Hundreds of thousands of servicemen were exposed to asbestos over decades, especially during the period from 1940 to 1980. Asbestos was used in construction of naval vessels as well as shore facilities. All branches of the military used asbestos, which was also widely used in civilian applications. Asbestos can cause mesothelioma. Because this cancer has a particularly long latency period, many servicemen who were exposed years ago are now developing this disease.
- Mesothelioma Patient & Family Resources: Mesotheliomahelp is provided by Belluck & Fox, LLP as a comprehensive resource for mesothelioma victims and their families. The site provides up-to-date information on the latest news and treatment options as well as an easy to use search feature to find local mesothelioma doctors and health care clinics.
We fight for veterans harmed by asbestos: Veterans with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer should know they have options: the opportunity to bring a suit against manufacturers and sellers of the asbestos that caused their illness. If you were harmed by asbestos exposure, for example, in ships or military housing, contact Weitz & Luxenberg to get a free case review.
Important Information for Veterans: Asbestos products were often used on military ships and within military housing, and Veterans may have been exposed. Previous exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that has no cure and affects countless Veterans and loved ones. For more information regarding military asbestos exposure visit Mesothelioma.com
Features: “I AM AN AMERICAN: THE MAKING OF AN ANTHEM” DVD/CD
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER ANNOUNCES ONGOING COMMITMENT TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS IN THE NAME OF RENEWING OUR NATION’S PATRIOTIC SPIRIT
FIREWORKS DISPLAYS, PARADES, MARCHING BANDS INCORPORATE MUSIC INTO PATRIOTIC PROGRAMMING
NEW YORK CITY EMBRACES “I AM AN AMERICAN” BY FEATURING SONG IN THIS YEAR’S VETERANS DAY PARADE AND SHOWING VIDEO TO RETURNING TROOPS AT “THANK YOU FOR SERVING” CONCERT
PHILADELPHIA -- In honor and loving support of our nation’s veterans, legendary music pioneer and co-creator of “The Philadelphia Sound” KENNY GAMBLE is releasing a new DVD/CD commemorative package of his acclaimed new symphonic ode to patriotism, “I Am An Am American,” on November 10, 2009 surrounding Veterans Day to help raise funds and awareness for battling homelessness among veterans.
News: Rush Limbaugh, that giant of American investigative journalism, crouches low!
The Associated Press is running a story about Rush Limbaugh making a major on-air mistake on Friday night concerning the President and then refusing to apologize once he realized he was wrong.
Rush ranks up there in status with Daffy Duck and Alfred E. Newman relative to having his finger on the very pulse of mainstream America's heartbeat! What an American he is!
I leave the story to you, I won't spoil it for you. Video is attached. The story is here.
With mentor's like Rush in America, why do we need a government?
I am usually pretty serious on this web site, but every now and then I like to lighten things up. We are people you know and people need to take things a little light sometimes! So here we go. I submit these news stories to tickle your curiousity and lighten things up a bit. We cannot be serious all the time!
Lets start with the Mayan Calendar and the End of the World in 2012. You cannot beat that for light news fare, eh? NASA has now completely debunked this Mayan Calendar 'end of the world link". Here it is.
The White Man has an insatiable talent to justify the justice, the ludicrous, accept the benign, and glorify the horrendous. In doing such, the God Almighty dollar can become more of a deity than those that worship it.
This is just the case with a river I was born on. It is one of the most sought after natural resources in California. In many ways, the gold of the early 21st century. And, the gold is water.
By the time he had reached middle age, Max Cleland thought he had nothing to live for. A grenade explosion in Vietnam had left him a triple amputee. He had lost his seat in the U.S. Senate, and in the grip of depression he had lost his fiancée, too. But instead of giving up, Cleland reaches deep into his soul and discovers that he has what it takes to survive: the heart of a patriot.
Born and raised in Georgia, Max comes back from Vietnam missing three limbs and is confined for months at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Doctors don't give him much hope of living an active life, but through the bonds he forms with other wounded soldiers, and through his own Southern grit, he learns how to be mobile and overcome his despair.
He returns home, where he pursues his passion for public service by becoming the first Vietnam veteran to serve in the Georgia state senate. Jimmy Carter then appoints him head of the Veterans Administration. From there he becomes Georgia's youngest secretary of state and ultimately realizes his dream of becoming a U.S. Senator.
