What happened to $5 million donated to Aurora shooting victims?

Aurora shooting: What happened to $5 million donated to victims?
By Jenny Deam
August 29, 2012

Tom Teves, right, acting as informal spokesman for the families of shooting victims, speaks during a press conference in Aurora, Colo. (Chris Schneider / Associated Press / August 28, 2012)

AURORA, Colo. — They gathered in unity on Tuesday for the first time, 18 victims or family members of those killed or wounded in the July 20 movie massacre asking what happened to the $5 million raised in the name of their loved ones.

“We’ve come to speak in one voice,” began Tom Teves, who took the role of informal leader of the group crammed onto a tiny stage Tuesday. His son, 24-year-old Alex Teves, was one of the 12 killed when a gunman opened fire in a packed Aurora theater showing “The Dark Knight Rises.” Fifty-eight others were wounded.

His voice rising in anger and then breaking in grief, Teves said at the news conference that the families wanted to know why they — those touched by the tragedy the most — were not included in the process of deciding how the millions of dollars raised would be distributed. “The victims have no voice at all,” he said, accusing those calculating need of being slow and disorganized at best, unresponsive and callous at worst.
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Shineski proves why the VA claim backlog has grown

There is enough proof right here on this blog alone that the problems with the backlog of VA claims started a long time ago and got worse because the door was opened to a lot more veterans. You can start with this post. Overwhelmed VA didn't happen overnight and work your way back for the last five years. The problem is the President may set the agenda but in the end it is up to congress to fund it. If the money isn't there to hire enough employees to cover all the veterans finally turning to the VA, then look at congress. What was this administration supposed to do? Let veterans wait even longer for what they already paid for until congress decided to do something?

The men and women risked their lives serving this country so whatever they need because of it is a debt we owe them and not the other way around! Chaplain Kathie

Shinseki Defends Claims Backlog: 'Let it Grow'
Aug 28, 2012
Military.com
by Bryant Jordan

In the cases of Vietnam and Gulf war illnesses, the VA is dealing with claims now because "we didn't take care of business when we should have," he said.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki defended his agency Tuesday attributing the growing backlog of claims in the VA system on the agency's decision to expand the pool of veterans eligible to issue disability claims.

In a departure from the rhetoric Shinseki has used before Congress, Shinseki said at the American Legion's National Convention that he's not afraid of the claims backlog that has grown to about 600,000 -- a sore point when Senators and Congressmen question him on Capitol Hill.

The VA secretary said he doesn't regret opening the opportunity to issue disability claims to nearly a million veterans of wars going back more than 60 years. He only wishes the decision had been made sooner to give the VA a head start.

"It was the right thing to do … And we will do it again whenever the opportunity to better serve veterans presents itself," he said. "Let's not back away from such decisions, either because we're afraid of, or don't want the backlog to grow – let it grow. We'll work on it. We'll get it down. But let's keep our priorities straight here.
It's about taking care of veterans." read more here

Army Plans Suicide Prevention Stand Down

Army Plans Suicide Prevention Stand Down
Aug 28, 2012
Military.com
Army.mil/News
by David Vergun

WASHINGTON -- Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III ordered an Army-wide suicide "stand down," scheduled for Sept. 27, as a way to empower leadership to prevent further loss of life due to suicide.

The stand down is meant to familiarize all members of the Army family with the health promotion, risk reduction, suicide prevention, and comprehensive Soldier and family fitness resources available in the Army.

The stand down will also focus on how to improve the health and discipline of the force and reducing the stigma associated with seeking care for behavioral health issues.

The stand down was issued after Austin visited installations around the Army and listened to Soldier feedback and suggestions, said Walter O. Morales, chief of the Army Suicide Prevention Program.

"He realized more work was needed to address the issue of suicides in the Army and to ensure the awareness and training momentum continues," Morales said.

The last Army-wide suicide prevention stand down took place in 2009. During that event, Morales said, the Army used the "chain teach" approach to push information down to Soldiers.
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Navy veteran cannot sue VA therapist over sexual abuse?

Vet Can't Sue U.S. Over Therapist's Sexual Abuse
By JOSEPH CELENTINO

CHICAGO (CN) - A Navy veteran cannot sue the U.S. government over sexual abuse by a Veterans Affairs therapist who treated him for mental illnesses, the 7th Circuit ruled.

Wisconsin resident Ronald Lee Glade was discharged from the Navy at 18 or 19 soon after joining because of ongoing mental illness. Sexually abused as a child, Glade suffered from PTSD, panic disorder and bipolar disorder, and may be schizophrenic.

The 64-year-old has been receiving inpatient and outpatient psychiatric treatment over the last 23 years from the VA, both at the agency's facilities and in his home.

In late 2007, a VA therapist began a sexual relationship with him. Though Glade initially resisted, the therapist insisted that it was a necessary part of treatment.

