Clydesdales help wounded soldiers
Hundreds turn out to support Yellow Ribbon Festival and Corn Hole Tournament
Posted: Sunday, June 3, 2012
By CHRIS POLK Staff Writer
EASTON The colors were red, white and blue Saturday on the grounds of the Easton VFW Post 5118 when hundreds of people showed up to support services for active-duty wounded soldiers and their caregivers.
The occasion was the Yellow Ribbon Festival and Corn Hole Tournament, sponsored by Kelly Distributing and organized by Big Tuna Promotions.
Front and center were the Budweiser Clydesdales. Eight of the enormous horses were decked out in their finest, with black and gold-trimmed harnesses and tiny red and white rosebuds woven with ribbons into their manes.
They pulled the gleaming red Budweiser wagon around the paved area of the VFW, driven by two green-capped drivers and a decorative Dalmatian hound named "Brewer." After several turns, they paused for photos, with some cameras going off like strobe lights as the crowd pressed forward.
In the background, the down-home strains of Bird Dog and the Road Kings could be heard as the corn hole tournament started getting warmed up in the "Beer Garden" area. Children tried to wear themselves out in the moon bounce games and alternately got their faces painted.
read more here
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Obama's focus on unemployed veterans hits close to home
Obama's focus on unemployed veterans hits close to home
Posted: Jun 02, 2012
By Christina Killion Valdez
The Post-Bulletin, Austin MN
On a trip to Minnesota last year, President Obama had lunch with Joseph Kidd, of Stewartville. But when Obama visited Minnesota on Friday, Kidd was happy to be at work instead.
When he met the president at a Cannon Falls restaurant, Kidd, a Navy veteran, had been unemployed since he was discharged in April 2011. The frustrating part, however, was that his years of military medical training didn't transfer to civilian experience, he said.
Obama is trying to change the situation for veterans, though, and on Friday, while speaking at Honeywell’s Golden Valley facility, he called on Congress to pass Veterans Job Corps legislation. The bill would leverage skills developed in the military to put Afghanistan and Iraq veterans to work as cops, firefighters and other jobs serving the community.
The president also announced a "We Can’t Wait" initiative to help thousands of service members with manufacturing and other high-demand skills receive civilian credentials and licenses.
"That would be great to help other veterans," Kidd said.
Kidd, though, is already looking to change his career track, from medicine to business, after following a friend's recommendation to apply for a job as a meter reader for Minnesota Energy Resources.
read more here
Posted: Jun 02, 2012
By Christina Killion Valdez
The Post-Bulletin, Austin MN
On a trip to Minnesota last year, President Obama had lunch with Joseph Kidd, of Stewartville. But when Obama visited Minnesota on Friday, Kidd was happy to be at work instead.
When he met the president at a Cannon Falls restaurant, Kidd, a Navy veteran, had been unemployed since he was discharged in April 2011. The frustrating part, however, was that his years of military medical training didn't transfer to civilian experience, he said.
Obama is trying to change the situation for veterans, though, and on Friday, while speaking at Honeywell’s Golden Valley facility, he called on Congress to pass Veterans Job Corps legislation. The bill would leverage skills developed in the military to put Afghanistan and Iraq veterans to work as cops, firefighters and other jobs serving the community.
The president also announced a "We Can’t Wait" initiative to help thousands of service members with manufacturing and other high-demand skills receive civilian credentials and licenses.
"That would be great to help other veterans," Kidd said.
Kidd, though, is already looking to change his career track, from medicine to business, after following a friend's recommendation to apply for a job as a meter reader for Minnesota Energy Resources.
read more here
Deaths under investigation at Camp Lejeune
Deaths under investigation
June 02, 2012
AMANDA WILCOX and MIKE MCHUGH
DAILY NEWS STAFF
The deaths of a Lejeune Marine and a Jacksonville man are under investigation, Jacksonville police said Friday.
The bodies were discovered late Thursday night. Jacksonville police were notified that someone was shot in the parking lot of Navy Federal Credit Union at 422 Yopp Road.
JPD, along with the N.C. Highway Patrol, found a black Dodge truck in the parking lot backed into the building. Jason Eimer, 30, of Jacksonville, was found dead inside the truck with multiple gunshot wounds, according to a release.
JPD.were then notified that a shooting suspect, Christoffer Apger, 32, of Jacksonville, was at the New River Harley Davidson at 2394 Wilmington Highway. As police officers arrived, Apger walked to the rear of the building and shot himself.
A Marine Corps spokesman confirmed that one of the men involved in the shooting was a Marine, but he could not confirm whether that man was Apger.
However, neighbors said Apger was an enlisted Marine from Texas stationed on Camp Lejeune who recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan.
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Camp Lejeune Marine murdered posted on Facebook
June 02, 2012
AMANDA WILCOX and MIKE MCHUGH
DAILY NEWS STAFF
The deaths of a Lejeune Marine and a Jacksonville man are under investigation, Jacksonville police said Friday.
The bodies were discovered late Thursday night. Jacksonville police were notified that someone was shot in the parking lot of Navy Federal Credit Union at 422 Yopp Road.
