A Missouri woman complained that she was inconvenienced by a procession accompanying the casket of Sgt. William Woods, who was killed by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. I don't need to add much else because Sheriff Boyer said it better than I could. I am not including her...ahem...nonsense...but you can find it in the link below.
Sheriff Oliver "Glenn" Boyer's response to this "complaint":
Dear XXXXX:
Yes, you do deserve a response and I am willing to give you one.
I would like to say that I am sorry for the inconvenience we caused you during the funeral procession of Sergeant 1st Class William B. Woods, but I cannot do so. I would ask instead that you take a moment of your time to take into consideration the scope of the event. Your very right to complain was the reason Sgt. Woods fought for his country and ultimately gave his life; thus making the ultimate sacrifice for you and your family.
Let me introduce you to him. After high school, Sergeant Woods entered the Marine Corps. After his contract was up, he joined the Army, where he became a Green Beret. He comes from a long line of military members in his family. His Uncle is a Vietnam Veteran and two of his grandfathers were World War II Veterans. His job in the Army was one of the most dangerous jobs - he was a sniper looking for the bad guys to stop before they killed or injured one of our soldiers. He has numerous decorations to include the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
He grew up in Catawissa and was best known by his middle name, Brian. He enjoyed the outdoors, playing sports, and skydiving. He had a wife, Elizabeth, and two daughters, whom he loved dearly. He was a soft-spoken, level-headed young man who was proud to serve his country no matter what the risk. Now, I did not know him, but I wish I did. I am quoting from newspaper articles written about him.
At the young age of 31, he was shot during an engagement with Taliban forces in Ghanzi , Afghanistan . He died of his wounds in Germany on August 16, with his family by his side. He did not choose the time of his death, nor did he choose the time his remains would be brought back to his home in Catawissa. He just did his duty. He was quite a young man.
While you were being inconvenienced in your car on your way home, there were soldiers just like Sergeant Woods carrying 100+ pounds of equipment in 120 degree heat, up some mountain or in the middle of some desert. They will shower out of a helmet liner if they get the chance. They will eat a cold meal of MRE's; something most people would consider garbage. They cannot text their family or friends, or go to McDonalds, or watch TV. They can only continue the mission and look out after the guy to the left and right of them. They don't complain because they know they volunteered. The only thing they ask is that we do not forget the sacrifices they have made.
One of the dirty "big hoo ha" bikers, as you call them, was Brian's uncle, a Vietnam Veteran, like myself. We were not treated with a homecoming. We were spit on and called baby killers by a misguided public. Brian's uncle was giving him the respect that he, himself, never received when he came back and I, for one, am proud of him for doing so.
You say that your brother is a deputy in another Missouri county. I am sure he would be proud to escort the casket of a fallen solder, the same as he would that of a fallen officer. I am also sure he would not agree with your complaint about being inconvenienced.
My mother recently passed away. She was a World War II Veteran, serving the U.S. Army. She would say, maybe you should pick up Sergeant Woods' ruck sack and carry on where he left off. Then you could see first hand what it really is to be inconvenienced.
Per your request, I will forward your complaint to the Prosecuting Attorney's Office for his review. It is my personal opinion that your complaint is self-serving and without merit.
Sheriff Oliver "Glenn" Boyer
R.I.P. Sgt. 1st Class William "Brian" Woods, and thank you for your ultimate sacrifice.
These new guidelines affect military spouses who move because of a new assignment, some physically disabled spouses, and widows and widowers whose spouses were killed in the line of duty and remain unmarried. The guidelines become effective September 11, 2009.
OPM Director John Berry said:
This family-friendly policy provides employment opportunities from individuals and a measure of economic stability to military families who must deal with a multitude of issues arising from one spouse serving their country.
Approximately 400,000 to 500,000 of the active duty servicemembers relocated every year are married, and active duty servicemembers move on average every three years. Seeking employment is difficult for many military spouses because of these continuous moves. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Les Melnyk said:
There is a desire out there, and we know that if we can meet the spouses' desires and keep them happy, then we'll keep them in the service.
