mine, a WWII veteran who is sharp as a tack, was at Iwo Jima during the war. His brother, Russell Mitchell who was killed two weeks after the raising of the flag, carried the flag up to the top. Several weeks ago he went to Wash DC for the first time, bought a small replica of the raising of the flag. He came home and discovered it was made in Japan. He destroyed it. I agree with comments above, our flags should be made in the US. I know of one place who only has American flags. It is IDA flags in Topinabee MI.
Well seems like my little story here got picked up and forwarded
Boy, they are watching the activity… I had no idea… way to go Denise! http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h482/show [www.opencongress.org]
So maybe this can work. All we just have to keep working together and keep the issues out there and alive.
If your senator or Rep doesnt listen do not give up! Maybe with your help and comments I can develop a story or two and name names and put a little heat to the pot but it takes all of us to get that pot to boil and get action!
If you find other good Facebook pages let me know….part of communications and info flow C3I
WE need to keep developing facebook pages for specific gulf war veterans units 1990-91 so we can continue to build OPERATION REUNITE
See my notes section on my facebook page or go to right here on veterans today and click on my name Denise Nichols under the list of writers in right hang column to catch up on what I have been doing
We are all busy with Xmas but many of your writers here at Veterans Today will keep trying to divide our times with family etc to stay in touch thru Christmas and end of year.
If you have not joined support for MOH Barfoot and Cpl Buckles please go to facebook and do so by joining their pages.
Need someone to develop facebook page re Support of American Flags to Be made in USA and the bill.
So there is something you can do, if you do take up the action please let me know DSNurse1@yahoo.com or here at Veteranstoday comments or on my facebook site
Please keep copying the story and posting to your facebook or emailing your contacts Let us see if we can build a force out here in virtual land!
Did someone develop a facebook page re Support of American Flags to Be made in USA and the bill?
Also, what lines do you think would be a good facebook page for veterans and troops and military families to come together?
MOSTLY, do you have any ideas for a facebook page for disabled veterans and their families that are getting the run around from the V.A. to come together??????? That would be something. I need a good title and any insight that I may glean from your own experiences.
Please let me know. I am willing to do that, but I want it to be done right and to be well thought out and efficient.
I believe that these people going through their own isolated, grinding and discouraging process with the V.A. to come together would be incredibly powerful.
Thank you DS Nurse for all that you are doing…
Oh… if going to the newspapers, media… I may be wrong… but, from my own experiences in different matters is… some of of these sources are in bed with local politicians and organizations down to the lowest levels… A media will not print or run something if the editor says ‘no’… (if that editor has a ‘special relationship’ with anyone that may be in a story… they will only run stories glowing with praises… even if it is lies… even if people’s … even if children’s well-being are at risk…) IF the editor says ‘no’… the story is killed… no matter what any reporter thinks of the story… their hands are tied…. SO… find the reporter that you respect… go to that reporter… talk to them… and let them deal with the editors……. It is so sad… but true… even little town papers can be crooked and help hurt a community by not printing much needed news to it’s public…. It can be sick.
Oh… and so far my congressperson is seemingly useless…………….. but I am taking names and numbers along the way……………………
my congressperson seems to be a hero for the little person, but im not seeing it and i will do everything to get them out of office next election if it continues to be all talk and no action with them. What good are they if they can do nothing but give another version of a runaround. I know what a runaround looks like Congressperson and thats what I am getting from you. Stop the Crap.
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO……..
MOSTLY, do you have any ideas for a facebook page for disabled veterans and their families that are getting the run around from the V.A. to come together??????? That would be something. I need a good title and any insight that I may glean from your own experiences.
Please let me know. I am willing to do that, but I want it to be done right and to be well thought out and efficient.
I believe that these people going through their own isolated, grinding and discouraging process with the V.A. to come together could be incredibly powerful.
Again, thanks so much for all that you do.