Veterans/Political Fronts
“Democrats Endeavor to Show Strength on Defense”: The Democratic presidential candidates have been tapping into Iowa veteran’s unease about the policies under President Bush’s administration, while a number of veterans have switched their allegiances to the Democrat Party. The GOP has traditionally garnered the vet vote, but they can no longer take this bloc of voters for granted. Ray Bagg, a Vietnam veteran from Des Moines, who considered himself to be a Republican when he first returned home from Vietnam, said the notion that advocates of a change in strategy in Iraq are weak on defense is "b.s.” "I'm getting to the point where I want to be rebellious," said Bagg, 61. "I'm just angry." (Des Moines Register)
“Clinton v. Obama, Veterans Version”: This week, the "Commission on Care of America's Wounded Warriors" issued recommendations for improving treatment for veterans who return injured from the front. Clinton's proposal would amend the Family and Medical Leave Act -- one of the first major bills of her husband's presidency -- to allow up to six months leave for eligible relatives of service members with combat-related injuries. Meanwhile, Obama passed around his own pitch, providing a full year of job protection, and, as an email from Obama's Senate office points out, "unlike FMLA, which only covers spouses, parents, and children, the Military
Family Job Protection Act covers siblings who are caring for recovering service members." (Washington Post Blog)
“Richardson Begins Airing ‘Heroes’ Ads in Iowa”: Touting his record as New Mexico's governor and commander-in-chief, Gov. Bill Richardson released his latest television ad in Iowa. The ad, "Heroes," highlights Richardson's support for veterans and how he led the national effort to raise the death benefits for the families of fallen soldiers. During campaign stops in Iowa, Richardson said he would give all veterans a "Heroes Health Card" that would allow them to receive health care wherever they need it. Currently, veterans are required to access their health benefits at designated veterans' hospitals, which creates an accessibility burden for those veterans who don't live near them. (Iowa Independent)
Military/Political Front
“Politicians Line Up Behind Friends and Families to Salute Return of Iowa’s 133rd Infantry”: Having completed the longest combat posting that any Iowa unit has served since World War II, the 640 National Guard soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry returned Wednesday to Iowa. After spending nearly two years on active duty, 17 months of which were in Iraq, the Ironman Battalion's soldiers were greeted by an estimated 8,000 people at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo. Meanwhile, Iowa's political delegation offered their gratitude by honoring the 133rd from the nation's capital. (Iowa Independent)
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
House Passes Provision to Help Parents of Soldiers Receive Military Death Benefits
The mother of a Navy reservist killed in Iraq is a step closer to being able to collect her daughter's military death gratuity. Iowa Congressman Tom Latham authored legislation aimed at helping the Jaenke family from Iowa Falls, Iowa. The U.S. House of Representatives had already accepted language from Latham that provides service members the option of designating caretakers as the recipients of all or part of the military death gratuity.
But the House had yet to provide a "look back" provision to assist the 143 families stuck in the same red tape as the Jaenkes. The new measure passed the House on Monday and now moves to the Senate.
As reported by Iowa Independent on May 24, the bill was crafted by Latham, a Republican representing the 4th District, in response to the parents of Jaime Jaenke (see pic), who was killed by a roadside bomb in June 2006 in Iraq. In a note written to her parents, the single mother had made it clear whom she wanted to be her beneficiary: “There is a smaller policy that goes to you that is for $100,000. That is for you to raise Kayla [Jaenke’s surviving 10-year-old daughter] with and $25,000 of that goes to the barn.”
To help ensure her wishes, Jaenke designated her mother, Susan Jaenke, the beneficiary of the death benefit on her official paperwork. Unfortunately, federal law only allows a spouse or a child to be named the beneficiary, and the money for the latter must be kept in a trust until the beneficiary turns age 18.
"Many service members who are single parents rely upon grandparents or other caretakers to care for their children while they are deployed," said Latham. "It is a fundamental duty of Congress to ensure that the children of fallen service members are cared for. We owe this to our service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice."
Latham introduced H.Con.Res. 175 to give these families legal standing. The bill gives state courts the discretion to redistribute death gratuity funds to caretakers if the courts find a clear expression of intent was left by the service member. The measure must now be approved by the Senate, before moving on to President Bush’s desk.
Iowa Gov. Chet Culver congratulated the House on Tuesday for passing Latham’s bill. In June, Culver sent a letter urging Iowa Sens. Tom Harkin, a Democrat, and Charles Grassley, a Republican, as well as Senate leadership to pass legislation that would extend military death benefits to families such as the Jaenkes. Culver also sent a similar letter to governors across the country to raise awareness of this issue.
“The brave men and women overseas deserve to know that, if something tragic were to happen, we will do everything we can to take care of their families back home,” said Culver in a statement. “I appreciate Susan Jaenke raising this issue with our office, and I am pleased that the U.S. House has acted on behalf of our military families. I now encourage the Senate to quickly pass this legislation so we can immediately help military families facing financial hardship.”
But the House had yet to provide a "look back" provision to assist the 143 families stuck in the same red tape as the Jaenkes. The new measure passed the House on Monday and now moves to the Senate.As reported by Iowa Independent on May 24, the bill was crafted by Latham, a Republican representing the 4th District, in response to the parents of Jaime Jaenke (see pic), who was killed by a roadside bomb in June 2006 in Iraq. In a note written to her parents, the single mother had made it clear whom she wanted to be her beneficiary: “There is a smaller policy that goes to you that is for $100,000. That is for you to raise Kayla [Jaenke’s surviving 10-year-old daughter] with and $25,000 of that goes to the barn.”
To help ensure her wishes, Jaenke designated her mother, Susan Jaenke, the beneficiary of the death benefit on her official paperwork. Unfortunately, federal law only allows a spouse or a child to be named the beneficiary, and the money for the latter must be kept in a trust until the beneficiary turns age 18.
"Many service members who are single parents rely upon grandparents or other caretakers to care for their children while they are deployed," said Latham. "It is a fundamental duty of Congress to ensure that the children of fallen service members are cared for. We owe this to our service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice."
Latham introduced H.Con.Res. 175 to give these families legal standing. The bill gives state courts the discretion to redistribute death gratuity funds to caretakers if the courts find a clear expression of intent was left by the service member. The measure must now be approved by the Senate, before moving on to President Bush’s desk.
Iowa Gov. Chet Culver congratulated the House on Tuesday for passing Latham’s bill. In June, Culver sent a letter urging Iowa Sens. Tom Harkin, a Democrat, and Charles Grassley, a Republican, as well as Senate leadership to pass legislation that would extend military death benefits to families such as the Jaenkes. Culver also sent a similar letter to governors across the country to raise awareness of this issue.