He also noted that 70% of military spouses want to work according to military surveys.
Federal jobs can be found at USA Jobs and on several other sites around the web depending on the area of work. Military OneSource can help military spouses with employment questions.
This measure is a certainly welcomed by this military spouse!
Sen. Franken joined with Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) to introduce the Service Dogs for Veterans Act. Sen. Isakson saw firsthand what the love and comfort of a companion animal can do for someone suffering. Before his mother, Julia, died of Alzheimer's disease in 1998, one of the few things that brought her noticeable joy was her interaction with service dogs at an Alzheimer's facility where she spent her last years. Their bill was rolled into the Department of Defense Authorization Bill, which was passed by the Senate.
I'm crazy about dogs, and I think that their power to heal and comfort is unsurpassed. I never really considered the impact of companion animals on our wounded warriors until I read Jay Kopelman's book From Baghdad to America: Life Lessons from a Dog Named Lava. Kopelman, a Marine veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, writes about his transition back to civilian life with help from Lava, who is not an "official" service dog. Needless to say, I cried like a baby nearly the entire time reading his story. Luckily, I was in Chicago's O'Hare airport when I picked up his book and reading it while flying on a large jet, so it's not like anyone saw me.
When Sen. Franken introduced his bill, I started doing some more research on service dogs for veterans, and I came across this Time article and this Wall Street Journal article. The WSJ article told the story of Capt. Luis Carlos Montalvan, an Army veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and now suffers from severe PTSD and other war-related ailments. Capt. Montalvan was the inspiration behind Sen. Franken's proposed legislation, and he is also the proud recipient of Tuesday, one of dogs from Puppies Behind Bars' Dog Tags program.
Besides tugging on my heartstrings for my love of dogs and our military, I am most impressed by the recognition of these charitable organizations and Sen. Franken's bill of the disabling effects of PTSD and other mental health disorders as a result of war. Our minds are such powerful organs, and when they are damaged, they too need to be treated and given time to heal. Unfortunately, the damage is not visible like the loss of a limb, but the pain and suffering is just as real.
The new GI Bill goes live August 1, but for those of us, myself included, who are not yet entitled to share in these benefits, keep in mind that Congress has passed legislation providing for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities in the state where they reside or are permanently stationed for periods of enrollment that begin after July 1, 2009 for active duty military members, their spouses, and their dependent children.
On July 24, 2009, President Obama designated July 27 to be National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. Flags are flying at half-staff around the country in memory of those lost during the Korean War.
President Obama stated in his Proclamation:
Fifty-six years after the signing of the Military Armistice Agreement at Panmunjom, Americans remain grateful for the courage and sacrifice of our Korean War veterans. More than 600,000 United States and allied combatants lost their lives in Korea during the 3 years of bitter warfare that ended on July 27, 1953. Many were also injured, taken as prisoners of war, and missing in action. These dedicated servicemen and women, under the banner of the United Nations, fought to secure the blessings of freedom and democracy on the Korean Peninsula, and they deserve our unending respect and gratitude.
Every day we are reminded of the selfless service of these veterans. The Korean War Veterans Memorial stands in our Nation's Capital as an enduring tribute to them. Marching among juniper bushes and rows of granite, Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen silently remind all who glimpse their faces of the great challenges that so many Americans overcame. The strong partnership between the United States and the Republic of Korea is also a proud testament to our men and women in uniform.
Today we remember and honor the valor of Korean War veterans and the extraordinary sacrifices that they and their families made in the cause of peace.
If you have a chance when you visit the National Mall in Washington, DC, you should visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
To my grandfather, thank you for honoring our country with your service in the Army during the Korean War.
President Obama announced today his intent to nominate Major L. Tammy Duckworth to be the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Duckworth is an OIF veteran, who has fought tirelessly on behalf of injured veterans to get them better care.