JPD, along with the N.C. Highway Patrol, found a black Dodge truck in the parking lot backed into the building. Jason Eimer, 30, of Jacksonville, was found dead inside the truck with multiple gunshot wounds, according to a release.
JPD.were then notified that a shooting suspect, Christoffer Apger, 32, of Jacksonville, was at the New River Harley Davidson at 2394 Wilmington Highway. As police officers arrived, Apger walked to the rear of the building and shot himself.
A Marine Corps spokesman confirmed that one of the men involved in the shooting was a Marine, but he could not confirm whether that man was Apger.
However, neighbors said Apger was an enlisted Marine from Texas stationed on Camp Lejeune who recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan.
read more here
Camp Lejeune Marine murdered posted on Facebook
Soldier Killed, 2 Injured In Overnight Bar Shooting
Shooting Happened Outside Colorado Springs Bar
Written By Justin Adams, News Editor
POSTED: 10:02 am MDT June 2, 2012
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A soldier was killed outside a Colorado Springs bar Saturday night in a shooting that also injured two other people.
The shooting happened around 1 a.m. at the Golden Cue Bar near the intersection of South Academy Boulevard and Hancock Expressway.
According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, police reported there were several fights at the bar that night. The soldier who was shot was taken to Fort Carson in a private car.
read more here
A Lone Marine Salutes
A Lone Marine Salutes
POSTED BY PATRICK EDABURN, ASSISTANT EDITOR IN AT TMV
JUN 2ND, 2012
Every year the veterans group Rolling Thunder holds a special event in Washington DC. They ride from the Pentagon to the Vietnam War Memorial both to bring attention to POW/MIA issues and to pay honor to the fallen.
read more here
POSTED BY PATRICK EDABURN, ASSISTANT EDITOR IN AT TMV
JUN 2ND, 2012
Every year the veterans group Rolling Thunder holds a special event in Washington DC. They ride from the Pentagon to the Vietnam War Memorial both to bring attention to POW/MIA issues and to pay honor to the fallen.
read more here
Widow pushes for change in treatment for PTSD
Our job really begins when they claim the title of Veteran and it does not end as long as they live. They will be a combat veteran 365 days a year.
The general public assumes it is all over for them and their families when they come home but as we've seen with the backlog of claims and the long lines at the VA, they may finally be getting the fact that for them and us, it is not over.
also
Soldier's widow wages war against meds she says killed her husband
The general public assumes it is all over for them and their families when they come home but as we've seen with the backlog of claims and the long lines at the VA, they may finally be getting the fact that for them and us, it is not over.
Widow pushes for change in treatment for PTSD
Jun. 3, 2012
Written by
JESSE BASS
American Staff Writer
Camp Shelby
Petal military widow Alicia McElroy cares for her 4-year-old son in the absence of his father.
"I see myself as raising a hero's son and not as a poor, single mom," she said.
Staff Sgt. James "Mac" McElroy had served in some of the most dangerous - and deadly - war zones.
A deployment with the U.S. Marine Corps to Afghanistan in the early 2000s.
A tour in Iraq with the Mississippi Army National Guard in 2005.
A return to Afghanistan in 2010 for a tour of duty with the National Guard.
But it wasn't on a battlefield where James McElroy lost his life.
Instead, nearly a year ago, the 30-year-old died suddenly - and unexpectedly - on American soil in a military hospital while undergoing treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Now, his widow has joined a list of families who want to see change in military standards for treatment of PTSD.
read more here
also
Soldier's widow wages war against meds she says killed her husband
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Armor of God Military Ministry
1st. LT Ryan Presnal talks about going to war and coming back but the danger of combat is not over when they come home. He is stationed at Fort Hood. Members of his unit got divorced and some committed suicide.
The story of how one family dealt with the deployment and return of their son and the issues they dealt with and how the Armor of God Military Ministry was formed to offer hope and healing to our troops and their families. Armor of God Military Ministry is an outreach ministry of the WoodsEdge Community Church of The Woodlands, Texas.
Combat loss of genital or urinary organs now covered?
This is something veterans were not paid for before this? WOW!
TSGLI to start paying $50K for loss of genitals
By Rick Maze
Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jun 1, 2012
The Veterans Affairs Department announced Friday it will begin paying $50,000 in traumatic injury insurance to service members who suffer severe genitourinary losses.
The $50,000 payment of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance traumatic injury payments will apply to the loss of genital or urinary organs as a result of military service, for injuries incurred on or after Oct. 7, 2001, VA announced in a Federal Register notice.
read more here
Injured Iraq war vets to take lap around Belle Isle's Grand Prix track
Injured Iraq war vets to take lap around Belle Isle's Grand Prix track
June 2, 2012
By Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki
Detroit Free Press Staff Writer
Nick Koulchar won't be driving a race car when he does his lap around the track just prior to Sunday's Detroit Chevrolet Belle Isle Grand Prix. But fans are likely to cheer him all the same.
Koulchar of Macomb Township will pedal a hand cycle around the track just before the pace car leads the racers around, as part of the Achilles International Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans.