Glade complained to another psychologist in 2008, and after a VA investigation, the therapist admitted the sexual relationship.

Glade sued under the Federal Tort Claims Act, claiming the sexual abuse caused emotional distress that exacerbated his illness.

But because the FTCA specifically exempts claims of battery by federal employees, Glade alleged negligence by the therapist's supervisors in failing to detect and prevent the sexual battery.
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Iraq War Veterans Survived Aurora Massacre

Iraq War Veterans Survived Aurora Massacre, Address Gun Violence Issues
BY THE WORLD
AUGUST 28, 2012

It has been just over a month since the shooting at the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado.

Anchor Marco Werman talks to two survivors of that tragedy: Iraq war veterans Jacqueline Keavney Lader and Don Lader, who have been honoring those killed by addressing gun violence issues and their own struggles with PTSD after the Aurora incident.
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Relative reported worries about soldier, police say

Relative reported worries about soldier, police say
Published August 28, 2012
Associated Press

SEATTLE – A relative of one of four soldiers accused by Georgia authorities of killing a fellow soldier and plotting anti-government acts came to police with concerns about the man almost a year ago, authorities in central Washington said Tuesday.

The female relative, who didn't want to be named, called police in September 2011 to relay her worries about Isaac Aguigui, who is originally from the small town of Cashmere near Wenatchee, police Sgt. John Kruse said.

The woman told police that Aguigui's wife had died in July 2011 under suspicious circumstances, and the soldier had bought 15 firearms from a store in Wenatchee while on leave from the military.

Kruse said police checked the report and confirmed Aguigui had purchased 15 firearms, including some semi-automatic rifles, and did so legally.

As a precaution, police contacted the Army's criminal investigation division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, which confirmed there was an open investigation regarding the wife's death, Kruse said.
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Oklahoma Vietnam Veteran's Dying Wish Granted

Oklahoma Vietnam Veteran's Dying Wish Granted
Posted: Aug 27, 2012
By Steve Shaw
News 9

Hall received a special send-off from the Patriot Guard at Will Rogers World Airport.

BRIDGEPORT, Oklahoma - A Vietnam veteran's dying wish has been granted.

Sixty-three-year-old Dennis Hall has an inoperable brain tumor doctors say will kill him in less than a year. Three weeks ago, we told you Halls' final request was to visit the National Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C.

Since our initial story aired, donations from all across the country have poured into the Hall's home in tiny Bridgeport, Oklahoma.
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175,000 commitments for veteran hires this year

Goal set for hiring 250K veterans, spouses by 2016
STARS AND STRIPES
by Leo Shane III

WASHINGTON — Officials from the Joining Forces campaign say they have helped 125,000 veterans and military spouses find jobs in the last year and are setting a new goal of getting another 250,000 hired in coming years.

First lady Michelle Obama announced the jobs figures at her appearance at Naval Station Mayport in Florida on Wednesday. She identified several new companies committed to hiring veterans. The campaign had already secured more than 175,000 commitments for veteran hires this year.

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Two Men Rob 71-Year-Old Veteran At VFW

Two Men Rob 71-Year-Old Veteran At VFW
By Eugene Buenaventura
Published Monday, August 27th, 2012
The Yakima VFW

A Vietnam veteran is robbed at gunpoint this morning at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Yakima.

It happened about 6:30, when a 71-year-old employee was preparing to open for the day.

The veteran answered a knock on the back door and two men forced their way in, demanding money at gunpoint.
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Vietnam War Memorial vandalized in Big Spring

Click the link to see the damage done in this news report.

Big Spring Veterans Survey Damage to Vietnam Memorial
8/27/12
Tatum Guinn
CBS 7 News


Big Spring - Big Spring Police are on the search for the people who vandalized the Vietnam Memorial over the weekend.

Veterans are in shock as they surveyed the damage to their Vietnam Memorial and now they're asking one question, "why?"

The Vietnam Memorial is a quiet place where Big Spring veterans go for peace of mind.

"At night a lot of guys wake up with bad dreams...they go out there to the memorial to reconcile why they're here and their buddies are not," Mike Tarpley, Vietnam veteran said.

And it was overnight that their place to honor the fallen was vandalized.

"Its a place we go for peace and it's been destroyed," Tarpley said. "They busted out a window of the cobra helicopter and stole the pilots head. I guess they thought it would be funny."

Also damaged was a display case that held items from past wars. A canteen belt and canteen were taken from the case.

Tarpley says the damage done brings back bad memories.

"It took us back to how we were treated when we came home from Vietnam," he said. "We keep thinking that'll be over with, but when that was done, its like man why cant they leave us alone."

At this time, the police do not have any leads in the case. However, they are offering a substantial reward for anyone with information that leads to an arrest.

If you have any information, call the Big Spring Police Department at: 264-2550.