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      The VA is More Than Doctors…

January 17th, 2021 Veterans Corner Article by Ronald Verini

The coffee clutch at Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida (VAOI) was discussing the various help programs that are available to ALL, or at least some, of us and the challenge of accessing those services. 

At the (VA) Veterans Administration’s- The Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) brings veterans together to support each other by making the connections needed to succeed. They have just announced their “Veterans Helping Veterans Initiative” (U.S.VETS). 

The mission of U.S.VETS is the successful transition of military veterans and their families through the provision of housing, counseling, career development, and comprehensive support.

Many services are offered to our veterans and their families. The challenge with so many services offered is that they are difficult to find when you need them. That is why the VA and places like the ODVA (Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs), IDVS (Idaho Division of Veteran Services) come in handy. These organizations reach out in various ways to help veterans and their families. Each has its own advantages in helping veterans. Organizations like VAOI, American Legion, VFW, DAV, IAVA and many others are also great resources of help. They help access the services of the VA and local state agencies.  

About 48 million men and women have served our Nation since the time it was formed. We today have more than 25 million living veterans who have served in times of war and peace. Veterans today: some in large cities, small towns, farms and rural areas. Some in our local area are homeless and living along the river, under bridges, in shelters and in the mountains surviving where most of us would perish.  A few of us still overseas by choice and some not so lucky. Veterans have requirements that are unique to each, so think about the challenge that our government, VA, local services have in helping many of those in need. 

I was talking with a veteran the other day that was convinced that the caches of food, ordnances and supply’s that he was hiding in the mountains would sustain him in the conflict that was coming. He hasn’t quite come home from the war we sent him into, a long time ago. He comes in from time to time for supplies and was familiar with the help he might receive but was wary of the ‘system’. 

Many states have special offices set up for advocacy for veterans and you should make an effort to visit them. As an example, Oregon has ODVA Special Advocacy: helping Women Veterans, Tribal, Justice Involved Veterans and even LGBTQ Veterans. Then in Idaho there is the IDVS- Bureau, Office of Veteran Advocacy that also is a full-service bureau helping veterans, their family members and survivors. Both the ODVA and IDVS are but two out of many throughout our Nation helping veterans. Also, as a side note: every person getting care at a VA facility is entitled to discuss their concerns or needs with a Patient Advocate. They are at every medical center run by the VA. 

I know what some of you are thinking but remember the majority of our veterans do get excellent care and avail themselves of the many benefits that the VA and our Nation offers. It is the ones that that experience the challenges of the system that we are attempting to help, if they need or want the help they deserve. I have hope for the many that I have mentioned above and that ALL veterans and their families will get the care needed, because I know it is out there. It’s just the challenge of finding it. 

We have come a long way in helping veterans in need. Think about our WWI veterans and 85 percent of all disability claims were denied. Today according to the ‘Harris Federal Employee Law Firm’ 31 percent of claims are denied and of those 60 percent of the denials are because of errors. So, there is hope.

Let me mention just a few of the staff offices under the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. There are 23 (last count): so, a few of them would include the OSBDU mentioned above, Survivors Assistance, Center for Women Veterans, Board of Veterans’ Appeals and 19 more. Then under the Department of Veteran Affairs you have the three administrations: Veterans Health Administration, the Veteran Benefits Administration and the National Cemetery Administration. 

The VA employees about 377,000 people servicing many of the 25 million living veterans today. A monumental task!

“America without her soldiers would be like God without his angels’.” Claudia Pemberton (lifetime resident of Huntington, West Virginia and worked for the Cabell County Public School System).

  Away from Home at Christmas….

December 20th, 2020 Veterans Corner Article by Ronald Verini   

Reflecting about the different holidays spent away from family and friends while serving our Nation.  

Going outside the wire and completing a mission that brought about memories that created tears and thoughts of comradery of the family lost on that mission. Receiving a box of goodies from a community or from a mom or friend and sitting in a corner thinking about home or the meaning of Christmas. Wondering about the existence of a God in a World full of death and destruction? Spending time on R & R in a place that would be shunned if back home. Having a Chaplin bless food and a special meal prepared in the safety of a bunker or behind some sandbags. Praying and knowing that there is a God and feeling that special bond that seems to be stronger than ever before. 