Koulchar is a former Army sergeant who lost both legs above the knee in 2008 when a car bomb exploded while he was on a routine patrol in Iraq. Since then, he has become a marathoner with the Freedom team and participated in last fall's Free Press/Talmer Bank Marathon. He can go 26 miles on his hand cycle in about two hours.
His goal is to help raise awareness about veterans such as himself, who came home with life-changing injuries.
read more here
June 2, 2012
By Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki
Detroit Free Press Staff Writer
Nick Koulchar is a former Army sergeant who lost his legs in 2008 in Iraq. Since then, he has become a hand cycle marathoner with the Achilles Freedom Team and can go 26 miles in about two hours. / Larry Sillen/Special to the Free Press
Nick Koulchar won't be driving a race car when he does his lap around the track just prior to Sunday's Detroit Chevrolet Belle Isle Grand Prix. But fans are likely to cheer him all the same.
Koulchar of Macomb Township will pedal a hand cycle around the track just before the pace car leads the racers around, as part of the Achilles International Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans.
Koulchar is a former Army sergeant who lost both legs above the knee in 2008 when a car bomb exploded while he was on a routine patrol in Iraq. Since then, he has become a marathoner with the Freedom team and participated in last fall's Free Press/Talmer Bank Marathon. He can go 26 miles on his hand cycle in about two hours.
His goal is to help raise awareness about veterans such as himself, who came home with life-changing injuries.
read more here
Increase Funding for the VA Health Care System
Increase Funding for the VA Health Care System
June 1, 2012 Update
Earlier this year, DAV and our partner organizations in The Independent Budget, recommended that funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) FY 2013 health care budget be increased by $3.8 billion in order to meet increased demand and rising health care costs. By contrast, the Administration’s budget proposal called for a $2.3 billion increase for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), a difference of $1.5 billion. We strongly believe the additional funds we identified can be put to effective use within VA, including better meeting the needs of new veterans of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On May 31, by a vote of 407-12, the House passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. The bill includes a measure that would boost suicide prevention and homeless assistance funds for veterans. It would also provide $71.7 billion in discretionary funding for veterans’ benefits about four percent above the FY 2012 level, but $1.5 billion less than The Independent Budget recommendation.
Recently, we saw evidence of the negative effects of inadequate funding at a Senate hearing when witnesses testified that VA is failing to meet the mental health needs of the veterans it should be serving. VA’s Inspector General reported that these problems were caused by a multiplicity of factors, including funding and staffing shortages, and lack of quick, easy access by veterans to VA’s many mental health programs. The Inspector General’s findings are consistent with DAV’s own internal survey of the VA mental health care system that showed serious problems with access and response for veterans seeking care.
If you or a family member have experience with VA mental health care and would like to add your voice to our continuing survey, please complete the survey here.
We need grassroots support: please use the prepared e-mail to write your Senators to urge them to increase funding for VA’s FY 2013 appropriation by at least $1.5 billion for medical care services to match or exceed the recommendations of the Independent Budget. We are concerned that failure to provide this increase could lead to further disruptions of VA health care and other vital programs, including its critical mental health efforts.
As always, we at DAV are grateful for your participation in our legislative and grassroots advocacy program. Without your active assistance DAV would not be able to accomplish many of our goals in support of the interests of sick and disabled veterans.
June 1, 2012 Update
Earlier this year, DAV and our partner organizations in The Independent Budget, recommended that funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) FY 2013 health care budget be increased by $3.8 billion in order to meet increased demand and rising health care costs. By contrast, the Administration’s budget proposal called for a $2.3 billion increase for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), a difference of $1.5 billion. We strongly believe the additional funds we identified can be put to effective use within VA, including better meeting the needs of new veterans of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On May 31, by a vote of 407-12, the House passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. The bill includes a measure that would boost suicide prevention and homeless assistance funds for veterans. It would also provide $71.7 billion in discretionary funding for veterans’ benefits about four percent above the FY 2012 level, but $1.5 billion less than The Independent Budget recommendation.
Recently, we saw evidence of the negative effects of inadequate funding at a Senate hearing when witnesses testified that VA is failing to meet the mental health needs of the veterans it should be serving. VA’s Inspector General reported that these problems were caused by a multiplicity of factors, including funding and staffing shortages, and lack of quick, easy access by veterans to VA’s many mental health programs. The Inspector General’s findings are consistent with DAV’s own internal survey of the VA mental health care system that showed serious problems with access and response for veterans seeking care.
If you or a family member have experience with VA mental health care and would like to add your voice to our continuing survey, please complete the survey here.
We need grassroots support: please use the prepared e-mail to write your Senators to urge them to increase funding for VA’s FY 2013 appropriation by at least $1.5 billion for medical care services to match or exceed the recommendations of the Independent Budget. We are concerned that failure to provide this increase could lead to further disruptions of VA health care and other vital programs, including its critical mental health efforts.
As always, we at DAV are grateful for your participation in our legislative and grassroots advocacy program. Without your active assistance DAV would not be able to accomplish many of our goals in support of the interests of sick and disabled veterans.
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