I just returned from the Homeless Vets Shelter and I'm ready to fight

My earlier post about the details.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2278845&mesg_id=2278845

Last night at the monthly meeting of the Londonderry Democratic Committee http://www.londonderrydems.org we collected canned goods for Liberty House. This morning I have the honor of delivering the goods.

Liberty House http://libertyhouseinc.org is a transitional home and drop in center for vets. We first heard about Liberty House from our September speaker, NH Rep. Steve Shurtleff (D), a veteran and retired US Marshall. Since that meeting we've been working on ways to support and hopefully in 2008, make Liberty House the focus of our fund raising efforts.

In my opinion there is no better group of people for Democrats to support than the forgotten veterans on our streets. These men and women are mostly from the Vietnam and First Gulf War eras but many vets from the current wars are being cast off by families and ending up on the street. We support them and we Democrats support candidates who will not forget their service to our country once they come home.

So, I just got back.

I dropped off the much appreciated box of food we collected then sat at the kitchen table for an hour with Judy and Bill Zarakotas.

These two angels could speak for hours on the plight of homeless vets but I just want to pass on one story. I'll be mentioning more stories in letters to the editors of our papers. That is the one thing they asked. Please get the word out by letters and any means we can.

Liberty House loses their federal funding on Dec. 31. The house is donated at $1/year and all they require is $50,000/year to get by. Maybe 5 minutes of the Iraq war. They have around 10 residents in good weather and the mission is to move them back into society. They also feed any vet that comes to the door and act as a drop in center for showers etc. There are an estimated 400 homeless vets in NH, 200 in Manchester alone.

So... Bill gets a call from Welfare up in Berlin, NH. They have a "bum" who's been an eyesore on their streets for quite some time. Does Liberty House have room. Bill said to send him down in a pre-paid cab. The next day the "bum" knocks on the door wearing a t-shirt and carrying no bag. He has no possessions.

This "bum" is 83 years old. Eighty Three! He does have veteran's papers and ID.

This "bum" served in the South Pacific during WWII and has 8 commendations for service in almost every major sea battle.

In America this man who served his country with honor in the greatest war; This man is a "bum".

I am so ashamed for my country.

Please Democrats! Please show support for these vets in your town or city. The rethugs like to "support our troops". Let us be the party that supports the veterans they conveniently ignore.

nt

A good angle on an important issue.

This is beyond the politics of war, oil and money.

This is about respect and begs the question, what kind of society are we?

Thanks

i'm mad as hell about this now that you have brought the subject up. man o man we have a full plate don't we so much needs so much attention and most is getting none. it sucks big time. I want my COUNTRY back and I want it now.

a fortune spewing out his Greatest Generation bullshi(they were a great generation, but not in the way he portrays them). Brokaw is on a major guilt trip (unresolved issues with his father and his own selling out to the corporate fascists?)and maybe that could be used to these vets' advantage.
Worth a try.

Thanks in advance http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/14/123045/96

I'm running out the door to do self serving things right now, or I'd say more about how much I appreciate what you are doing.

You help us all when you do this. We all benefit. It's the very core of being a progressive.

:puke:

Residents at http://libertyhouseinc.org/pages/1/index.htm">The Liberty House Program contribute $70/week to share expenses, but no one's monthly contribution will exceed 30% of his or her monthly income. Within six months, residents are expected to have steady employment, a set amount of savings, and to be otherwise capable of living independently.

They are great people that run that home for veterans!

------------

What the hell kind of work is an 83 year old man going to find? :shrug:

Isn't there a retirement home for him somewhere?

The New Hampshire Veterans Home was established in Tilton in 1890 as the Soldier's Home for Civil War Veterans.

One of just four New Hampshire nursing homes to win the 2007 Quality of Life Award from the NH Department of Health & Human Services, the modern facility is home to over 200 men and women who have served their country and fellow New Hampshire citizens.

The mission of NHVH is to provide high quality, professional long-term care services to the Granite State's elderly and disabled veterans. NHVH is the only long-term care facility in the Granite State that is dedicated exclusively to veterans.

-----------------------------


IN THE CITIES AND COUNTIES: UNIQUE HOMELESS VETERANS HOUSING PROJECT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
WILL SERVE MEN, WOMEN, AND HOMELESS VETERAN FAMILIES

http://www.ich.gov/newsletter/archive/03-22-07_e-newsletter.htm

NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Partnership at every level of government and with the private sector was in evidence Monday as Nashua Mayor Bernie Streeter, Governor John Lynch, U.S. Senator John McCain, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional Director Taylor Caswell, and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano joined officials of Harbor Homes, veterans, business leaders and over 500 community residents in dedicating Buckingham Place, a 20 apartment transitional housing facility for homeless veterans. Unique in the nation, this facility will provide up to 24 months of housing for homeless male and female veterans, and homeless veteran families in a single facility.

more......

---------------

20 apartments isn't enough if they're out on the streets!!

Perhaps better at the PR game so they got a donated new facility and oodles of money. But they still can't server the 400+ homeless vets in the state.

I won't say how many really do sleep at Liberty for fear someone my try to close them down. I can say that Bill refuses no vet and on cold winter nights he refuses no one.

What else am I suppose to do?

This crap really pisses me off.

"Support the Troops" is bullshit for most Americans and even more so for politicians.