The stories are as diverse as the number of troops that I have talked with regarding the time spent away from home. Some troops looking forward to the time they could get back while others not wanting to go back, at all. 

I know that some folks during this time of year celebrate Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa and of course, Christmas and with those celebrations come a connection with one’s youth and a time to stop for a moment. Somewhere in the world right now on-board a ship, in the middle of a jungle, desert or strange village our troops are defending our way of life and concerned about a virus. We are here at home attempting to make the best of COVID-19 and our political and economic challenges. Unfortunately, or fortunately, we have in todays world instant communications with family, friends and loved ones no matter where we are stationed and because of this we no longer have the luxury of concentrating on the mission at hand. 

I remember talking with Bob Peterson (Army Air Corp- B-24 flight engineer and top turret gunner) here in Ontario back a few years ago about his time in the Winter of 1944/45 and he was taken as a German Prisoner, forced to march on the 600-mile Black Death March. He survived that march while many died. Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida and I had the opportunity to hear the stories of hope that Bob had while serving our nation. I miss Bob (I also miss Imogene) and I know that his stories always had a little humor in them and I felt the pain of his experiences of a troop away from home. Bob, his wife Imogene and Dixie, one of their children brought much joy to our community and a living history of their memories. I thank them and the rest of their family for bringing to light the true meaning of service, love and passion. 

The stories of our troops that have served our Nation during Holidays away from home are many and some names are on the many memorials around our country and the world. The cemeteries are filled with the ones that did not make it back. Some came back to an ungrateful nation, some to a parade. All had reflections when sitting in a foxhole or other location when a particular Holiday that they observed came about. I for one, respect each and every one of how they handled that time away. 

I remember during one Christmas season in ‘Nam I was wet, uncomfortable, concerned about another attack on the airfield that night. I was brought back to reality when a ‘Tunnel Rat’ sat down across from me outside the ‘Hooch’. He started to crochet and I noticed that he spaced out as he was doing it. He had just come back from a mission and it was around Christmas day, or so. He wanted his space, so we gave him his space. He was with the Australian forces and I am sure that the time of year, the job he was on and the reflections that he had were much different than we Air Force technicians working on cargo planes! 

We can only imagine what is in the minds of the troops that we send around the world in our name, especially during the Holidays. 

Christmas is a few days away and I wanted you to know that we have been feeding and giving boxes of food to our local troops in need. Our needs have been great this year between the COVID-19, lost jobs, cut pay and the families that are trying to make ends meet. 

Please reach out and give some joy to those that might need a little boost this year. Yes, honor our troops.

“Honoring those who have taught us the true meaning of giving.” Bridget Bosch.

   Silly String and Condoms Helping our Troops

November 22nd, 2020 Veterans Corner by Ronald Verini

We were talking around the coffee table at VAOI the other day and ‘Slinky” toys came up and we all started to think about things that we did in the service to get by.

One of the guys brought up the “Slinky” toys that were used in Vietnam as radio antennas when they threw them in the tree branches! Just as a side note: “Slinkys” receives at a frequency between seven and eight megahertz when used over a high branch.

Then one brought up that in Iraq they used “Silly String” to detect tripwire-activated traps… as a matter of fact a New Jersey mother organized a drive to send cans of the stuff to Iraq to help our troops detect these bombs. It was a grand effort and very successful: donations not only came from the product corporation (Just for Kicks) but from other companies that manufactured a similar product. Churches also got involved and many others in the community stepped up. Great project that saved the lives of many serving in the Middle East.

I remember here in the Ontario area we also participated in the drive to collect ladies’ stockings and condoms that we included in our boxes of “Treats for Our Troops” program. These were used on rifle muzzles to keep the sand out! Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida knew that when we sent these items over to our troops, we not only were saving lives but thought that with the goodies we sent and the extra little gifts that protected from the sand also brought smiles when they opened the boxes of care from home.

Our troops were very innovative on the battlefield in war. We heard the stories of our military going into battle with Humvees that were sent to Iraq without proper armor so they bolted scrap metal onto the vehicles to help protect them, eventually we started to send proper equipment after time. 

