Category: Support the troops

The Austin Statesman reports that the Texas Veterans’ Land Board has decided that they’ll give the same benefits to the victims of the Fort Hood shootings as they would give to any combat-injured veteran;

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson announced Friday that the Texas Veterans Land Board, which provides loans and retirement home services to veterans and their families, will treat the spouses of those killed in the Nov. 5, 2009, Fort Hood shooting “as if they were killed in combat.”

[…]

“We’re going to change the rules to give these families full access to VLB benefits,” Patterson said in a statement. “We’ll let the lawyers work out the details, but I intend to make sure we honor their sacrifice.”

[…]

“Like Travis and Crockett, their spilled blood remains forever intermingled with Texas soil. Their surviving spouses who are residents of Texas at the time of application should be eligible for VLB programs.”

The federal government should be ashamed of themselves.

Joseph sends a link to the story of Tech Sergeant Everett L. MacDonald’s medals which were lost when his widow died and were returned to the family a few weeks ago. Sergeant MacDonald was killed on September 13, 1944;

For his service and his sacrifice, Technical Sargent MacDonald was bestowed with a Purple Heart, a Distinguished Flying Cross, and an Air Medal, all of which were given to his wife, which she held onto for the entirety of her life. After her passing, the medals were found amongst her possessions and through the diligent work of Purple Hearts Reunited and Captain Zacariah Fike, have now been returned to Technical Sargent MacDonald’s nephew.
In attendance were the Patriot members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart…

Everett, Massachusetts must be a great place to live for so many of it’s residents to pay tribute to a man none of them ever knew.

Several of you have sent us links to this story about Jared Goering, a disabled 19-year veteran who was ticketed for having his service dog on the boardwalk in North Wildwood, NJ.

Goering said, “Just like any veteran with disabilities with a service dog, to come back and be harassed and shown no respect, it upset me – it really bothered me. I was up most of the night thinking about it.”

A North Wildwood police officer issued Jared and his wife a summons because of the dog. Goering said, “I expected to get more respect from him because of the jobs that we both have to do.”

“He mockingly asked if all veterans get service dogs,” said Jared’s wife, Sally Goering, “his dog is medically necessary and he is a service dog.”

North Wildwood police officials say there are no pending charges, but that there are other circumstances surrounding the case.

The mayor of North Wildwood says they will issue a formal apology, if appropriate, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Too late. The officer’s attitude is indicative of a training problem among the police force of North Wildwood.

It seems to me that, if the officer truly thought he could write a summons, he could have, instead, issued a warning, and he didn’t need to be a smart ass about it. That’s erring on the side of caution.

Mary sends a link to a story about a community that pulled together and fixed up a beat-up truck that was the dream vehicle of a deployed soldier from Branson, MO;

Dave sends us a link to the BBC which, as a follow-up to our post about JK Rowlings’ stolen valor tells that she sued her lawyer for leaking the fact that she wrote the book and not some pseudonymous former military man.

The court heard Rowling had been “left dismayed and distressed by such a fundamental betrayal of trust”.

Mr Gossage, Ms Callegari and Russells all apologised and the firm agreed to pay the author’s legal costs.

It also agreed to make a payment, by way of damages, to the Soldiers’ Charity, formerly known as the Army Benevolent Fund.

Rowling explained that she was donating the money “partly as a thank you to the army people” who helped her with research.

“But also because writing a hero who is a veteran has given me an even greater appreciation and understanding of exactly how much this charity does for ex-servicemen and their families, and how much that support is needed,” she said.

[…]

Rowling said she would also be donating all the royalties for the book to the charity.

OK, I feel better.

I get a ton of mail from folks who want me to tell you about stuff, I ignore most of them because they just don’t seem relevant. This one seems to be an exception;

s time goes on, we continue to thank our veterans and commemorate our fallen troops for how they served and sacrificed for our country. To focus on those from the Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, today known as The Wall, in Washington, D.C., was dedicated in 1982. We will always remember the half million troops deployed to Vietnam and The Wall honors the more than 58,000 men and women who unfortunately did not return. And now, even more is being done to honor, thank them and remember them.

In 2003, President George W. Bush signed legislation authorizing Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) to build an underground educational facility near The Wall. The Education Center at The Wall will show pictures and tell stories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. It will show some of the more than 150,000 items left at The Wall and celebrate the values exhibited by America’s service members in all wars.

The newest event for The Wall is “Call for Photos,” tied to the Faces Never Forgotten campaign, encouraging friends and families of veterans, as well as every citizen, to ensure that the memories and stories of those listed on The Wall are never forgotten. With the help of Members of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), local organizations and volunteers in communities nationwide, VVMF hopes to acquire the photographs of vets who are listed on The Wall in Washington, DC. There are still over 26,551 names without faces or even a back story on the Wall this event is hoping to give every soldier the honor of being fully remembered as a person and not just a name.

“To complete the mission and begin construction of the Education Center, we will continue to depend on the dedication and generosity of those individuals, organizations and communities that make it their goal to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and contribute in their honor,” says Jan C. Scruggs, President of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

For info on the Education Center at The Wall or submitting a photo, visit www.vvmf.org or call 866-990-WALL

We just got a flyer about free admission for active duty troops and veterans at the movie “White House Down” on July 4th only;

ACTIVE MILITARY AND VETERANS INVITED TO CELEBRATE JULY 4TH WITH FREE ADMISSION TO “WHITE HOUSE DOWN”
Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, and Carmike Cinemas To Participate in Special Tribute to Troops

CULVER CITY, Calif., July 2, 2013 – On Independence Day, to thank America’s troops for their sacrifice and service, active military personnel and veterans will be admitted with one guest to see Columbia Pictures’ White House Down for free at any Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, or Carmike Cinemas theater by showing proper military identification. The special invitation to America’s military personnel and veterans is valid only on the 4th of July and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis at each participating location.

Commenting on the announcement, Rory Bruer, president of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures, said, “We think White House Down is the summer’s best action movie, so on July 4th, we’re inviting all active duty and veteran military personnel to bring a guest and see it for free. It’s a great way to celebrate the holiday and to honor and thank the troops for their service to our country.”

In White House Down, Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation’s government falling into chaos and time running out, it’s up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country. The film is directed by Roland Emmerich, written by James Vanderbilt, and produced by Bradley J. Fischer, Harald Kloser, James Vanderbilt, Larry Franco, and Laeta Kalogridis.

That’s probably the only way I’d go see this particular movie from what I’ve heard of the plot. I wonder when Hollywood is going to have the villains portrayed by actual villainous people instead of drawing on the worn out cliche rich white guys. And the scariest part of the movie is that Jamie Foxx is the President. But, hey, it’s free on July 4th only, so go have fun. I guess you should call your theater ahead of time to ask if they’re participating in the dealie.