“The brave men and women overseas deserve to know that, if something tragic were to happen, we will do everything we can to take care of their families back home,” said Culver in a statement. “I appreciate Susan Jaenke raising this issue with our office, and I am pleased that the U.S. House has acted on behalf of our military families. I now encourage the Senate to quickly pass this legislation so we can immediately help military families facing financial hardship.”
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Richardson Begins Airing “Heroes” Ads in Iowa
Touting his record as New Mexico’s governor and commander-in-chief, Gov. Bill Richardson released his latest television ad in Iowa. The ad, “Heroes,” highlights Richardson’s support for veterans and how he led the national effort to raise the death benefits for the families of fallen soldiers. During campaign stops in Iowa, Richardson said he would give all veterans a “Heroes Health Card” that would allow them to receive health care wherever they need it. Currently, veterans are required to access their health benefits at designated veterans’ hospitals, which creates an accessibility burden for those veterans who don’t live near them.
New "Heroes" TV Ad
"This ad shows how the Governor has long supported our troops and has fought to honor their service with meaningful life insurance benefits and a health care proposal that would make health care much more accessible for veterans who live great distances from V.A. hospitals," said campaign manager Dave Contarino in a press release.
New "Heroes" TV Ad
"This ad shows how the Governor has long supported our troops and has fought to honor their service with meaningful life insurance benefits and a health care proposal that would make health care much more accessible for veterans who live great distances from V.A. hospitals," said campaign manager Dave Contarino in a press release.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
The Iowa Front: Military & Veterans’ Weekly Roundup
Veterans/Political Fronts
“Three-Star General Promotes Obama as Next Commander in Chief”: Sen. Barack Obama may not have been in Iowa on Wednesday, but his presence was felt during his campaign's "Commander in Chief" Tour. "Obama has not served in the military but it was clear, when I watched him bond with our soldiers stationed in Africa, that Obama loves the military," retired Air Force Gen. Scott Gration told a crowd gathered at the Solon Public Library. "Barack understands how valuable our soldiers are and the sacrifices they're making for our country. He understands that this is a force that cannot be squandered and must be used at the right time to preserve our interests. That's why Obama should be our next commander in chief." (Iowa Independent)
“Clinton Campaign Announces the Names of 316 Iowa Military Veteran Supporters”: Iowans for Hillary today announced the names of 316 Iowans who have served our nation in the armed services and are supporting Hillary Clinton. "In the Senate, Hillary fought to secure funding for veterans’ hospitals, to reduce prescription drug prices for veterans, and provide: additional support for disabled veterans,” said Sgt. Major Dean Cox USA (Ret.). “I know that she will continue to stand up for us when she is in the White House." (Clinton Press Release)
Military Front
“Books: 'Sisters' Face the Fire in Iraq”: Right now, women make up about 10 percent of the American troops serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan. In her new book, “Band of Sisters,” Drake University graduate Kirsten Homsted explores the role and experiences of women in warfare. "I really wanted to be the first to show women in combat and how that issue was unfolding on the battlefield," she said. Homsted’s book profiles few Iowa women who served in these wars. (Des Moines Register)
“Soldiers of 133rd Begin Arriving Home”: After 22 months of service the soldiers of the First Battalion, 133rd Infantry are coming home. Originally slated to return in April, the 133rd, based out of Northeast Iowa and containing soldiers from all over the state had its tour extended in January. “If you look at the entire time, it’s fairly remarkable,” said Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood of the National Guard. "I think if you look at this…one of the longest serving National Guard units on active duty in the global war on terror. These folks have really distinguished themselves.” (Press-Citizen)
Read other articles regarding the 133rd’s return: WCF Courier, The Messenger, and the Sioux City Journal.
“Three-Star General Promotes Obama as Next Commander in Chief”: Sen. Barack Obama may not have been in Iowa on Wednesday, but his presence was felt during his campaign's "Commander in Chief" Tour. "Obama has not served in the military but it was clear, when I watched him bond with our soldiers stationed in Africa, that Obama loves the military," retired Air Force Gen. Scott Gration told a crowd gathered at the Solon Public Library. "Barack understands how valuable our soldiers are and the sacrifices they're making for our country. He understands that this is a force that cannot be squandered and must be used at the right time to preserve our interests. That's why Obama should be our next commander in chief." (Iowa Independent)
“Clinton Campaign Announces the Names of 316 Iowa Military Veteran Supporters”: Iowans for Hillary today announced the names of 316 Iowans who have served our nation in the armed services and are supporting Hillary Clinton. "In the Senate, Hillary fought to secure funding for veterans’ hospitals, to reduce prescription drug prices for veterans, and provide: additional support for disabled veterans,” said Sgt. Major Dean Cox USA (Ret.). “I know that she will continue to stand up for us when she is in the White House." (Clinton Press Release)
Military Front
“Books: 'Sisters' Face the Fire in Iraq”: Right now, women make up about 10 percent of the American troops serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan. In her new book, “Band of Sisters,” Drake University graduate Kirsten Homsted explores the role and experiences of women in warfare. "I really wanted to be the first to show women in combat and how that issue was unfolding on the battlefield," she said. Homsted’s book profiles few Iowa women who served in these wars. (Des Moines Register)
“Soldiers of 133rd Begin Arriving Home”: After 22 months of service the soldiers of the First Battalion, 133rd Infantry are coming home. Originally slated to return in April, the 133rd, based out of Northeast Iowa and containing soldiers from all over the state had its tour extended in January. “If you look at the entire time, it’s fairly remarkable,” said Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood of the National Guard. "I think if you look at this…one of the longest serving National Guard units on active duty in the global war on terror. These folks have really distinguished themselves.” (Press-Citizen)
Read other articles regarding the 133rd’s return: WCF Courier, The Messenger, and the Sioux City Journal.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Three-Star General Promotes Obama as Next Commander in Chief
Sen. Barack Obama may not have been in Iowa Wednesday, but his presence was felt during his campaign’s “Commander in Chief” Tour. “Obama has not served in the military, but it was clear, when I watched him bond with our soldiers stationed in Africa, that Obama loves the military,” retired Air Force General Scott Gration (below) told a crowd gathered at the Solon Public Library. “Barack understands how valuable our soldiers are and the sacrifices they’re making for our country. He understands that this is a force that cannot be squandered and must be used at the right time to preserve our interests. That’s why Obama should be our next commander in chief.” 