These stories are here to give you a sense of the innovation of our troops in war and the fact that not everything can be anticipated by our government before a troop goes to war. What our troops do in the field is truly “On the Job Training” and our government learns from the battlefield of previous wars, making our troops safer as time goes by. At least that is what I would hope. 

I don’t know if “Silly String” is issued or not but what I do know it works.

The D-Day invasion in Normandy saw 15,000 paratroopers carrying the little metal “Crickets”. These were used instead of flashlights to communicate at night. The success of these were short lived after the Germans caught on to the plan. But they worked enough to contribute to the success of the mission. 

I have to admit that our governments bureaucratic processes used to develop the preparation for war, are reflected in our support system of medical care when troops come home.  Also outdated, being entrenched in the same status-quo year after year. Of course, I have all the solutions for streamlining the system, including fewer hands stirring the pot. More efficient and much more reasonable in cost.  

I remembered the story of a Marine in Iraq to share. The Marine got a care package from home and it happened to have some Tampons in it for the women in the outfit. It was a package intended for a female but one of the males got it instead. He grabbed a bunch of stuff from the package and went on a mission in one of the Humvees and the unit was attacked and some were wounded badly… In the fog of war, the Marines needed to stop the bleeding and they thought of the Tampon that the package had and grabbed it to stop the bleeding… It worked and when they got back to the get medical attention, they attributed his life saved by the quick thinking of these Marines in using what was on hand at the time. 

Back to WWII and Vietnam: duct tape was first developed by Johnson & Johnson for sealing ammunition cases and later it was used in Vietnam to fix helicopter rotor blades. Now you find it everywhere including on spaceflights in case of emergencies. 

“To live a vibrant & purposeful life keep your mind on high alert, eye open & make sure of your target. No one can hit target with closed eye & clouded mind. With open eye one can see things that are invisible & that demands innovation & creativity.” Dr Anil Kumar Sinha (director of Central Bureau of Investigation- India).

   Yes: We are still fighting… 

October 25, 2020 Veterans Corner Article by Ronald Verini

When was the last time you sat around your coffee table to discuss the conflicts or wars the United States is in today? Well that is what happened the other day at Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida! 

We came up with a few that might concern you or you might say that they are not really happening. 

The first one mentioned was the War in Northwest Pakistan- mainly drones but can escalate to more at any time. This is the United States vs. Pakistan. This one started in 2004 and still going today.

Then we have the Somalia and Northeastern Kenya which started in 2007 and still going today. This one is the United States with Coalition forces vs. al-Shabaab militants.

Then as far as I can see the continued U.S.- led Intervention since 2014 in Syria. That is us and coalition forces against al-Qaeda, ISIS and Syria.

The next one that I noticed is still going on since 2015 is the Yemeni Civil War. This one is led by the Saudi’s with the United States, France, and United Kingdom against the Houthi rebels, Supreme Political Council in Yemen, and allies.

Libya comes to mind and that one started in 2015 is the U.S. intervention with Libya and the U.S. against ISIS.

Of course, we are not to sure about Afghanistan with all the talk about pulling out but since 2001 we are there and our men and women are still putting their lives on the line as of today.

I am alarmed to hear some folks around our community are saying that the world is at peace. I do not think that any of our military serving in any of the hot zones around the world would agree, I certainly don’t. 

I am thrilled that over the last few years we have not had any new U.S. interventions but with that said: we have recently deployed thousands of additional troops to the Persian Gulf because of the growing tensions with Iran. Our bases in places like Bahrain and Qatar are also very solid.

Deployment numbers fluctuate daily but with all the bases/presence we have in Germany, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom and now Poland, just to name a few.  I would say we have probably 180,000-200,000 or so around the world. That number has been evasive over the last few years because, it seems, we have been moving troops around into different locations and not actually reducing the total number deployed. It is estimated that the U.S. is deployed in more than 150 countries, that is staggering. Remember we are also deployed as part of peace keeping missions, military attachés or are part of embassy and consulate security. Many of our troops are also assigned to classified missions in locations that are not disclosed. Our troops are the backbone of our Nation and whatever the number is we need to make sure they are serviced and also taken care of when returning home. I think about what General Westmoreland said a wile back: “The military don’t start wars. Politicians start wars.”  I also believe that our politicians need to know before the button is pushed about what it will take to supply, train and care for the war or conflict and the returning troops needs, and they should do it as a package deal and not ‘fly by their seat of their pants’.  