Our nation is truly magnificent. Veterans Day is our chance to honor and thank those who dedicated their lives and were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in service to our great country.
(Vote against the new GI Bill, pay the price. From the diaries - promoted by Brandon Friedman)
At a rally with veterans on Monday, October 27, Joe Garcia, Democratic challenger to U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart called out Diaz-Balart on his non-support of veterans, particularly on his voting record for the new GI Bill.
Garcia said:
My opponent has sided with George Bush, rather than the veterans.
Garcia was joined by Iraq war veteran Fuller Haring, 28, a Purple Heart recipient who was struck by a roadside bomb in Iraq and encountered faulty medical care upon his return.
A lifelong Republican, Haring said he plans to vote for Garcia, stating that," The Republicans failed us."
Carlos Curbelo, spokesman for Diaz-Balart, dismissed the criticism.
You may recall that last Friday, Representative Michele Bachmann (R, MN06) when on Hardball with Chris Matthews and called for an in-depth investigation of members of Congress to find out who is "pro America" and who is "anti America." Obama, of course, is anti-America.
By Sunday evening through a LARGE netroots effort, her Democratic challenger El Tinklenberg had raised more than $680,000! Currently, the amount of money raised is well over a million. The DNCC has kicked in a million dollars to boot out the freshman representative, and the RNC has pulled her ads.
Tinklenberg took that money and made a wonderful ad reminding us of ANOTHER reason we should be AGAINST Michele Bachmann. She opposed the new GI Bill at the start and voted for the second rate version. She did fall in line by the time it was clear that the new GI Bill had a HUGE bipartisan following and was assured of passage.
(The New Yorker, Elsheba Khan at the grave of her son, Specialist Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan.)
Colin Powell ended his endorsement of Obama by referring to the death of a Muslim soldier, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan of Manahawkin, N.J., who was killed in Iraq on Aug. 6, 2007, and whose remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
He and three other soldiers, including a corporal from Washington Heights, were killed in Baquba after a bomb detonated while they were checking abandoned houses for explosives. They served in the Stryker Brigade combat team of the Army's 2nd Infantry Division, based in Ft. Lewis, Washington.
Mr. Khan graduated from Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin in 2005, and enlisted in the Army a few months later, spurred by his memories of the 9/11 terror attacks. "His Muslim faith did not make him not want to go. It never stopped him," his father, Feroze Khan, told the Gannett News Service in a story printed shortly after his death. "He looked at it that he's American and he has a job to do."
Powell framed the entire "Obama is a Muslim" debate in striking terms with his reference to this fallen American soldier.
"Is there something wrong with being Muslim in America? No, that's not America," he said.
"He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he could go serve his country, and he gave his life," Mr. Powell said. "Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourselves in this way."
The highly charged rhetoric used by McCain and Palin to tie Obama to terrorism and Islam is once again an affront to all Muslim Americans. We saw this type of fear and backlash just after 9/11. We see it also in the McCarthy-like invocations of Michele Bachmann. I challenge Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin to tell this grieving mother that her son is anti-American because of his faith.
The answer to who is evil is NEVER as neat, clean, and easy as a label. Thank you, Colin Powell, for reminding America that those who serve in our military represent the awesome diversity of faithful and patriotic Americans.
Thank you, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, for your service and your ultimate sacrifice. I am humbled to honor you and your fallen comrades.
(Editor's note: This is an incredible ad. For more background information on the soldier--Erik Schei--click here. - promoted by Brandon Friedman)
Tom Udall, Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in New Mexico, has released this ad ("Humbled") to help bring attention to the issue of brain trauma injury suffered by Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.
In the midst of months of 12 hour days, in the campaign bubble, it is really really easy to lose sight of why this election is so important.
Army Sergeant Erik Schei was gravely injured in Iraq and is now forced to communicate through a speaking aid.