Speaking on behalf of Obama, Gration has been on a 13-stop tour of duty in Iowa, where he’s been emphasizing Obama’s support for the troops while promoting his leadership credentials to be the next commander in chief. As an Air Force pilot, Gration flew more combat missions than any other American while commanding the operations overseeing both the northern and southern no-fly zones in Iraq. His aerial combat experience logs in at over 5,000 hours, including 983 hours of combat time over 274 missions in Iraq. Gration was also the Commander of the Task Force West during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
But it was Gration’s personal relationship with the Illinois senator that convinced him that Obama was the best choice to lead the United States Armed Forces. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Obama asked Gration to accompany him on a trip to Africa and Gration agreed.
While in Africa, Gration and Obama went to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela had been incarcerated for 18 years. “Mandala went in as an angry young man, but he took that time to learn and prepared to one day lead his country,” said Gration. “During his imprisonment, Mandela had an opportunity to think big about what he wanted his country to be and think big about what kind of nation he wanted it to be, which reminds me of a little poem my father once told me: Two men looking out from bars/One saw mud/ And the other saw stars.”
“Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama both see stars,” said Gration. "You can’t be around Obama for more than two seconds without seeing a guy who’s looking up. Here’s somebody who has a vision, hope, a dream for what America can be. Similar to Mandela, here’s somebody who has used his time and experiences abroad, serving as a community organizer, a constitutional law professor, and a state and federal legislator to help prepare himself to be our next commander in chief.”
Before taking questions form the audience, Gration ended his initial remarks with a final pitch for Obama’s candidacy: “He’s the kind of guy who can relate to people and is not afraid to say what’s right and needs to be said. Obama is not afraid to take on the issues, similar to when he had the courage to speak out in 2002 against the war in Iraq, which was not a popular thing to do at the time.”
Gration was followed by Seamus Ahem (below), a Marine from the Quad Cities and veteran of the Iraq War, where he took part in the Phantom Fury siege of
Fallujah. Ahem first met Obama, who at the time was an Illinois senator campaigning at a small gathering in Rock Island. When he found out Ahem was a Marine and was going over to Iraq, Obama looked him in the eye and said, “While you’re over in Iraq, let me know if there’s anything you need.”
Ahem didn’t think much of the Senator’s gesture at the time, but while in Iraq, he was surprised when he received a personal e-mail from Obama asking if he was okay and if there was anything he needed. Ahem exchanged e-mail correspondence with Obama on six or seven occasions. “I could see from the e-mail exchanges how genuine Obama was,” said Ahem. Upon returning to Iowa, Ahem met up with Obama again, only this time he took him up on his offer and asked him for a letter of recommendation for law school, which Obama supplied.
During the question and answer session, Gration touched on the mental crisis facing the veterans upon their return from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “After the Gulf War in ’92, we started to see that soldiers and their families were suffering emotionally. It’s about time we’re reaching out to these people, who are suffering from wounds you can’t see and often times last longer than the physical wounds,” said Gration. “Obama understands this and that’s why, as a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, he’ reaching out to our veterans to help make those programs work, so they won't have to suffer in silence like those folks who came back from Vietnam."
When asked whether or not he thought our military mission in Iraq was clearly defined, Gration said he didn’t think so. “I’m happy about all the debates that are going on in Washington. It’s helping force the issue of clearly defining our mission and what it is we need to accomplish in Iraq,” said Gration. “An unstable Middle East is not in the best interest of America. It’s in our best interest to have forces in the region to help stabilize the situation and support future diplomatic efforts.”
The session ended with a question about the divisiveness of party politics in the United States and how Obama would address this concern. “Unfortunately, we have branded ourselves into a huge corner. We are seriously divided against ourselves and we’re not even in a civil war,” said Gration. “Obama is somebody who understands this and would rather talk about things that unite us, not divide us. He’s into finding consensus in the ground above us, where these boundaries do not exist. Of all the presidential candidates, I think Obama’s the one who will make America united again and help blur those lines separating states into red and blue states.”
Speaking on behalf of Obama, Gration has been on a 13-stop tour of duty in Iowa, where he’s been emphasizing Obama’s support for the troops while promoting his leadership credentials to be the next commander in chief. As an Air Force pilot, Gration flew more combat missions than any other American while commanding the operations overseeing both the northern and southern no-fly zones in Iraq. His aerial combat experience logs in at over 5,000 hours, including 983 hours of combat time over 274 missions in Iraq. Gration was also the Commander of the Task Force West during Operation Iraqi Freedom.But it was Gration’s personal relationship with the Illinois senator that convinced him that Obama was the best choice to lead the United States Armed Forces. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Obama asked Gration to accompany him on a trip to Africa and Gration agreed.
While in Africa, Gration and Obama went to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela had been incarcerated for 18 years. “Mandala went in as an angry young man, but he took that time to learn and prepared to one day lead his country,” said Gration. “During his imprisonment, Mandela had an opportunity to think big about what he wanted his country to be and think big about what kind of nation he wanted it to be, which reminds me of a little poem my father once told me: Two men looking out from bars/One saw mud/ And the other saw stars.”
“Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama both see stars,” said Gration. "You can’t be around Obama for more than two seconds without seeing a guy who’s looking up. Here’s somebody who has a vision, hope, a dream for what America can be. Similar to Mandela, here’s somebody who has used his time and experiences abroad, serving as a community organizer, a constitutional law professor, and a state and federal legislator to help prepare himself to be our next commander in chief.”
Before taking questions form the audience, Gration ended his initial remarks with a final pitch for Obama’s candidacy: “He’s the kind of guy who can relate to people and is not afraid to say what’s right and needs to be said. Obama is not afraid to take on the issues, similar to when he had the courage to speak out in 2002 against the war in Iraq, which was not a popular thing to do at the time.”
Gration was followed by Seamus Ahem (below), a Marine from the Quad Cities and veteran of the Iraq War, where he took part in the Phantom Fury siege of
Fallujah. Ahem first met Obama, who at the time was an Illinois senator campaigning at a small gathering in Rock Island. When he found out Ahem was a Marine and was going over to Iraq, Obama looked him in the eye and said, “While you’re over in Iraq, let me know if there’s anything you need.”Ahem didn’t think much of the Senator’s gesture at the time, but while in Iraq, he was surprised when he received a personal e-mail from Obama asking if he was okay and if there was anything he needed. Ahem exchanged e-mail correspondence with Obama on six or seven occasions. “I could see from the e-mail exchanges how genuine Obama was,” said Ahem. Upon returning to Iowa, Ahem met up with Obama again, only this time he took him up on his offer and asked him for a letter of recommendation for law school, which Obama supplied.
During the question and answer session, Gration touched on the mental crisis facing the veterans upon their return from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “After the Gulf War in ’92, we started to see that soldiers and their families were suffering emotionally. It’s about time we’re reaching out to these people, who are suffering from wounds you can’t see and often times last longer than the physical wounds,” said Gration. “Obama understands this and that’s why, as a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, he’ reaching out to our veterans to help make those programs work, so they won't have to suffer in silence like those folks who came back from Vietnam."