Now also think about what the Department of Defense is doing regarding the Coronavirus: they are working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services and the State Department in providing support in dealing with COVID-19. This is not just a bunch of high-ranking folks doing something: it is the rank and file that are going out and putting their lives on the line in some cases, the boots on the ground. By the way, as of Oct 16th there has been documented 1,435 hospitalizations from the DOD reports and 100 deaths from those working under the DOD in this fight (Military, civilian, dependent and contractors).

As a little side note: When we are talking about troops being deployed remember that the National Guard has been federalized and deployed in war zones along side of our regular troops. The Guard are also being deployed and used to combat coronavirus. When you think about our troops please make sure that the National Guard is part of that action, a very important part.

“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.” General Norman Schwarzkopf (Stormin Norman-The Bear).

   Trillions of Dollars Later? 

Sept 27th, 2020 Veterans Corner Article by Ronald Verini

I find it interesting that our government is willing to invest trillions in keeping the stock market up (which doesn’t necessarily help our economy) by buying ETF’s (Exchange Traded Funds), bonds, etc. Our Legislature and Executive branches are able to find these dollars to fund the market, though not funding the years our service members were used as experiments or sent into conflicts without the proper gear.  I remember a local collection for flak vests that our military lacked when sent to war a few years back.  When our military comes home, our government can’t even help the very ones that are keeping our country great. Yes, our government is good at throwing massive amounts of money at a problem, or building a statue or monument, or sometimes sending a few extra dollars to our war veterans. Then after they use us as pawns in a chess game of life and death, they send us home making some of us beg for the health aid we need. This is not always the case, but it is in enough of the cases that it warrants our anger. 

I know the Veterans Administration staff are in most cases good folks and are passionate about doing their jobs. The size of this organization is such that there is no way that they can be all things to all needing help. We truly need a major overhaul. I look back at a company called ATT, got too big for its britches and our government saw the problems and bottlenecks that this huge corporation created, how it stifled great ideas in the communications industry. What did our government do? They broke up ATT, created competition which brought new innovations, and is now an industry of great ideas, competition, and a telephone system that is far advanced and you are able to select the service you need or want. Maybe it is time for our government to look at this mammoth called the VA and set a different direction that will serve the needs of our military veterans. 

Some of us (veterans) are tired of being tired. Our suicide rate is out of sight and we get lip service from our government. A system is created called Vet Centers that has served our combat veterans well for years. The Vet Centers put together a system of vet vans (38’ traveling vans that served our veterans in rural areas with ‘boots on the ground councilors’ that set up in communities outside of metropolitan areas. Helped a lot of combat veterans with PTSD. Then the ‘system’ decided that they would use the vans for promotion instead of counseling (say what?), but forgot to fill in the gaps of rural counseling and little by little stopped serving our veterans in need. Little by little the veterans that needed help the most were left to fend for themselves once again. You wonder why the suicide rate is so high in the military then you might look inside the very system that is meant to fix the problem? 

Look around our community (or any community) and you will see homeless veterans, veterans struggling to get to appointments at the VA or to services in their own town (some veterans are not ambulatory) but we, as a community have parades, special days of celebration or monuments that honor our veterans that serve and have served. I am not saying we should stop these: what I am saying is we need to help the flesh, blood and minds of those that we are honoring and not stop for just a daily moment to celebrate our veterans. Stop the lip service and do something meaningful.

Yes, this article is me rambling on about breaking up the VA, getting help for PTSD, veterans in need and things that irk me at this particular moment.  This article started at a coffee clutch conversation of veterans at Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida the other day.  This conversation needs to continue and the fact that you agree with me or not is not the point. The point is what do we do about our veterans in need and how do we solve these issues? Or do we do nothing and hope it gets better? If we wait long enough, we will be dead, problem solved?

“To care for those ‘who shall have borne the battle’ and for their families and survivors.” VA’s gender-neutral motto that was rejected this last year (I liked it so I am using it as my quote, today). 