News: CD 4 The Troops "Independents For Independence"
From International Network of Independent Recording Artists
We are entering the home stretch. September 25 and 26, 2009 we will be in the Warehouse Studio (Owned by Canadian Rock Star, Bryan Adams) cutting the final track for the CD 4 The Troops, "Independents For Independence". The cover and CD insert is in the final design stage and mass production and distribution are a very short distance away.
We will not only be ready for the Release of the CD for our target date of Remembrance Day in Canada and the Uk and Veteran's Day in the US but on Novemeber 18, all other countries.
News: CD For the Troops to Benefit Wounded Warriors in the USA
International Network of Independent Recording Artists reaches out to U.S,, Canadian, and U.K. Veterans
The International Network of Independent Recording Artists are entering the home stretch. September 25 and 26, 2009 we will be in the Warehouse Studio (Owned by Canadian Rock Star, Bryan Adams) cutting the final track for the CD 4 The Troops, "Independents For Independence". The cover and CD insert is in the final design stage and mass production and distribution are a very short distance away. We will not only be ready for the Release of the CD for our target date of Remembrance Day in Canada and the Uk and Veteran's Day in the US but on Novemeber 18, all other countries.
Well, I've been taking ya fishing, and huntin', and even crawdaddin', but now I'm gonna change the whole picture!
When I retired from the Music Industry in Nashville at the end of 2004, I had arranged to come home to this 1000 acre PARADISE only 35 miles South of where I was born in Sacramento, California. My Brother who served with me in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam had worked with me on this deal before I left Music City, and due to Napster's first free download of music on the Internet, I was destined to bring my talents back to the West Coast and re-group.
I had a lot to learn when I landed on this Hot LZ, but like my Brother says, "You have farming in your blood!" I guess I do. My grandparents were farmers, and I was raised on their 60 acre plot of ground up the Sacramento Valley from here. We still have that farm. So not only did I learn the main factors of managing this property that summer of 2005, I also worked for our neighbor on the South Side of our property and drove all his tractors planting corn for that season.
On September 1st, in Northern California, dove season opens. For us, here at the hunting club, it marks the opening of the 2009/2010 Hunting Season. Most of the owners showed up Monday night for a huge feed. I took a break and went to the grand hotel at Travis Air Force Base, but returned yesterday morning to help cook breakfast and be the official Club Photographer.
We harvested our two fields of safflower about 2 weeks ago, and then mowed the stubble. This always brings in the doves. They love the safflower seeds that the harvester does not capture, and there are plenty of them. So opening day of hunting season always affords us a good time and a good shoot. This year was no different. Everyone got great shooting and took home 10 dove limits. And the camaraderie is wonderful, always, and the hunting stories are infamous.
In this illuminating memoir called "Embedded", Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Gray recounts his eight-month tour as part of a Military Transition Team, working as an advisor to the Iraqi Army on location.
Gray was fluent in Arabic prior to deployment, giving him enormous insight into the culture and worldview of Iraqis as citizens and soldiers and obvious advantages over colleagues (and competing memoirists) relying on translantors On many occasions, Gray encounters an Insh' Allah philosophy, a mantra of "If God wills it" or "God willing" can strike Americans as lazy or unmotivated.
Among other startling lessons, Gray discovered that loyalty to tribe supersedes duty to the state; the Iraqi Army soldiers he was training were spending their monthly leave in the ranks of local tribal militias. Gray details the cultural nuances and interpersonal relationships of occupied Iraq with such care and clarity, it's a must-read for anyone interested in the the reconstruction, especially those set to deploy. 20 b&w photos.
News: Film/TV Production Company Seeking On Camera Talent Now!
Indigo Films, www.indigofilms.com a top rated production company for shows on Discovery Channel, A&E, Travel Channel, National Geographic, TLC, and The History Channel has joined with HireVeterans.com and is seeking an On Camera Talent for a series of The Military Channel shows.
They will be looking for experts from a variety of jobs in all branches of the Military, but specifically looking for a young, recently retired military veteran from SPECIAL OPS. It is asked that candidates have in depth knowledge of the 'tools' of the trade and the ability to convey this in front of a camera. Candidates will ideally be from the San Francisco Bay Area, with the average interview consisting of 2 hours.
