Veteran Veritas

Do any of you recall the days when maybe we heard about a poll three times a year? The first 10 years of the 21st Century are going to be known as the ” The Decade of Management by Polling.”

This of course is followed up with the standard coffee shop talk where all those ask each other, “but have you ever been polled yourself?”

I am 62 years old, with 40 years of civic involvement, and I have never once been polled about any topic, retail or politics.

So howabout you all? This is the Poll. Have you ever been polled about anything? Yes or No?

I want to see if the standard deviation applies to a generic poll with no subject. Why because I am paranoid. (tsk) I swear the pollsters have subscriptions lists. Meaning if you are an avid reader, you never get polled. Ok, rib if you like, but prove me wrong.

And then I intend to follow up with a couple of polls scripted just for the readers of this BLOG.
The first one will follow this posting.

These statistics pretty much tell the story of how the village feels about partisan politics. Nearly 28% of the voters are Independent registrants. I am told that number is rapidly rising.

Are these folks marginalizing themselves for a reason? Is the duopoly just not their cup of tea? What is the true profile of the Independent? When is the last time you ever heard the word, “Platform?” What is the party platform? It appears to me that the dyed in the wool ideologues should have a party of their own. Any operator of a business lives with the dictum, “the market speaks.” It is clear as can be that the market place of the voters is speaking, and they do not like the menu that is offered.

Have the readers heard of the WHIG party that has metamorphosed? I am told they are comprised of a large number of young veterans.

Voter registration (City of Tucson)
Ward 1 – Dem / 20,644, Rep / 5,786, Lbt / 262, Grn / 102, Ind / 10,354
Ward 2 – Dem / 18,249, Rep / 17,505, Lbt / 305, Grn / 79, Ind / 12,680
Ward 3 – Dem / 14,777, Rep / 6,225, Lbt / 317, Grn / 209, Ind / 9,184
Ward 4 – Dem / 15,933, Rep / 15,836, Lbt / 306, Grn / 53, Ind / 12,865
Ward 5 – Dem / 15,086, Rep / 3,775, Lbt / 265, Grn / 75, Ind / 8,516
Ward 6 – Dem / 19,624, Rep / 8,735, Lbt / 405, Grn / 273, Ind / 10,924
Totals – Dem / 104,313, Rep / 57,862, Lbt / 1,860, Grn / 791, Ind / 64,523 – 229,349

Members of the American Legion have many common bonds, and the Legion would like to hear from you about the nature of those common threads. A passion for community service, patriotic voices, and a bent toward caring about national security. From the trenches of France to the sands of Afghanistan we all have a common bond of having served our nation in time of need.
No one who served in the Military comes out unchanged, be it a two year hitch or a 20 year career.
The American Legion wants to know in 200 words or less how your service in the Armed Forces impacted your life. Was it the discipline,the teamwork, the mission oriented life, or simple fellowship that colored your life today.
Send you submissions to’ “myservice@legion.org” or snail mail to;
American Legion Magazine
PO Box 1055
Indianapolis,IN. 46206

We can also have some fun on this post by hearing from our readers about your Military experience. Would you want your children to serve in the Armed Forces?

Job Well Done

I say, God bless the work of VVA and its diligent band of advocates. Without these tireless men and women, the doors may well have never opened for like kind claims.
Institute of Medicine (IOM) releases Agent Orange research results

PRESS RELEASE
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2009

No. 09-24

Contact:
Mokie Porter
301-996-0901

VVA to VA: Don’t Wait for Us to Die: Grant Association to Agent Orange Exposure For Parkinson’s, Heart Disease, Hypertension

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – After reviewing scientific studies of the past few years, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences has determined there is “limited or suggestive evidence” of an association between Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease with exposure to Agent Orange.

“We thank the IOM for their efforts and applaud them for their conclusions,” said John Rowan, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). “Now, we urge the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to immediately make Vietnam veterans with either of these conditions eligible for disability compensation as well as health care, and we will petition him to do precisely this.

“We also urge the Secretary to reconsider hypertension, which the IOM, in its 2006 report concerning Vietnam veterans and Agent Orange, also found elevated evidence of an association,” Rowan said.

“We do believe that the IOM must focus on what we consider to be the very real association between a veteran’s exposure while serving in Southeast Asia and the birth defects, learning disabilities, and cancers, not only in his children but in his grandchildren as well,” Rowan said. “We continue to get far too many calls from the children of veterans who wonder if their father’s experiences in Vietnam-and along the demilitarized zone in Korea in 1968 and 1969-has any connection with their health issues and now those of their children.