August 30, 2020 Veterans Corner Article by Ronald Verini

 Interesting Military Realities

Sitting around the coffee table at Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida the other day we started talking about some interesting tidbits of military history and this article touches on some of them!

Did you know that the Coast Guard is smaller than the New York Police Department? Then I was thinking what other facts about the military would be interesting and I found out that some of our nuclear missile systems use outdated technology because they are hard to hack! Outdated IBM computers using 8-inch floppy disks! I wonder if the new kids growing up even know how to turn those old systems on.  As a side note: our U.S. Military’s nuclear arsenal has been reduced by 84% since the Cold War. Speaking about the Cold War: both President Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev agreed that they would pause the Cold War if there was an alien invasion. In the mean time during the Cold War over 11 million people died in various conflicts where the USA supplied one side and the Soviets supplied the other. 

Then I came across a story that we were using drone technology in WWll. On one of the manufacture lines at a plant called Radioplane Company producing them was a lady by the name of Norma Jeane Dougherty whom we all know as Marilyn Monroe! Would have been nice to work at that plant in 1945! Her discovery was the result of an Army photographer shooting morale-boosting shots of female workers working in factories producing war machines for our men serving in war zones. She was married back then and her then husband Jim Dougherty (enlisted in the Marines) and then divorced her after she signed a contract with a modeling agency. The rest is history! 

Did you know that today 71% of our young Americans between the ages of 17-24 are ineligible to serve in the U.S. Military? This is an alarming situation, think about it, only 29% are eligible to serve, if this continues our U.S. Military will suffer from lack of man/women power. This will at some time in the future compromise our national security. It’s a dangerous world out there and if we are to be ready, we better think about our youth today for our future tomorrow. We need to work on education, criminal history, and health issues and bring our youth up to the level of them able to serve, not lower our standards to meet this goal, as some would suggest. 

Far fewer members of Congress now have direct military service than before. Between 1965-1975 at least 70% of our lawmakers in each legislative chamber had military service. Today it is down to about 18/19 %. The legislature are the ones deciding our benefits. No wonder our VA is in the shape it is today.

The USA has about 737 military installations overseas alone.

Military members are more highly educated than the general population. 99% of the military has a high school education and only 60% of the general population has the same. 

I also know that Marines hate to be called soldiers. Marines are Marines. Soldiers are in the Army. Airman are in the Air Force. Sailors are in the Navy. Coast Guardsman (Coastie) are members of the Coast Guard. The Pentagon has not established an official or unofficial name for Space Force personnel. I think ‘Spacee’ might work?! Give a call to the Pentagon and let them know what your idea is for their name.

In the 1950’s and 60’s the military tested chemical agents on parts of the United States: such as the San Francisco Bay area, Saint Louis, parts of Minnesota, South Carolina and Georgia. It was called Operation LAC (Large Area Coverage)) Zinc cadmium sulfide was used. We in the military are aware of the chemical experiments tested on our troops through-out the years. Mustard gas (WWll) was one, nerve gas spray called Project 112 from 1963 to the early 1970’s that sprayed different ships and Navy sailors was another. Uninformed troops from 1946-1962 were exposed to ionizing radiation when the U.S. government conducted more than 1,000 nuclear tests and exposed many of our military.  I decided to stop here with the experiments information because it saddens me to think that we did these in the first place. I am sure that all of this was done to improve our military and its effectiveness but at what cost? 

“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” Albert Einstein.

  The Truth of Complacency 

August 2, 2020 Veterans Corner Article by Ronald Verini

As the war on COVID-19 continues, our own Air Force is charting a bomber future in line with the Pentagon’s new focus on a potential war with China or Russia. We expect to spend about $55 Billion on the all new nuclear capable Long-Range Strike Bomber the B-21. On top of that, hundreds of billions more to replace darn near all of the major elements of our nuclear weapons arsenal. 

So, if you think about it, the Trillions that have been spent on the War on COVID-19 and the future spending of just keeping our Nation safe, where do you think all this money is coming from? How do you think our government is going to pay for all this? Will they do what they have done in the past and cut programs that have helped our veterans and their families? Will they shave corners to make ends meet at the expense of those of us who have already served, to support our present-day military? Just seems like the money is always there for new weapons or planes to fight wars and conflicts around the World, but when it comes to taking care of our veterans that have served and are no longer on the Battle Field, we veterans become ‘skimped’ on, and the help and services we need are compromised or discontinued.