I hope that you will watch and share. Groups like VoteVets and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA.org) have been working tirelessly to get more federal funding to aid veterans who suffer from brain trauma injuries. Tom Udall has received an A+ on his Congressional Report Card from IAVA. Obama has pledged his support countless times for this cause, and he has worked and is working to increase this funding.
I hope that you all will watch and share this video to help spread the message that Obama has a strong network of military families supporting him to be President and Commander in Chief.
I noticed that you are now in the passenger seat on the Smear Talk Express when it comes to our military. Shame on you!
The one itty bitty teeny tiny piece of honor that your husband had left in this campaign is leaving your two sons, who are actively serving, out of the smear machine he's conducting. But, you?
In the second presidential debate, McCain laid out his bailout plan to help average Americans in this economic crisis.
You know that home values of retirees continues to decline and people are no longer able to afford their mortgage payments. As president of the United States, Alan, I would order the secretary of the treasury to immediately buy up the bad home loan mortgages in America and renegotiate at the new value of those homes -- at the diminished value of those homes and let people be able to make those -- be able to make those payments and stay in their homes.
What McCain failed to tell America is the critical detail of his plan.
McCain's American Homeownership Resurgence Plan requires that struggling homeowners "prove their creditworthiness at the time of the original loan (no falsifications and provided a down payment)." Although downplayed in parentheses, homeowners would qualify for his plan ONLY if they had provided a down payment at the time of purchase.
This requirement fails to address exactly how the subprime lending bubble went from over-inflated to burst because the homeowners receiving those mortgages DID NOT have down payments. McCain's plan would do little to help these people, including many military members, who are at the heart of this crisis.
Military members were specific targets for the predatory lending practices engaged in by subprime lenders during the housing boom. The lenders knew that military members receive a guaranteed housing allowance and used those numbers to push for higher mortgage amounts. Even though military members and veterans have access to low-cost VA loans, the number of VA loans dropped drastically at the height of the subprime lending boom in 2006 to less than one-third of the level of VA loans two years earlier, no doubt in direct relationship to the subprime predatory lending practices.
Most shockingly, the foreclosure rate in military towns is 4 TIMES HIGHER than the national average.
Foreclosure filings in 10 towns and cities within 10 miles of military facilities, including Norfolk, Virginia, home of the Navy's largest base, rose by an average 217 percent from January through April from a year earlier. Nationally, the rate was 59 percent in the same period, according to RealtyTrac, which tallies bank seizures, auctions and default notices.
The biggest surge was in Columbia, South Carolina, home to Fort Jackson, where the Army trains recruits for combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. Properties in some stage of foreclosure rose 492 percent from a year earlier, RealtyTrac said. The second-biggest increase was 414 percent in Woodbridge, Virginia, next to the Marine Corps Base Quantico.
Currently, veterans comprise 11% of our population, but they make up 25% of our homeless. McCain's plan would leave military families without government assistance in this housing crisis and may even result in military families and more veterans being homeless.
McCain proves once again that he is NO FRIEND to veterans and military families.
On September 3, 2008, Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens said Palin should be ready to serve as Commander in Chief of U.S. armed forces if McCain dies in office.
I think she can do the job as vice president. And should it fall on her shoulders to become president of the United States, I have no fear.
Really? I wonder if Ted Stevens has any fear about his indictment and trial for corruption. Palin as U.S. Commander in Chief is at the top of my fear factor list.
If elected, Sarah Palin will be one heartbeat away from being president AND Commander in Chief of America's armed forces, the most powerful military force in the world. Not only would she have the nuclear codes, she would also have the power to tell our 3 million active duty and reserve military members where to point their weapons and when to fire.
That's a frightening thought that strips my breath away as a military wife.
Republicans will dismiss the idea of Palin as Commander in Chief as premature, even reckless, because it presumes that McCain would die in office. But that's a real possibility, and a vice president is the second in command, the XO to the CO, if you will. In fact, 3 of our last 11 presidents (Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Nixon) have been unable to finish out their terms. George H. W. Bush acted as president after the assassination attempt of Reagan. Credible intelligence suggests that the White House was at the top of the list in the 9/11 attacks.