“Let’s not wait until we die, and for our children to be forgotten,” Rowan said. “The time for real action is now.”

SEE NOTE IN PARAGRAPH 4. In all my years as a Veterans Benefits Counselor, I have never had a experience of fulfillment and joy like the last 72 hours.

The article I posted about the new VA findings regarding the now service-connected aspect of ALS and the consequent benefits that can be gained by the widows, resulted in calls from California, Arkansas, Texas, New York. and Florida from the spouses of now deceased veterans who passed on from Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

The sense of completion and use of talents has never been as rewarding as it has been to direct these women to the proper channels to get those benefits. I am overwhelmed at the power and reach of the Internet. If there are others, I can be reached at 520-808-3907. God speed to the widows.

Notice to all readers. I am a disabled Veteran myself, and have become a bit overwhelmed with the volume of calls to my cell phone. I love helping, but this is a bit much for one ole Marine. I have now answered 144 calls and loved talking to all of you fine folks. Yet I am going to request of any future callers to try the following first, and then call or email me with any problems you may have.

Call the VA line at 1-800-827-1000 and waltz through the voice promptings to Disability Benefits, then hit ‘0′ for an operator and they will answer in your area. Tell them you want a package for widows, DIC benefits for ALS/ Lou Gehrigs’ Disease,and they will get a package to you right away. It is self explanatory. I would then take the claim package to a local American Legion and have them submit it for you, as you then have a local advocate to check on the status your claim.

Should you have problems, you can email me at “pointmanchaplain@aol.com”

God Bless you all. Mike Brewer/USMC

Tomorrow night, Saturday the 25th at Hotel Congress 6-10pm is our benefit concert supporting the Returning Veteran Program at the Merritt Retreat Center. The band “Still Cruisin” accompanied by the “Shere Delites” are performing for us. Veterans are free. Donations accepted for Merritt Center 501-C-3. See “MerrittCenter.org”
What was once known as shell shock and now as Post Traumatic Stress, has come to the foreground in recent years as veterans of war transition to civilian life. We have learned much about this gap of time that can be critical to the quality of life of the veteran. The Merritt Center four week basic training for recovery and healing was designed with great care and compassion by one woman named Betty Merritt.
The Merritt Center and Lodge is a non-profit retreat center in Star Valley, Payson, Az. It was founded in 1987 by Betty for individual or group renewal and empowerment skills. In talking to veteran friends Betty learned that “combat is nasty stuff.’ Her dream was to ease the pain and anguish of these men and women and prevent the self destructive behavior that families witnessed in the Vietnam Veteran who was seldom welcomed in polite company. The program is spread over several months and attempts to provide new structures of self and a release from the traumatic triggers and residual symptoms of combat stress. The staff are all volunteers and provide their services gratis to the vets. From professional therapists to the cooks, everyone is a volunteer. The family like setting and the freedom of the forest creates a perfect, safe setting to simply let go. The validation and trust that comes with a group of vets who all have one thing in common is the source of a level of healing that cannot be found in a traditional setting. Having been involved in the program as a graduate, and now as a Mentor for 3 years, I can attest to the efficacy of this very unique and sacred place.
With a spiritual focus the participants are able to look at what brings them solace as they drop some of the triggers that loop them into the “fight or flight” syndrome, that frequently lead to vocational and marital problems.
While the program was designed for the OEF/OIF and Afghan veteran, it was discovered that there was still some healing to be done in the general veteran population. Which is to say that the participants are coming from all wars. One evening we had 5 wars around the supper table! Where in American history has that ever occurred? It is quite clear that the effects of war are timeless and have no respect for rank or position in life. To have that experience with a band of brothers is simply transforming.
The Returning Veterans Program costs the Merritt Center approximately $150 for each of the 4 weekends. With the help of the volunteers and private donations the retreat remains free to any combat veteran of any war. We hope to keep it that way forever.
There is also a program for Women that will include the wives of the military. The woman’s program just completed their second retreat.
The dates for the Men’ Retreat beginning in 2010 are; January 15-17. March 5-7. May 14-16. July 9-11.
The dates for the Women’s Retreat are: Feb. 5-7. April 16-18. June 4-6. July 30th-Aug 1st.

Call for application at 928-474-4268. or email “betty@merrittcenter.org.”

The famous thousand yard stare