I am reminded about our veterans continuing fights for help with Agent Orange or the Burn Pits or the many other toxic elements that we were exposed to when deployed. We have always had to continue to fight for what we were promised. Many veterans have died or we have suffered all our lives before our Nation has recognized the needs of our Military when we come home and we are forgotten. Why have veterans always had to ‘raise hell’, to get someone to listen and ‘live up’ to the promises made to us before they even throw us a bone.  We need to start NOW demanding what we deserve before we are back to the long waits at the Veteran Administration Health Centers (of course, that has not yet even been fully taken care of).

We are at the forefront of weapons in space, how much do you think we will be spending on that venture? Your guess is as good as mine but I can assure you it will probably boggle the mind. 

All this spending, I am sure, has been well thought out and our elected officials have at each step considered our Military Veterans, that have come home.  Are they planning for our health needs and have they put aside a fund that will be able to address PTSD, and the war wounds that take many forms and the asbestos exposure, the Cancer-causing toxic firefighting foam abord ship and at our military bases?  The case for us standing up now, making our voices and concerns heard now will give us a fighting chance of getting the support in our future. If you wait for the other guy to do it, you might be sitting there in the future asking for help for a problem you have personally developed when in the military, and it is too late, because that other guy was waiting for you to speak up, so no one did. The day of being complacent and ‘knowing’ that there are folks that will take care of the problems that affect us, can no longer be relied upon, just look at the situations facing us now, for being complacent breeds ‘mediocrity’ and robs us of realizing a great ‘Potential’. The time to tackle our future is now. 

On the local level, The Vale American Legion Post 96 presented a flag raising ceremony to dedicate a new flag pole at the Vale Seniors/Community Center the other day. I was not able to attend but heard that it was well attended and the Vale Post made us all proud to be Veterans. Thank-You Gino, John and all the members that keep that post shining.

“Complacent ignorance is the most lethal sickness of the Soul.” Plato, Greek Philosopher, 424BC to 347BC, Athens, Greece.

                     An Idea That Actually Makes Sense

July 5, 2020 Veterans Corner Article by Ronald Verini

Sitting around the coffee table at Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida the other day someone said: “it’s not enough” in reply to a proposal that was on the agenda for our local City Council and that got me thinking about how often that one phrase comes up in just about every part of decision making. By the way, that person that brought this up actually had a proposal in his pocket that would have helped the issue being talked about!

Some critics say ‘it’s not enough’ and generally the one’s saying that are those that have not done much in the beginning and done very little to offer alternatives. The reason I bring this up is a recent headline in ‘Stars and Stripes’: “Trump unveils ‘bold’ plan to prevent veteran suicide, but critics say it’s not enough”. I looked into the plan and determined at least he has a proposal that will start the process and put in place 10 recommendations that will help move forward over the next two years some strategies that will help prevent some of the suicides that we are seeing today. President Trump signed an executive order on March 5th, 2020 creating a Cabinet level task force called PREVENTS (President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide). I can criticize our government for not doing enough in the past that got us to where we are with the number of suicides we have today, or I can criticize it’s not enough, or I can say: This is a great proposal- because I think it is and we will have about $53.4 million in the VA’s budget request for fiscal 2021 to get this program in place. What approach do you think might be more productive?  

Yes, I have been critical in the past and will be in the future and most times it is taking to task a procedure or structure that has or is destructive to the health or well-being of our military and their families. Not necessarily a proposal that actually helps in some way. If I have a problem with this, I would bring to the attention to those that matter an idea that might help but I would never just say, it’s not enough. 

I did notice that Sen Jon Tester-Montana one of the ranking members wanted more policy changes and others said that there was not enough input from veterans’ service organization, etc. I just hope that critics don’t stop what is in place but add to the proposal and push it forward. Because it doesn’t have ALL the bells and whistles doesn’t mean it is bad in its present form. I also think that compromise is important rather than standing the line of partisanship and the killing of this particular idea in its present form. Take a look on the web: ‘PREVENTS: The President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide’, and see for yourself. This document might open your eyes as to how you might help our local veterans that might have these thoughts. You also will have a roadmap that would work for the general population. 