When asked whether or not he thought our military mission in Iraq was clearly defined, Gration said he didn’t think so. “I’m happy about all the debates that are going on in Washington. It’s helping force the issue of clearly defining our mission and what it is we need to accomplish in Iraq,” said Gration. “An unstable Middle East is not in the best interest of America. It’s in our best interest to have forces in the region to help stabilize the situation and support future diplomatic efforts.”
The session ended with a question about the divisiveness of party politics in the United States and how Obama would address this concern. “Unfortunately, we have branded ourselves into a huge corner. We are seriously divided against ourselves and we’re not even in a civil war,” said Gration. “Obama is somebody who understands this and would rather talk about things that unite us, not divide us. He’s into finding consensus in the ground above us, where these boundaries do not exist. Of all the presidential candidates, I think Obama’s the one who will make America united again and help blur those lines separating states into red and blue states.”
Sunday, July 15, 2007
The Iowa Front: Military & Veterans’ Weekly Roundup
Veterans/Political Fronts
“Don’t ‘Fire” Draws Veteran’s Ire”: Jim Kantaris, a Korean veteran, was more than a little perturbed when he found out his VFW post wouldn’t be able to fire off their guns during a 4th of July parade in Mason City due to the security measures made to accommodate the Clintons. "There's too much political stuff," Kantaris, quartermaster of Post 733, told the Mason City Globe Gazette. "They're making us change 50 years of tradition because of two people. And one of them is a draft-dodger who turned the White House into a whorehouse." Kantaris later apologized for his comments, but the breaking of a 50-year tradition still did not resonate well with fellow VFW members. Read more of Jim Carlson’s article in the Des Moines Register.
“Obama Aims to Quell Defense Doubts”: Sen. Barack Obama kicks of his “Commander in Chief” tour this week in Iowa. A group of military veterans who served in Iraq, including some from Iowa, will campaign in the state this week in support of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. They will be joined by Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration as they cross the state. For more information about the tour and schedule of events, go to the Des Moines Register.
“Golf Program Will Help Vets”: Injured and disabled veterans soon will get the opportunity to develop their swing on the area's newest golf course.Thanks to a new partnership between the Blue Top Ridge at Riverside golf course, the Iowa PGA and the VA Iowa City Health Care System, the Iowa Veterans for Golf four-part program is intended to improve the mental, social, physical and emotional well-being for veterans served by the medical center. (The Press-Citizen)
“Grassley Announces $7.6 Million for Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter”: Sen. Chuck Grassley today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a $7.6 million grant to create a new State Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. The new cemetery will be called the Iowa Veterans Cemetery and is the first State Veterans Cemetery in Iowa. Nearly 70,000 veterans and their families live within the service area of this Dallas County Cemetery.
Military Front
“Two Return, One Goes Back: Second Tour of Iraq Separates Pair with Similar Backgrounds”: chronicles two members of the Iowa National Guard’s 833rd Engineer Company, which is scheduled to redeploy to Iraq later this month. Mark McLaughlin and Jason Beatty had become the best of friends while serving in Iraq, but they’ll be separated during this upcoming tour of duty, because Beatty has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Read more about their relationship and struggles in Mark Kilen’s Des Moines Register article.
“Republicans Defeat Troop Readiness Amendment”: A measure that would improve military readiness and require periods of down time for National Guard and reservists returning from Iraq and Afghanistan before redeploying them was defeated Wednesday by a Senate Republican filibuster. At the very minimum, the proposed down-time requirements would be equal to the time of served during previous deployment. Currently, there are no mandated restrictions set by the Department of Defense.
The amendment, S. AMDT. 2012, was introduced by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which is currently being debated in both chambers of Congress. The vote was 56-41 to end debate on Webb's amendment, with 60 votes needed to move to a full up-or-down vote on the Senate floor.
After the filibuster succeeded, Webb, a Vietnam War veteran, shared his disappointment on the Senate floor with Republican colleagues: "Today the Republicans decided to filibuster an amendment that goes straight to the well-being of our troops. I deeply regret this move. I would remind my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle that the American people are watching us today. They expect us to take the sort of positive action that might stabilize the operational environment in which are troops are being sent again and again."
“Don’t ‘Fire” Draws Veteran’s Ire”: Jim Kantaris, a Korean veteran, was more than a little perturbed when he found out his VFW post wouldn’t be able to fire off their guns during a 4th of July parade in Mason City due to the security measures made to accommodate the Clintons. "There's too much political stuff," Kantaris, quartermaster of Post 733, told the Mason City Globe Gazette. "They're making us change 50 years of tradition because of two people. And one of them is a draft-dodger who turned the White House into a whorehouse." Kantaris later apologized for his comments, but the breaking of a 50-year tradition still did not resonate well with fellow VFW members. Read more of Jim Carlson’s article in the Des Moines Register.
“Obama Aims to Quell Defense Doubts”: Sen. Barack Obama kicks of his “Commander in Chief” tour this week in Iowa. A group of military veterans who served in Iraq, including some from Iowa, will campaign in the state this week in support of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. They will be joined by Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration as they cross the state. For more information about the tour and schedule of events, go to the Des Moines Register.
“Golf Program Will Help Vets”: Injured and disabled veterans soon will get the opportunity to develop their swing on the area's newest golf course.Thanks to a new partnership between the Blue Top Ridge at Riverside golf course, the Iowa PGA and the VA Iowa City Health Care System, the Iowa Veterans for Golf four-part program is intended to improve the mental, social, physical and emotional well-being for veterans served by the medical center. (The Press-Citizen)
“Grassley Announces $7.6 Million for Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter”: Sen. Chuck Grassley today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a $7.6 million grant to create a new State Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. The new cemetery will be called the Iowa Veterans Cemetery and is the first State Veterans Cemetery in Iowa. Nearly 70,000 veterans and their families live within the service area of this Dallas County Cemetery.
Military Front
“Two Return, One Goes Back: Second Tour of Iraq Separates Pair with Similar Backgrounds”: chronicles two members of the Iowa National Guard’s 833rd Engineer Company, which is scheduled to redeploy to Iraq later this month. Mark McLaughlin and Jason Beatty had become the best of friends while serving in Iraq, but they’ll be separated during this upcoming tour of duty, because Beatty has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Read more about their relationship and struggles in Mark Kilen’s Des Moines Register article.
“Republicans Defeat Troop Readiness Amendment”: A measure that would improve military readiness and require periods of down time for National Guard and reservists returning from Iraq and Afghanistan before redeploying them was defeated Wednesday by a Senate Republican filibuster. At the very minimum, the proposed down-time requirements would be equal to the time of served during previous deployment. Currently, there are no mandated restrictions set by the Department of Defense.