My beautiful farm in in the Northern California Delta. When I came home from Nashville at the end of 2004, I said 'goodbye' to Music Row where I had lived for 20 years and was dead set on retiring and becoming a farmer. I am now living in my dream, and thinking occasionally about moving to West Virginia to get a job in a coal mine because this retirement dealie is killing me!
So, some months ago I decided to take a 'working vacation' and go fly fishing on the Eastern side of Idaho. My buddy who takes me striped bass fishing here has been going to that area for years deep lining for big trout. The more I studied the area, the more I realized it was right up my ally with the recent release of my newest record, "LT Bobby Ross - The Fisherman".
So after a week of recording my newest Nashville record with my music producer here taking my 4 vocals on the music tracks laid the weeks before by a team of great Nashville studio musicians, I hung it up, caught a Delta flight to Salt Lake City, and then a puddle jumper to Jackson Hole, and I was in Fly Fishing Capital of the World.
News: SOLDIERS TO GET A DOSE OF “THE BEST MEDICINE"
USO GI Comedy Boot Camp
Hollywood’s World Famous Laugh Factory in association with K-EARTH 101 is going to host a special show to raise money for the USO at its new Long Beach Location. The show will feature some of comedy’s biggest stars and be hosted by K-EARTH’s morning show host Gary Bryan.
The entire event will be filmed and then made available online at laughfactory.com to all the American service men and women around the world at no cost. In conjunction with this event, 5 members of the United States Armed Forces have been chosen to compete for the funniest service member.
These brave men and women will each perform 3 minutes of stand-up comedy and be judged by a jury of famous comedians, the Hollywood industry, and their fellow service members.
This may seem strange coming from a staff writer in Central Illinois but here is the inside information. The Oregon Air Show is coming to Portland Hillsboro Airport August 28, 29 & 30. Performers include the Blue Angels and the Golden Knights. Static displays include A USAF F-15, a Huey, a Cobra, a Blackhawk helicopter.
This year ALL VETERANS and ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY get free general admission to the show.
As the first decade of the 21st century draws to a close, the issues of global war and peace hinge to an unprecedented degree on the vast chasm between the Christian and Muslim faiths. Mark D. Siljander's remarkable new book, therefore, could no be more timely.
Books preaching interfaith good will and reconciliation, of course, are not new. But when Mr. Siljander's work wins the enthusiastic pre-publication praise of former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese of the Heritage Foundation, former Secretary of State James A. Baker III and Ban Ki-moon, the secretary-general of the United Nations, it is clear that something exceptional has appeared. Mr. Siljander, a Reagan Republican, devout Christian, former Evangelical and former House member from Michigan, does not disappoint. A good and extraordinary man has written a quite extraordinarily good book.
It is such a 'trip' (old San Francisco Flower Child expression) to be a staff writer for such a respected outfit as Veterans Today. This came unexpected. I never asked to be on the 'team'. One day the editor put one of my LRRP Net Sit-Reps on this site as a 'feature' and then invited me to be a staff writer. Quite an honor.
So, I scratched my head and asked myself, "Self, what can I do to contribute to this great organization in such a way as to be an individual voice and not just another Veteran throwing rocks at passing cars?"
It came to me that since I am an entertainer, a Rock 'n' Roll tripper, a folk singer, a world known Country recording artist from Nashville and a bit of a clown, it might be better to write for this medium from the standpoint of having 'fun'. And, I learned a long time ago that a true writer writes from his heart. So, what the hay, why not write about all the fun I'm having with my life since I retired from the Nashville Music Industry at the end of 2004 and got this farm not too far from where I was born.
Next year will be my 22nd year as a professional on the Internet. I built my incredible LRRP Net in my offices on Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee, before anyone there know what a web site was! I was the first Country Music Recording with a web site. I had to fly to San Francisco and stay with my oldest son for 3 months to hire web designers to build it for me.
I retired from the Nashville Music Industry at the end of 2004 largely due to the damage Napster had done by downloading songs on the Internet for FREE. I moved back home. I was born in Sacramento back before dirt was invented, and I am now living on a 1000 acre waterfowl refuge just to the East of a little town of Isleton, snuggled up against the Sacramento River, the biggest river in California.
Features: MUSIC REVIEW: Nashville Tracks from Brian Jay Cline
FRIEND OF OUR VETERANS, AMERICAN SINGER SONGWRITER BRIAN JAY CLINE, RELEASES NEW ALBUM 'NASHVILLE TRACKS'
by John P. Allen
Just received my advanced copy of singer songwriter Brian Jay Cline's new album release "Nashville Tracks". You see, Brian Jay Cline is a great friend of our Veterans.