As an example, the roadmap contains a nationwide plan to raise awareness about mental health with the goal of educating Americans that suicide is preventable. Another part of the plan is to take the approach that would concentrate on an individual’s specific risk factors and NOT on the all too often approach of one-size-fits-all. Also, the building of partnerships across our country with organizations including but not limited to universities, non-profits, small and large businesses, faith-based groups as well as state and local governments. It will be implementing a plan to improve coordination among grant programs and work on filling the gaps that exist today in funding streams. Of course, there is so much more in the proposal that would be a valuable asset to the health and well-being of those in need. 

Considering that for each life lost to suicide directly affects up to about 135 other individuals makes it vital that we address it on a grand scale, and that is the approach this proposal takes. This is a critical public health issue for our Veterans and our general population at large. 

This mission is big, complex and bold but I think achievable. 

“Suicide doesn’t end the chances of life getting worse, it eliminates the possibility of it ever getting any better.” Unknown.

 Broken Promises Over the Years 

June 7th, 2020 Veterans Column by Ronald Verini

Sitting around an abbreviated (because of COVID-19) coffee clutch at Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida the conversation turned to the list of challenges and grievances growing and our Federal Government thinking that throwing money at a problem is the solution. They also think that forming a committee to investigate a problem will solve these issues. They also think that changing top brass will appear like they are doing something regarding the concerns of our military, veterans or their families.  I am amazed how many believe that our challenges can be solved by these tactics.

We need to reorganize our thinking and get back to basics. It is not hard to understand that the road to victory is the Ballet Box and keeping a pulse on the very people we send to represent us in Washington D.C., our individual State, County and Local Government. We should NOT let them go without our input. We should NOT take our foot off the petal on any issue that we deem necessary during the year. We should pay attention. We should care. We should be heard. We deserve the best. Do something!

Some of the issues that came up around the coffee table were: Agent Orange, Burn Pits, long waits at the VA, transportation to and from health services, PTSD support, red tape, homelessness, medical care for veterans in rural areas not close to the VA Medical services, the constant changes of procedures, the mountain of paperwork and the list goes on!  

We have over 320 million folks in this Nation and every one of us have a responsibility to take concerns that are important to us and let your VOICE be heard. 

We need to stop the game of musical chairs and think that our representatives that we elect are doing the right things for us. Things have changed and if WE do not get involved then WE deserve exactly what we get. I am not talking about backing or not backing a particular political party, what I am talking about is zeroing in on the issues that we are passionate about and making sure that the folks that we send anywhere to represent us carries our opinion with them and holding them to it. This does not mean that we will always get what we need or want but I can assure you we will be better off making sure ‘they’ know what we want. 

I think: Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida, the Legion, VFW, IAVA, DAV, MOPH or many of the hundreds of other organizations representing our Veterans represent only a small portion of us as a group. As an example: WE as individuals have the power in the numbers to make changes to our U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. If you don’t think you can then you won’t. If you are defeatist and will not try, you have already lost. If you see the goal clearly and you go for it you have a chance to make a difference. Attitude is contagious so if you have a bad one or a good one you will infect many around you. Don’t overthink the solution, keep it simple. 

Think about if an elected official receiving a letter from an organization that has a membership of about 2 million folks expressing an idea that is a solution to a problem. Then that same elected official receiving two million letters from individuals that have also a solution to that same problem.  Will that elected official give more weight to two million letters or the one letter? I would have to think that those two million individuals would have more weight. There are about 18.8 million veterans living in the U.S. today. WE have the power and the numbers to make right the many wrongs we are suffering. Of course, that is only my opinion. And you know what they say about opinions: everyone has one!

Positive thinking with positive action like writing letters, leaving messages, etc. isn’t a magical solution to all the problems we need to address. This might take time and it might not work in some cases but it will make the problems of our military members seem more manageable and if enough folks do something instead of letting it done to us, WE Will Win!!!

“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.” Winston Churchill.