The amendment, S. AMDT. 2012, was introduced by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which is currently being debated in both chambers of Congress. The vote was 56-41 to end debate on Webb's amendment, with 60 votes needed to move to a full up-or-down vote on the Senate floor.
After the filibuster succeeded, Webb, a Vietnam War veteran, shared his disappointment on the Senate floor with Republican colleagues: "Today the Republicans decided to filibuster an amendment that goes straight to the well-being of our troops. I deeply regret this move. I would remind my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle that the American people are watching us today. They expect us to take the sort of positive action that might stabilize the operational environment in which are troops are being sent again and again."
Friday, July 13, 2007
Republicans Defeat Troop Readiness Amendment
A measure that would improve military readiness and require periods of down time for National Guard and reservists returning from Iraq and Afghanistan before redeploying them was defeated Wednesday by a Senate Republican filibuster. At the very minimum, the proposed down-time requirements would be equal to the time of served during previous deployment. Currently, there are no mandated restrictions set by the Department of Defense.
The amendment, S. AMDT. 2011, was introduced by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which is currently being debated in both chambers of Congress. The vote was 56-41 to end debate on Webb’s amendment, with 60 votes needed to move to a full up-or-down vote on the Senate floor.
After the filibuster succeeded, Webb, a Vietnam War veteran, shared his disappointment on the Senate floor with Republican colleagues: “Today the Republicans decided to filibuster an amendment that goes straight to the well-being of our troops. I deeply regret this move. I would remind my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle that the American people are watching us today. They expect us to take the sort of positive action that might stabilize the operational environment in which are troops are being sent again and again.”
Webb’s amendment was bound to meet resistance from the GOP rank and file and faced a President Bush veto, who vetoed the 2007 war emergency bill on similar grounds that Congress should not etch into law deployment and down times – which the Bush administration says would curtail commanders’ flexibility on the battlefield. Iowa’s Sen. Chuck Grassley echoed the administration’s steadfast policy in a statement to the Iowa Independent: “The last thing politicians in Washington should do is tie the hands of our commanders on the ground by dictating troop rotations."
"Our troops have been put under tremendous stress and have been asked to do a great deal during the War on Terrorism. The soldiers and their families have answered the call of duty time and time again,” said Grassley, a Republican. “Recently, the Secretary of Defense announced new troop deployment policies as well as increases to the size of the active duty military. This should help relieve the stress on our current forces, and the reserve forces in particular, while maintaining the flexibility and capability to respond to national security needs.”
Praise for the Bush administration’s troop deployment policies was less forthcoming on the other side of the aisle in Iowa. “It is simply unacceptable that our troops’ time at home has often been cut short, depriving them of the time they need to recover from combat, complete additional training and spend precious time with their families,” said Sen. Tom Harkin in a press release. “This systematic abuse of redeploying our troops with little down time has placed enormous stress on our troops and their families, and has brought our Army to its breaking point. Having an established amount of time between deployments is crucial to protecting our troops’ mental and physical well-being and providing some stability and predictability for military families.”
Findings from a Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health in June support Harkin’s claim:
Regarding the mental health issues facing veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, mental health experts have reached a consensus that matters will only worsen unless proactive measures are taken. Webb’s amendment was one of these measures.
Webb, a first-year senator, spoke of frustrations with the politicizing of his legislative action: “Americans are tired of the posturing that is giving Congress such a bad reputation. They are tired of the procedural strategies designed to protect politicians from accountability, and to protect this Administration from judgment. They are looking for concrete actions that will protect the well-being of our men and women in uniform.”
The amendment, S. AMDT. 2011, was introduced by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which is currently being debated in both chambers of Congress. The vote was 56-41 to end debate on Webb’s amendment, with 60 votes needed to move to a full up-or-down vote on the Senate floor.
After the filibuster succeeded, Webb, a Vietnam War veteran, shared his disappointment on the Senate floor with Republican colleagues: “Today the Republicans decided to filibuster an amendment that goes straight to the well-being of our troops. I deeply regret this move. I would remind my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle that the American people are watching us today. They expect us to take the sort of positive action that might stabilize the operational environment in which are troops are being sent again and again.”
Webb’s amendment was bound to meet resistance from the GOP rank and file and faced a President Bush veto, who vetoed the 2007 war emergency bill on similar grounds that Congress should not etch into law deployment and down times – which the Bush administration says would curtail commanders’ flexibility on the battlefield. Iowa’s Sen. Chuck Grassley echoed the administration’s steadfast policy in a statement to the Iowa Independent: “The last thing politicians in Washington should do is tie the hands of our commanders on the ground by dictating troop rotations."
"Our troops have been put under tremendous stress and have been asked to do a great deal during the War on Terrorism. The soldiers and their families have answered the call of duty time and time again,” said Grassley, a Republican. “Recently, the Secretary of Defense announced new troop deployment policies as well as increases to the size of the active duty military. This should help relieve the stress on our current forces, and the reserve forces in particular, while maintaining the flexibility and capability to respond to national security needs.”
Praise for the Bush administration’s troop deployment policies was less forthcoming on the other side of the aisle in Iowa. “It is simply unacceptable that our troops’ time at home has often been cut short, depriving them of the time they need to recover from combat, complete additional training and spend precious time with their families,” said Sen. Tom Harkin in a press release. “This systematic abuse of redeploying our troops with little down time has placed enormous stress on our troops and their families, and has brought our Army to its breaking point. Having an established amount of time between deployments is crucial to protecting our troops’ mental and physical well-being and providing some stability and predictability for military families.”
Findings from a Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health in June support Harkin’s claim:
The challenges are enormous and the consequences of non-performance are
significant. Data from the Post-Deployment Health Re-Assessment, which is
administered to service members 90 to 120 days after returning from deployment,
indicate that 38 percent of Soldiers and 31 percent of Marines report
psychological symptoms. Among members of the National Guard, the figure rises to
49 percent (U.S. Air Force, 2007; U.S. Army, 2007; U.S. Navy, 2007). Further,
psychological concerns are significantly higher among those with repeated
deployments, a rapidly growing cohort. Psychological concerns among family
members of deployed and returning Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring
Freedom veterans, while yet to be fully quantified, are also an issue of
concern. Hundreds of thousands of children have experienced the deployment of a
parent.
Regarding the mental health issues facing veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, mental health experts have reached a consensus that matters will only worsen unless proactive measures are taken. Webb’s amendment was one of these measures.