All of these examples say that reality is unpredictable. The vice president's MOST IMPORTANT function is to be able to step in at a moment's notice, in a heartbeat, to take over the country should the president be unable. We have vice presidents (and XOs, in part) precisely because we are planning for reality, including the reality of death.
The Republicans may have failed to vet Palin properly, but we Democrats and those in the military community cannot be guilty of the very same thing. Sarah Palin is NOT ready to be Commander in Chief.
Palin's Knowledge of Military Issues and Foreign Policy Palin has appeared twice on the national stage, once at the RNC for her acceptance speech and once at the vice presidential debate. She was required to showcase her knowledge in these areas and she failed miserably.
DEBATE: Palin said that surge plan in Iraq worked and that troop levels are back to pre-surge levels.
STRIKE ONE. Troop levels in Iraq remain at 152,000 troops versus 137,000 troops there before the surge.
DEBATE: Palin said that Obama had refused to acknowledge that the surge worked.
STRIKE TWO. Obama said in a Fox News interview in September that the "surge has succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated . . . I've always said it's succeeded beyond our wildest dream."
Even McCain hammered him on this statement in the first presidential debate. Was she even watching?
DEBATE: Palin said to Biden on the Iraq timetable withdrawal plan: "Your plan is a white flag of surrender, and that's not what our troops need to hear today." Palin said, "we're getting closer and closer to victory," and "victory is within sight."
FOUL BALL. What our troops need to hear is the truth. The straight talk from their commanders on the ground is not echoing her words. General Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said that "real restraint" was needed in these types of public pronouncements.
RNC: Palin said that her son was deploying to Iraq on September 11.
FOUL BALL. Totally false! If it were true, she would have been violating Operational Security (OPSEC) - that is, you never tell the enemy when units are going to be landing in Iraq. She was using her son and our troops, along with 9/11, as more political propaganda, which is utterly disgusting and offensive.
DEBATE: Palin referred twice to a "McClellan" as the commander in charge of Afghanistan.
STRIKE THREE! YOU'RE OUT. The top U.S. commander of the war theater in Afghanistan is General McKIERNAN. As OIF and OEF veteran Brandon Friedman said:
It's remarkably sad, and it's an insult to the troops serving there. Likewise, it denotes that same aloofness--that all-too-familiar lack of curiosity and concern for what's actually occurring on the ground in both theaters. And for those of us who've served overseas under the leadership of George W. Bush, it's a feeling we know well.
Some argue that many Americans don't know who the commander in Afghanistan is. UNACCEPTABLE. Even so, Palin isn't running to be an American. She is running to be Vice President of the United States of America.
Palin as Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard McCain's campaign claims that her foreign policy and military experience is bolstered by her status as Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard.
The Alaska National Guard has less than 5,000 members. Under state authority, national guards are limited to civic emergencies and assistance in natural disasters. When asked by Campbell Brown about any decisions she has made, McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds could provide no examples:
Bounds tactics sound a lot like most Republicans these days. When you don't have an answer to a legitimate question, turn that same question around to your opponent and blast him. But the original question remains legitimate and STILL unanswered.
So what has Palin done as Commander in Chief? Absolutely nothing.
Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, the service commander of the Alaska National Guard, said that the governor has granted him authority to act on his own in most cases, including life-or-death emergencies when a quick response is required and in minor day-to-day operations.
A governor certainly has no ability to wage war with another state, much less a foreign country. Speaking of foreign countries, Palin has ZERO authority over the Alaska National Guard's overseas service in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was nice that Palin got her passport for the first time to visit 500 members of the Alaska National Guard in Kuwait, but I seriously doubt that she gave any directions on how to fight insurgents, though she sure can handle a heavy gun.
So what major role could Palin have taken with the Alaska National Guard?