He has been sending us his Americana Country Roots Rock music for years and sharing it with all of us.
When I called Brian on the phone this week he said in his most humble sincere way "It's my honor to play for our veterans anytime". Anyway, this is supposed to be a music review...so let's get to it.
This is my 21st year as a professional on the Internet. I can not tell you all the stories about the adventures I've had each week, let alone one year, and never on all 21. But, I can tell you this: The Internet is the greatest invention of man. No doubt about it.
Before I moved to Nashville at the end of 1985, I was a professional crawdad trapper here in the California. I graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in music from their famous Music Department, bought a small ranch in Sonoma, California, and tried to put together a band and a publishing company. It did not work. To many personalities and too many egos, and too many problems.
In the 1800s the renowned Byron Hot Springs Resort was well-known by the rich and famous for its 160-acre property with three grand hotels, a Queen Anne cottage called the Mead Mansion, a hospital, and several guest cottages. The resort saw brisk business well into the early part of the 20th century, but that all changed in the 1940s. During World War II, the local resort famous for its hot springs held a secret camp that became a highly reputed location for interrogation of Japanese POWs and civilians.
News: US Air Force Band Conductor to Perform at L.A. Winds Concert
L.A. Winds to Feature Gabriel and Underwood in Free Concert
Woodland Hills, California - Col. Arnald D. Gabriel, Conductor Emeritus of the US Air Force Band, will guest conduct the Los Angeles Pierce Symphonic Winds in a free outdoor concert in Woodland Hills on August 2, 2009, that will also feature saxophone soloist Dale Underwood, Master Chief Musician, U.S. Navy Band, retired, and Professor of Music at GMU.
The repertoire will pay tribute to the Armed Forces and will include the “1812 Overture” by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky augmented by live cannon shots. Attendance is expected to be around 10,000, and the concert will begin at 6:00 PM at Warner Park in Woodland Hills.
USAA and U-TURN are looking for The Next Great American Road Song
The call for entries has begun for U-TURN’s annual Garage Band Playoff ’09, a national battle-of-the-bands competition sponsored by USAA and open to aspiring musicians and songwriters ages 13-21.
This year – in the tradition of immortal songs like Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild”, and Rascal Flatts’ “Life is a Highway” – U-TURN is looking for The Next Great American Road Song.
Features: CROSBY STILLS & NASH CONCERT: AN "ANTI-WAR" FLASHBACK IN OHIO
AS THOUGH FROM A TIME MACHINE
ANTI-WAR MUSIC AND ANTI-WAR GROUPS CONVERGE
By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER
Last night, Crosby Stills and Nash played the the historic outdoor concert facility at the Toledo Zoo. Not many people left for us old guys. Riders on the Storm (The Doors, sort of) hasn't toured in awhile, we lost one of the Righteous Brothers, I am finding The Eagles "less energetic" and time have left me behind. The music that defined our lives is now reduced to the garbage of "oldies" radio.
CSN is known for their politics during Vietnam, decidedly anti-war. Thus, I should have been less surprised to find Mike Ferner, National President of Veterans for Peace (the newly reconstituted version) with a table and a strong following, passing out buttons, brochures and information.
News: Gulf War Book Goes to President Obama as BookSignings Benefit Vets, etc...
Gulf War Veteran/Advocate/Author sends a copy of his book, "The Gulf War Anthology of Poetry," to President Obama. Some of the book sales will go to benefit veterans and others who are struggling.
As President Obama soon to receive his copy of the book, The Gulf War Anthology of Poetry, Gulf War Vet and Author William J. Simmons, Sr. kicks off his Booksignings. The first will be held at BooksAMillion at the Coastal Grand Mall in Myrtle Beach, SC and then to Waldenbooks in Charleston, SC. Coming soon to Fayetteville, NC, Columbia, SC, Atlanta, GA, and New York City, NY. Simmons has donated in the past some of his book sales to the National Gulf War Resource Center, Alston Wilkes Veterans Homeless Shelter, Oliver Gospel Mission, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, and more to come...
News: Celebrating Woodstock's 40 Years of Peace and Music
by Donna Teresa
I thank my lucky stars I was raised in a family where books, art and music were considered a privilege and a gift.