Webb, a first-year senator, spoke of frustrations with the politicizing of his legislative action: “Americans are tired of the posturing that is giving Congress such a bad reputation. They are tired of the procedural strategies designed to protect politicians from accountability, and to protect this Administration from judgment. They are looking for concrete actions that will protect the well-being of our men and women in uniform.”
Grassley Announces $7.6 Million for Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter
Sen. Chuck Grassley today announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a $7.6 million grant to create a new State Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. The new cemetery will be called the Iowa Veterans Cemetery . Iowa Veterans Cemetery is the first State Veterans Cemetery in Iowa . Nearly 70,000 veterans and their families live within the service area of this Dallas County Cemetery .
“Those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country deserve a proper place for remembrance in their home state,” Grassley said. “This cemetery will provide family, friends, and fellow Iowans with an opportunity to pay their respects to our fallen soldiers.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs State Cemetery Grant Program is designed to complement the 125 national cemeteries across the country. This state cemetery grant program helps states establish new state veterans cemeteries, and expand or improve existing state cemeteries. To date, the program has helped establish 66 state veterans cemeteries in 35 states.
“Those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country deserve a proper place for remembrance in their home state,” Grassley said. “This cemetery will provide family, friends, and fellow Iowans with an opportunity to pay their respects to our fallen soldiers.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs State Cemetery Grant Program is designed to complement the 125 national cemeteries across the country. This state cemetery grant program helps states establish new state veterans cemeteries, and expand or improve existing state cemeteries. To date, the program has helped establish 66 state veterans cemeteries in 35 states.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Obama a Little Late on Extending GI Bill Benefits
(Update: The Obama campaign responded to an msnbc.com First Read inquiry about the proposed GI Bill legislation: "A number of different legislative options have been proposed to extend educational benefits for veterans, including the Cantwell bill. Senator Obama has been evaluating whether to cosponsor these bills or propose his own bill.")
During a campaign stop in Des Moines on Tuesday, Army veteran John Strong suggested to Sen. Barack Obama that the U.S. government should withdraw time limits on educational benefits given to soldiers under the GI Bill. Currently, many GI benefits that help veterans pay for college expire in 10 to 14 years after the person has left the service.
Obama responded that Strong, an unemployed senior citizen, had an outstanding idea. “We might introduce legislation next week,” the presidential candidate from Illinois told Strong. “Maybe we’ll name it after you.”
The only glitch is that this legislation has already been named and introduced in the U.S. Senate on May 1st. The “Cantwell/Larsen Montgomery GI Bill for Life Act of 2007” was introduced in May by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. S. 1261, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, would repeal the 10-year and 14-year deadlines.
Given the hundreds of bills introduced in the Senate each session, it would be challenging to keep track of every piece of legislation, but Obama is a member of the Senate Veterans Committee, where the bill was referred once it was introduced on the floor by Cantwell.
The Montgomery GI Bill for active-duty service members and veterans is a "pay to play" benefit that requires each service member to make a $1,200 non-refundable contribution upfront. In return for the contribution they can use their entitlement -- up to $1,075 per month for 36 months -- to help pay for education, apprenticeship and job training.
The catch is that the GI Bill automatically expires 10 years after the veteran leaves active-duty service. This "use it or loose it" aspect of the GI Bill has left many veterans feeling misled and cheated. According to a Department of Veteran Affairs report, nearly 30 percent of eligible veterans are unable to use any of their education benefits and most eligible veterans are only able to access a portion of their GI Bill before the 10-year limit is reached.
"GI Bill benefits should not come with an expiration date," Cantwell said in a May 1 press release announcing the bill. "When our service members leave the military, family obligations, work commitments and economic difficulties often get in the way."
Like Strong, many veterans postpone going to school because of several factors including employment constraints, family obligations, illness and disabilities associated with military service. After the rally, Strong told The Des Moines Register that he obtained a four-year college degree in social sciences in 1964 and then became a psychologist specialist for the military, serving in Europe from 1966 to 1968. He took early retirement from Greyhound several years ago and hasn't been able to find a job since. "A lot of us never used" the educational benefit, "and now that we're older, we need it," Strong said.
In many cases, 10 years have passed and they simply lose their benefits. "We need to remove this arbitrary time limit and make sure our veterans can get valuable skills training when the time is right for them," Cantwell added. "Veterans should have access to their education benefits for life."
During a campaign stop in Des Moines on Tuesday, Army veteran John Strong suggested to Sen. Barack Obama that the U.S. government should withdraw time limits on educational benefits given to soldiers under the GI Bill. Currently, many GI benefits that help veterans pay for college expire in 10 to 14 years after the person has left the service.
Obama responded that Strong, an unemployed senior citizen, had an outstanding idea. “We might introduce legislation next week,” the presidential candidate from Illinois told Strong. “Maybe we’ll name it after you.”
The only glitch is that this legislation has already been named and introduced in the U.S. Senate on May 1st. The “Cantwell/Larsen Montgomery GI Bill for Life Act of 2007” was introduced in May by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. S. 1261, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, would repeal the 10-year and 14-year deadlines.
Given the hundreds of bills introduced in the Senate each session, it would be challenging to keep track of every piece of legislation, but Obama is a member of the Senate Veterans Committee, where the bill was referred once it was introduced on the floor by Cantwell.
The Montgomery GI Bill for active-duty service members and veterans is a "pay to play" benefit that requires each service member to make a $1,200 non-refundable contribution upfront. In return for the contribution they can use their entitlement -- up to $1,075 per month for 36 months -- to help pay for education, apprenticeship and job training.
The catch is that the GI Bill automatically expires 10 years after the veteran leaves active-duty service. This "use it or loose it" aspect of the GI Bill has left many veterans feeling misled and cheated. According to a Department of Veteran Affairs report, nearly 30 percent of eligible veterans are unable to use any of their education benefits and most eligible veterans are only able to access a portion of their GI Bill before the 10-year limit is reached.
"GI Bill benefits should not come with an expiration date," Cantwell said in a May 1 press release announcing the bill. "When our service members leave the military, family obligations, work commitments and economic difficulties often get in the way."
Like Strong, many veterans postpone going to school because of several factors including employment constraints, family obligations, illness and disabilities associated with military service. After the rally, Strong told The Des Moines Register that he obtained a four-year college degree in social sciences in 1964 and then became a psychologist specialist for the military, serving in Europe from 1966 to 1968. He took early retirement from Greyhound several years ago and hasn't been able to find a job since. "A lot of us never used" the educational benefit, "and now that we're older, we need it," Strong said.
In many cases, 10 years have passed and they simply lose their benefits. "We need to remove this arbitrary time limit and make sure our veterans can get valuable skills training when the time is right for them," Cantwell added. "Veterans should have access to their education benefits for life."