I'm arranging an interview with our town's Veteran's clinic to talk about issues with Vets including homelessness, PDST, and the high rate of suicide. Earlier this week a man from the Vietnam war came in and wanted to know how he could get deported to England since he was born there. He said if he got deported all the vet benefits would go with him. I told him to call the ACLU for starters but he was so discouraged and said he was going to beg for money on the street to get a sandwich.

B-) :kick: B-)

, our youth, and our average citizen when we continue to ignore the health care issue, when we continue to ignore our growing population's need for good paying jobs by shipping them to foreign countries, etc, etc, etc...

our war machine corporations, and give $10Billion to Pakistan to keep Musharaff in power, and $5 Billion to Turkey to invade the Kurds.... ya know? Just so many more IMPORTANT things to do with all our tax dollars. Just Duke Cunningham ALONE siphoned about $100 Million of our tax dollars on phony military contractors, so he could get a nice house & boat.

Bridges collapsing, schools crumbling, and "bum" vets roaming the streets are just too much for such a poor country as the U.S.

:argh: Gawd this administration/congress makes me SICK!!!

:kick:

... supporting a GREAT CAUSE.

Thanks!

I ran across this the other day. They estimate the cremated remains of at least 15,000 veterans have long been forgotten or overlooked. That's 15,000 veterans sitting on shelves, never honored; never getting the proper burial. A group called Missing in America Project (MIAP) is trying to get them buried. Here's the link to their site: http://www.miap.us

If interested, you can read the article and if you go to the video library on that page, their is a 10 min video in the video library on the right side. At least there was the other day.

http://cbs13.com/seenon/call.kurtis.kurtis.2.566261.html

a veteran from the VietNam war. He was what is referred to as a "tunnel rat." These are among the bravest men I have ever had the privelage to meet.
If you don't know, a tunnel rat was a soldier that lowered himself, or was lowered by his ankles, into the tunnel system of the Viet Kong. Never knowing what the outcome of such a venture would be. I cannot imagine the terror that gripped these men as they were lowered dinto that shaft.
Terrorized, yet willing to place themselves in that situation.

As he was sitting at the bar having a cold beer on a July afternoon, a patron started slamming the Viet Nam war and the "idiots" that went over there to fight. As if they were looking for some wonderous adventure to fill their youthful days.

Youth died in an instant.

The veteran clasped his hands onto the bar and started shaking violently as this person railed on about the war. The veteran rose, walked over to the "patron" and punched him square in the mouth. Everyone in the bar applauded and cheered.

That helped the veteran at that moment. What about the countless moments he has had since? No one helped him. Government did not care.

Many of the people returning from Iraq have similar, if not worse, problems than the veteran described above. Yet, the needed help for these people is as lacking as those returning from Viet Nam.

Shameful.

This must change.

For the love of God, do something!!!

... Hillary? You can not be serious?

Tommy - Rudyard Kipling

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o'beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy how's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

Our troops are well fed. Our homeless Veterans go hungry.

Some of our troops are not so well fed either.

I know the care package from home means a lot.

:yourock:

My heart breaks for all the "bums" out there. I am grateful to any and all who help.

Julie

SO MANY VETS KILLING THEMSELVES--- THE CHICKENHAWKS SHOULD FOLLOW SUIT


120 US war veteran suicides a weekArticle from: Agence France-PresseFont size: Decrease Increase Email article: Email Print article: Print From correspondents in New York

November 15, 2007 09:47am
THE US military is experiencing a "suicide epidemic" with veterans killing themselves at the rate of 120 a week, according to an investigation by US television network CBS.

At least 6256 US veterans committed suicide in 2005 - an average of 17 a day - the network reported, with veterans overall more than twice as likely to take their own lives as the rest of the general population.

While the suicide rate among the general population was 8.9 per 100,000, the level among veterans was between 18.7 and 20.8 per 100,000.

That figure rose to 22.9 to 31.9 suicides per 100,000 among veterans aged 20 to 24 - almost four times the non-veteran average for the age group.

"Those numbers clearly show an epidemic of mental health problems,'' CBS quoted veterans' rights advocate Paul Sullivan as saying.

CBS quoted the father of a 23-year-old soldier who shot himself in 2005 as saying the military did not want the true scale of the problem to be known.

"Nobody wants to tally it up in the form of a government total,'' Mike Bowman said.

"They don't want the true numbers of casualties to really be known.''

There are 25 million veterans in the United States, 1.6 million of whom served in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to CBS.

"Not everyone comes home from the war wounded, but the bottom line is nobody comes home unchanged,'' Paul Rieckhoff, a former Marine and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for America said on CBS.

The network said it was the first time that a nationwide count of veteran suicides had been conducted.

The tally was reached by collating suicide data from individual states for both veterans and the general population from 1995.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jUtHzz80dkhT-nkIIbI4nsXXPGEw

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22762457-5005961,00.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/13/stunning-cbs-news-disc_n_72417.html

Peace

We know his past love life is much more important than some veterans taking their own lives.

It seems to me that Americans have taken the Date Rape drug and do not realize the pounding they are getting...

Peace.

Unfortunately it looks like they took it down...found it...again...not sure how long it will stay up.

At least for now...

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3498534n

A quote from the CBS News report...

Pathetic.

Another quote "If this doesn't wake America up, nothing will..."

Peace has a price...