I expect it is the reason for me being such a music fan to this day. Whenever I reflect on my youth, I always attach music to my past, as my own personal mental scrapbook.
Even though I was a youngster in the 1960s, my memories are vivid, especially of Dad's tunes playing throughout the day on his record player and the eight-track blasting his favorites in the family car. I was mesmerized by his album collection. I loved flipping through the many albums and admiring the brilliant cover artwork and photographs that graced them. With the invention of music downloads, I miss holding an album or 45rpm record and enjoying the artwork and photos.
What happens when a bank fails? You'll find out in our lead story Sunday. 60 Minutes cameras and correspondent Scott Pelley were there a few months ago when the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation surprised the employees of suburban Chicago's Heritage Community Bank when they arrived on a Friday night to take over their failing firm. Pelley reports on the entire process, kept secret until the actual takeover to prevent a run on the bank. He also speaks to the FDIC Chair Sheila Bair, who says her agency has planned to spend $65 billion on such takeovers in the next five years. She hopes to educate the public about what her agency does when a bank fails. And as long as no customer has more money in one account than the insurance deposit limit of $250,000, "We have been around for 75 years and nobody's ever lost a penny," she tells Pelley.
News: Ippy Award Goes to "An Enemy of the People: The Unending Battle Against Conventional Wisdom"
by Sherwood Ross, Staff Writer
A new book by essayist Lawrence Velvel, Dean of the Massachusetts School of Law at Andover, has won the 2009 gold medal in the essay/creative category of Independent Publisher, the voice of the independent publishing industry.
The “IPPY” Award was conferred for his non-fiction work “An Enemy of the People: The Unending Battle Against Conventional Wisdom,” published by the law school’s Doukathsan Press. The small number of other academic presses to win awards were headed by those of Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Michigan. The “IPPY” award recognizes excellence in independent publishing, and a total of 3,380 books were entered in 85 categories, Independent Publisher said.
Veteran Tickets Foundation to lead local singing contest
by Shelle Michaels, Staff Writer
Are you a budding country singer with just the right “twang” in your voice? Do you know every Toby Keith song and want a chance to meet him? Are you currently Active Duty or a Veteran of the U.S. Military?
If you answered yes to these questions, your dreams might just come true as Veteran Tickets Foundation partners with the new Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar and Grill for VetTix “American Soldier Idol.”
Toby Keith’s I love this Bar and Grill, located at Mesa Riverview, 1065 N. Dobson Rd, Mesa AZ 85201, will open on June 3 with a special “invite only” party. Prior to the event, Veteran Tickets Foundation will be hosting a singing contest, with the grand prize of an all access VIP package, including a meet & greet with Toby Keith.
News: Pinup Girl Wants To Win and Donate More to Veterans
Pinups For Vets Update
by Gina the PinUp Girl
An update is overdue! There have been some exciting things going on with the project lately! Some of you may have seen my updates on Facebook. By the way, if you are a member of Facebook, please add me! You can find my profile by searching pinupsforvets@aol.com. I'd like to keep in touch with you on there and I constantly provide project updates and pix!
Before I get on to the project news, I would like to ask you a favor. L'Oreal Paris has an award called Women of Worth. They pick women making a difference in their community. The winner gets to donate $25,000 to the cause of their choice...and I would LOVE to be able to donate this money to a rehab program for our brave Wounded Warriors and Vets. I was wondering, if you have a spare moment, if you could visit www.womenofworth.com and nominate me, Gina Elise, for the Pin-Ups For Vets project. There are four questions to answer and it should only take a few minutes. I figure the more people nominate the project, the more the committee will take notice...and we might actually get a shot at donating this money to our brave heroes!!!!! My fingers are crossed!!!!! The deadline to nominate is 7/13/09 and the winners are announced in October.
The Associated Press is running a story about Rush Limbaugh making a major on-air mistake on Friday night concerning the President and then refusing to apologize once he realized he was wrong. 
by Lt. Bobby Ross, Staff Writer
In this illuminating memoir called "
Indigo Films, 
A DEADLY MISUNDERSTANDING: A CONGRESSMAN'S QUEST TO BRIDGE THE MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN DIVIDE
by Lt. Bobby Ross, Staff Writer
L.A. Winds to Feature Gabriel and Underwood in Free Concert
AS THOUGH FROM A TIME MACHINE
Pinups For Vets Update