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Veterans/Political Fronts
After posting disappointing campaign fundraising numbers for the second quarter in a row, Sen. John McCain downsized his Iowa staff, including his veterans outreach aide.
Veterans gathered at the Fort Dodge Public Library on Thursday for a session on veterans affairs led by Robert Hamill, a staff member of U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. One of the biggest concerns was the waiting periods and bureaucratic delays regarding their health care needs. Hamill said the Thursday’s discussion was part of a series of similar sessions across the state. He mentioned two bills under consideration in Congress: the ‘‘Coming Together for National Guard and Reserve Families Act’’ and the ‘‘Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act.’’
“DCCC Launches Ads Attacking GOP's Record on Troops and Veterans”: Gearing up for the 2008 election, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began targeting 14 vulnerable Republican districts this week by launching its Independence Day ad campaign. "Republicans are going home to talk up their support for our nation's troops and veterans. But, their constituents deserve to know that the Republican record on veterans is all talk and no action," said campaign chairman Chris Van Hollen. "America's troops and veterans deserve more than patriotic speeches this Independence Day."
“This Unusual Alliance is for the Soldiers”: Internet activism has forged an unlikely alliance between 15-year-old YouTube video producer Lizzi Palmer, the hard-rock band Drowning Pool and a group called Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. They want to help educate young people about veterans' health care issues and encourage youth to actively participate in the political process. The campaign, "This Is For the Soldiers," is encouraging supporters to send a petition to U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, asking the California Democrat to take action on the Lane Evans Bill (H.R. 1354) pending in the House. This bipartisan legislation would require mandatory mental-health counseling for combat veterans and ensure a better transition for troops leaving the military.
After posting disappointing campaign fundraising numbers for the second quarter in a row, Sen. John McCain downsized his Iowa staff, including his veterans outreach aide.
Veterans gathered at the Fort Dodge Public Library on Thursday for a session on veterans affairs led by Robert Hamill, a staff member of U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. One of the biggest concerns was the waiting periods and bureaucratic delays regarding their health care needs. Hamill said the Thursday’s discussion was part of a series of similar sessions across the state. He mentioned two bills under consideration in Congress: the ‘‘Coming Together for National Guard and Reserve Families Act’’ and the ‘‘Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act.’’
“DCCC Launches Ads Attacking GOP's Record on Troops and Veterans”: Gearing up for the 2008 election, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began targeting 14 vulnerable Republican districts this week by launching its Independence Day ad campaign. "Republicans are going home to talk up their support for our nation's troops and veterans. But, their constituents deserve to know that the Republican record on veterans is all talk and no action," said campaign chairman Chris Van Hollen. "America's troops and veterans deserve more than patriotic speeches this Independence Day."
“This Unusual Alliance is for the Soldiers”: Internet activism has forged an unlikely alliance between 15-year-old YouTube video producer Lizzi Palmer, the hard-rock band Drowning Pool and a group called Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. They want to help educate young people about veterans' health care issues and encourage youth to actively participate in the political process. The campaign, "This Is For the Soldiers," is encouraging supporters to send a petition to U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, asking the California Democrat to take action on the Lane Evans Bill (H.R. 1354) pending in the House. This bipartisan legislation would require mandatory mental-health counseling for combat veterans and ensure a better transition for troops leaving the military.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
This Unusual Alliance is for the Soldiers
Internet activism has forged an unlikely alliance between 15-year-old YouTube video producer Lizzi Palmer, the hard-rock band Drowning Pool and a group called Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. They want to help educate young people about veterans' health care issues and encourage youth to actively participate in the political process.
“Whether you’re for the war or against it, everyone has an obligation to support the men and women serving our country,” said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of IAVA. “Our alliance with Drowning Pool and Lizzie provides a great platform for raising awareness among young people about the challenges veterans face. At least one in three Iraq veterans will cope with a serious mental health issue, like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s crucial that we put systems in place now to help them.”
The campaign, “This Is For the Soldiers,” is encouraging supporters to send a petition to U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, asking the California Democrat to take action on the Lane Evans Bill (H.R. 1354) pending in the House. This bipartisan legislation would require mandatory mental-health counseling for combat veterans and ensure a better transition for troops leaving the military.
A letter written by the band was read before the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors and will be followed by the band, Drowning Pool, testifying before Congress in early September. The “This Is For the Soldiers" campaign "gives young people a chance to make a real difference in the lives of our country’s newest generation of veterans,” said Rieckhoff.
To help promote the campaign, IAVA enlisted Lizzie Palmer to create a video using footage from Drowning Pool’s recent USO tours in Iraq, Kuwait and South Korea in 2005 and 2006. “We have had the opportunity to meet the troops overseas, come back to the States and get invited to different bases in difference cities. We have spent countless hours with soldiers who do what they do without question and you can’t help being touched by that,” said Drowning Pool lead singer Ryan McCombs to the IAVA. Palmer’s video for Drowning Pool's song called “Soldiers” was released on the 4th of July.
“This is for the Soldiers,” (muisc by Drowning Pool and video by Lizzy Palmer)
The campaign’s title, “This Is For the Soldiers,” comes from a line in “Soldiers,” which the band wrote based on their experiences in Iraq. Bassist Stevie Benton told the IAVA, “After returning from Baghdad, our priority was writing a song about our troops, for our troops. I hope they will accept the song as a show of our respect and thanks.” Drowning Pool also named an upcoming concert tour after the campaign and plans to donate 50 cents from each ticket sale to IAVA and 50 cents to the USO.
IAVA, founded by Iraq veteran Paul Rieckhoff, has been advocating since 2004 on behalf of returning service members. It is the first and largest group representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even Ohio teen Lizzie Palmer has taken action before. “Remember Me,” her previous music video honoring U.S. troops, has received more than 1 million hits on YouTube.
Lizzie Palmer: “Remember Me”
“Whether you’re for the war or against it, everyone has an obligation to support the men and women serving our country,” said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of IAVA. “Our alliance with Drowning Pool and Lizzie provides a great platform for raising awareness among young people about the challenges veterans face. At least one in three Iraq veterans will cope with a serious mental health issue, like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s crucial that we put systems in place now to help them.”
The campaign, “This Is For the Soldiers,” is encouraging supporters to send a petition to U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, asking the California Democrat to take action on the Lane Evans Bill (H.R. 1354) pending in the House. This bipartisan legislation would require mandatory mental-health counseling for combat veterans and ensure a better transition for troops leaving the military.
A letter written by the band was read before the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors and will be followed by the band, Drowning Pool, testifying before Congress in early September. The “This Is For the Soldiers" campaign "gives young people a chance to make a real difference in the lives of our country’s newest generation of veterans,” said Rieckhoff.