She could have used some of that money in the Alaskan budget surplus to provide those troops and their families with health care and support. Approximately 80% of the Alaska National Guard has been deployed overseas since 9/11, and when they go, their families are switched over to a limited form of Tricare, the military health insurance plan, and often, these families lose their health insurance.
Many of the Alaska's Guard members have been deployed, and redeployed, despite the shortage of care and treatment available upon their return. With more than one-quarter of Alaska's Guard members living 60 miles or more from a Veterans Affairs facility, many rarely if ever get treatment they need. Travel to Anchorage alone can cost more than $1,500 for each Guard member - an upfront cost too burdensome for many to shoulder, even if they are eventually reimbursed. With the economy worsening, the costs to Guard families for their own healthcare will mount and even fewer will receive treatment.
Such treatment by Governor Palin is simply unconscionable and dishonors our troops and military families' sacrifices for Alaska and their country.
Palin's Inaction on Violence Against Women Alaska had the highest per capita sexual assault ratio of any state while she was mayor, and the state continues to rank among the highest for violence against women. As mayor of Wasilla, victims of rape were charged for sexual assault kits until the Alaskan state legislature outlawed the practice. There are questions about whether she was complicit, but in a town of 6,000 and as mayor, she should have known better and done something about it. Silence can be complicity.
How does this matter to the military?
A 2003 Veterans Administration report on military sexual trauma estimated that 60% of women in the Reserves and National Guard experienced rape, sexual assault or sexual harassment while on active duty. Defense Department figures show that there were nearly 3,000 accusations of sexual assault in the military in 2006, up 24% from 2005. It is estimated that half of all rapes in the military go unreported.
The active duty military's rape rate is 2 times higher than the civilian population. Alaska's rape rate is 2.5 times higher than the national average.
Palin's record as mayor and governor, which she frequently cites to, indicates that she would ignore these problems just as the Bush administration does. UNACCEPTABLE.
Palin as a Blue Star Mother I am a military wife, and I can assure you that I am not qualified to be vice president of this great country on that fact alone.
As part of a Blue Star and Gold Star family, nothing makes me happier than to have two major presidential tickets with vice presidential candidates who have sons serving in our military in Iraq. About one percent of the elite in Congress have military sons and daughters. Both Palin and Biden know firsthand the sacrifice of our troops because they are part of the military family.
Yet, being part of a military family does not make either one qualified to be vice president, just as being a veteran and POW is not the singular qualification to make someone president.
So What Would Palin Do as Commander In Chief? Who knows? She hasn't said much of substance.
Having nothing of substance to say actually says a great deal.
Most importantly, it says that she would NOT be the one making the calls. Her stump speeches and performance at the vice presidential debate all point to a crash (and burn) course in military issues and foreign policy by the Bush/Cheney administration.
Bush is a disaster as a Commander in Chief. He has put our troops in harms' way based on faulty intelligence, has ignored his commanders on the ground in both theaters, and has hung up on the 911 call from veterans and military families for more support in all ways, including health care (i.e., Walter Reed).
McCain and Palin, like Bush and Cheney, have failed our military and veterans in their political careers and are doing more of it in their campaign. Expect nothing less than continued ignorance on their parts if they should get elected. They would continue to profess their undying "love" for our military on stage while slashing and burning them in the budget.
Final Thoughts My husband said to me the other day that a great military officer, one worthy of being Commander in Chief, is not only defined by her leadership abilities but also by her ability to decide, if and when necessary, which troops are going to sacrifice their lives. Can Palin intelligently decide and order which troops are going to die? I certainly don't trust her to do so.
Biden ended the debate with thoughts of our troops, no doubt thinking of his son who is being deployed to Iraq currently, and I echo his sentiments.
Blue Star Families for Obama (BSF4O) started as a grassroots movement by Army and Marine Corps spouses, and it has expanded to include all active duty military family members who support Barack Obama for President. Michelle Obama announced the formation of Blue Star Families for Obama on August 6, 2008.