To help promote the campaign, IAVA enlisted Lizzie Palmer to create a video using footage from Drowning Pool’s recent USO tours in Iraq, Kuwait and South Korea in 2005 and 2006. “We have had the opportunity to meet the troops overseas, come back to the States and get invited to different bases in difference cities. We have spent countless hours with soldiers who do what they do without question and you can’t help being touched by that,” said Drowning Pool lead singer Ryan McCombs to the IAVA. Palmer’s video for Drowning Pool's song called “Soldiers” was released on the 4th of July.
“This is for the Soldiers,” (muisc by Drowning Pool and video by Lizzy Palmer)
The campaign’s title, “This Is For the Soldiers,” comes from a line in “Soldiers,” which the band wrote based on their experiences in Iraq. Bassist Stevie Benton told the IAVA, “After returning from Baghdad, our priority was writing a song about our troops, for our troops. I hope they will accept the song as a show of our respect and thanks.” Drowning Pool also named an upcoming concert tour after the campaign and plans to donate 50 cents from each ticket sale to IAVA and 50 cents to the USO.
IAVA, founded by Iraq veteran Paul Rieckhoff, has been advocating since 2004 on behalf of returning service members. It is the first and largest group representing veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even Ohio teen Lizzie Palmer has taken action before. “Remember Me,” her previous music video honoring U.S. troops, has received more than 1 million hits on YouTube.
Lizzie Palmer: “Remember Me”
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
DCCC Launch Ads Attacking GOP’s Record on Troops and Veterans
Gearing up for the 2008 election, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began targeting 14 vulnerable Republican districts this week by launching its Independence Day ad campaign. "Republicans are going home to talk up their support for our nation’s troops and veterans. But, their constituents deserve to know that the Republican record on veterans is all talk and no action," said DCCI Chairman Chris Van Hollen. "America’s troops and veterans deserve more than patriotic speeches this Independence Day."
Republicans’ Dismal Record of Failing Our Troops and Veterans
Touted as a grassroots campaign, the DCCC plans on supplementing the television ads with strategic radio ads, targeted e-mails to 2 million voters, and more than 50,000 telephone calls to voters in the targeted districts.
Republicans’ Dismal Record of Failing Our Troops and Veterans
Touted as a grassroots campaign, the DCCC plans on supplementing the television ads with strategic radio ads, targeted e-mails to 2 million voters, and more than 50,000 telephone calls to voters in the targeted districts.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
The Iowa Front: Military & Veterans’ Weekly Roundup
Veterans/Political Fronts
The line between veterans and politics is blurring to the point of nonexistence as more and more veterans are actively engaging in the political process. A number of bills regarding veteran issues have been introduced in both chambers on Capital Hill. Not to mention, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not only pushing veteran issues to the national stage, but veterans are forcing the political hands of Congress members and presidential hopefuls.
“‘Our Second Call to Duty’: Iowa Democratic Party Courting Veterans”: The GOP has traditionally owned the military veteran vote. But if you were to ask anyone at last weekend's Iowa Democratic Party Veterans' Caucus meeting, odds are you would get a different answer. "As a patriotic American, I can't help but be a part of the Democratic Party," said Joe Stutler, Army veteran and Linn Count liaison for the veterans caucus. "As a veteran, it bothers me greatly to see how our veterans and current military are treated in this country, and I would feel as if I left my brothers in arms behind in a hot zone if I didn't speak up and support them." Sensing Stutler is not alone, but rather, a microcosm of discontent regarding how veteran issues have been consistently ignored by politicians, the IDP formed the Armed Forces Veterans' Caucus.
Sen. Joe Biden is gaining support from Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran activists:
“Keeping Real Time with J.B. White, Veterans for Biden’s New National Coordinator”: Iraq War veteran J.B. White doesn't waste any time when it comes to explaining why he and other Veterans for Biden support Sen. Joe Biden for president. "The thing about Veterans for Biden is not only do we support Biden, but we believe in him as well. We believe that he's the one who can get his Iraq plan implemented," said White. "There's a big difference between having a viable plan and being able to implement the plan. Biden's position in the Senate and his experience with foreign affairs make us feel he's the one who can get it done."
In her piece, “Military Wife Answers Her Own Call to Service,” Iowa Independent’s Lynda Waddington interviews Carissa Picard, president of the Military Spouses for Change. Picard, whose husband, Chief Warrant Officer Caynan Picard, is expected to redeploy to Iraq in early 2008, wanted to better serve her country by getting politically involved. After carefully analyzing and comparing all of the presidential candidates, Military Spouses for Change chose to endorse. Sen. Joe Biden.
The line between veterans and politics is blurring to the point of nonexistence as more and more veterans are actively engaging in the political process. A number of bills regarding veteran issues have been introduced in both chambers on Capital Hill. Not to mention, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not only pushing veteran issues to the national stage, but veterans are forcing the political hands of Congress members and presidential hopefuls.
“‘Our Second Call to Duty’: Iowa Democratic Party Courting Veterans”: The GOP has traditionally owned the military veteran vote. But if you were to ask anyone at last weekend's Iowa Democratic Party Veterans' Caucus meeting, odds are you would get a different answer. "As a patriotic American, I can't help but be a part of the Democratic Party," said Joe Stutler, Army veteran and Linn Count liaison for the veterans caucus. "As a veteran, it bothers me greatly to see how our veterans and current military are treated in this country, and I would feel as if I left my brothers in arms behind in a hot zone if I didn't speak up and support them." Sensing Stutler is not alone, but rather, a microcosm of discontent regarding how veteran issues have been consistently ignored by politicians, the IDP formed the Armed Forces Veterans' Caucus.
Sen. Joe Biden is gaining support from Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran activists:
“Keeping Real Time with J.B. White, Veterans for Biden’s New National Coordinator”: Iraq War veteran J.B. White doesn't waste any time when it comes to explaining why he and other Veterans for Biden support Sen. Joe Biden for president. "The thing about Veterans for Biden is not only do we support Biden, but we believe in him as well. We believe that he's the one who can get his Iraq plan implemented," said White. "There's a big difference between having a viable plan and being able to implement the plan. Biden's position in the Senate and his experience with foreign affairs make us feel he's the one who can get it done."
In her piece, “Military Wife Answers Her Own Call to Service,” Iowa Independent’s Lynda Waddington interviews Carissa Picard, president of the Military Spouses for Change. Picard, whose husband, Chief Warrant Officer Caynan Picard, is expected to redeploy to Iraq in early 2008, wanted to better serve her country by getting politically involved. After carefully analyzing and comparing all of the presidential candidates, Military Spouses for Change chose to endorse. Sen. Joe Biden.
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