Barack and Michelle Obama, along with Joe and Jill Biden, have actually listened to both our frustrations and cheers. Michelle Obama has held roundtable discussions with many military families, and she has adopted our cause as a primary focus area in the campaign. In just two short months, BSF4O has generated chapters in 24 states, helped to host a care package service event at the DNC in Denver with Michelle Obama, attended dozens of rallies and roundtable discussions about military family issues, and hosted house parties across the country.
Keep in mind, we admire McCain's service to our country, but we cannot support his vision for our future in large part because of his continued refusal to provide real support to our troops, veterans, and the military community.
Check out The Master List by Brandon Friedman, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran and Vice Chairman of VoteVets.org. This list is a thorough, detailed compilation of all the ways that McCain has left behind his brothers and sisters in arms.
By repeating his status as a Vietnam veteran and former POW, John McCain indirectly uses all of our military members and veterans as job references to bolster his candidacy. It's a smart move because a recent Gallup poll shows that 71% of Americans have confidence in our military. Conversely, only 12% of Americans have confidence in Congress. McCain is part of both the military and Congress, and one of his more effective campaign strategies has been to distance himself from the Republican party and his status as 26-year veteran of the Senate - a much longer tenure as a Senator than he was as a military officer.
But McCain doesn't speak for my military family and many other military families, and his suggestions and statements otherwise are misleading. We in BSF4O have understood intuitively that the civilian communities around us look to our military status and devotion to our country as a bellwether for picking a good Commander in Chief. Active duty servicemembers are prohibited from being openly politically active, but our military families are a strong vocal surrogate for what's going on inside the ranks. Things don't look so good after 8 years of the Bush administration, so we're speaking out. EIGHT IS ENOUGH!
Our choice to support Obama is not only based on McCain's lack of real support for our military community, but it is also based on Obama's demonstrated commitment to serve us who so proudly serve the country.
When Obama joined the Senate, he signed up for the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. He co-sponsored the GI Bill for the 21st Century, which includes transferability to a spouse or child. Obama voted for the Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act, extending Tricare benefits and reimbursements, saving them from scheduled cuts that were tied to Medicare decreases. Obama also sponsored the Veterans Suicide Study Act, and he will work to improve mental health care at every stage of military service. He is also a sponsor of the Veterans Homelessness Prevention Act, which would authorize a pilot program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development to prevent at-risk veterans and veteran families from falling into homelessness. These and many other actions demonstrate his real support in addition to his comprehensive plan for our troops, military families, and veterans.
Obama has our vote of confidence to be our next President and Commander in Chief. We invite you to join us if you have a loved one currently serving on active duty in any branch of our military and show your support as part of the Blue Star Families for Obama.
"The welcome mat for memoirs by veterans of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom might never wear out so long as they write with the savvy of Brandon Friedman . . . Friedman's take is vivid, frank, precise and dramatic."--Military Times
"Add Brandon Friedman's The War I Always Wanted to the ranks of outstanding non-fiction produced by officers from elite combat units in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Always truthful, often excruciatingly so, The War I Always Wanted rises at numerous points to the level of literature."--Steven Pressfield, author of Gates of Fire
"A Time To Lead confirms the rewarding benefits of military service at a time when such service is experiencing considerable strain. It also includes a comprehensive description of America's current national imperatives, which deserve serious consideration."--General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., former Secretary of State
"This is a primer on leadership forged in battle and by decades of experience. . .This isn't just a book; it's a manual for leading people and living a good life."--Barry McCaffrey, General, USA (ret.)
"Whip smart, sassy, with a mouth as foul as a sailor's, 28-year-old Sergeant Kayla Williams. . .tells what it's like to be a female soldier in Iraq."--Booklist
". . .echoes military memoirists from Julius Caesar to Ernie Pyle."--Publishers Weekly
". . .a shocking, on-the-ground view of one military woman's experience in Iraq."--Bookmarks Magazine
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