LinkVETS - The Veterans Resource Network

http://corksphere.blogspot.com/2009/02/heart-breaking-video-2-gis-from-2nd-co.html

http://corksphere.blogspot.com/2009/02/beautiful-video-tribute-to-all-american.html

I was trying to write something more about this report I just read, but after these last eight previous years my rage keeps me from thinking straight in trying to add words to the total apathy, arrogance, and incompetence found in this country and it's elected representatives.

But I want you to meet Melissa Sterry, a Gulf War I National Guard Veteran, from New Haven Connecticut, and read the cuts I placed below also visiting the Hartford Advocate and read the rest, not only about Ms. Sterry but as to the rest of the Veterans of Connecticut, and what the state reps have to say.

Cut and Run - The Rell administration quietly kills a program to track the health of sick war veterans

 

Melissa Sterry's job was to clean them and ready them for storage. She'd climb inside the tanks and with a simple dust pan and broom, sweep out the Iraqi sand and the rubbish left behind by the tank operators.

Sterry was sweeping up something else too, something too small to see: dust from depleted uranium, a radioactive substance the military uses to make ammunition armor-piercing and bunker-busting. For months, Sterry cleaned these tanks without protective gear, kicking depleted uranium airborne and into her lungs.

Today, Sterry is a medical train wreck. The 46-year-old Gulf War veteran takes 11 kinds of medication — some daily and others as needed for pain — and suffers from chronic headaches, upper respiratory disease, bronchitis and a host of other ailments.

Like most Gulf War vets, the federal Veterans Administration refuses to test Sterry for exposure to depleted uranium or other chemical toxins she was exposed to in the Middle East.

So Sterry turned to the state government, and in 2005 helped Connecticut become the first state in the nation to craft a law to test returning combat troops for exposure to battlefield health hazards, including depleted uranium.

 

But the state has turned its back on Sterry and the more than 30,000 Connecticut troops who have deployed to combat zones in the Middle East and the Balkans since 1990. The Advocate has learned that Gov. Jodi Rell, through her budget office, quietly killed funding for the veterans health registry without telling the lawmakers who sponsored the program, nor the veterans whom it would serve.

 

If the registry isn't restored, hundreds of Connecticut-based troops could go undiagnosed and uncatalogued. The state has sent 16,000 troops to war since Sept. 11, 2001 and another 75 National Guardsmen and women shipped off to the southwest Asia last week, their second deployment to the war zone.

 

"People really don't care about veterans," Sterry says. "They really don't give a shit about us. People want to trot out veterans on photo-ops. They want to go put wreaths on gravestones. But real human beings with real life problems? No, we don't care."

Who is Gov. Jodi Rell, According to Wikipedia.

 

Mary Jodi Rell (born June 16, 1946) is a Republican politician who became the 72nd Governor of the U.S. state of Connecticut on July 1, 2004. She had been the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut until Governor John G. Rowland resigned during a corruption investigation. Rell is Connecticut's second female Governor, after Ella T. Grasso.

 

To Sterry, cutting help for vets to balance the books is just plain heartless.

"We understand care and maintenance of our military vehicles, but we don't understand we need to do the same for our troops," Sterry says. "Do you want to change the oil in the engine or do you want to replace the engine when it seizes up? These actions are just a reflection of, We'll just change the engine when it seizes up."

Rell's press office was asked to explain why they cut funds for the registry and to respond to reactions like those of Sterry that denying health screening to combat troops is cold-hearted. Despite four calls and one e-mail to the governor's press shop over three days, we received no response to our questions. The governor's chief spokesman, Christopher Cooper, referred us the Jeffrey Beckham, undersecretary for legislative affairs at OPM, who responded with this statement:

"That program was new and had not gotten started. The agency required some cooperation from the federal government to get it going and I understand that cooperation was somewhat lacking. Given that we were struggling to protect existing programs, we thought that not going forward with that new program was a reasonable call."

We asked Beckham in a follow-up e-mail to elaborate about the lack of federal cooperation and respond to the questions unanswered by the governor's staff, but did not receive a response by press time.

Now I'm assuming, and probably right, about the lack of federal cooperation, that they are talking about the previous administrations control, as the present has been on the job only since January 20th '09.

Another in an ever growing list of the Incompetence and Corrupt leadership we've been a party to for these last eight years in the federal government, including the years of control prior to in the congress, and coming also out of the state governments!

Now a certain political party can't be blamed for everything concerning Military and Veterans Care, but this political party are the ones Thumbing their Chests as to being True 'Americans', More 'Patriotic', Stronger on 'National Defense', and the only True 'Supporters of the Troops' and thus us Veterans, and are the ones who championed the Two Occupations and the creation of huge numbers of enemies towards our country and it's citizens!!

 

http://corksphere.blogspot.com/2009/02/military-generals-rebel-against.html

http://corksphere.blogspot.com/2009/02/this-video-will-bring-tears-to-your.html

Veterans For America (VFA) is taking a sabbatical, well, sort of…We’re taking a break from our on-line presence and reporting to develop new research and programs to better address modern challenges and threats .  As most have figured out, business…

Danny Ingram, president of American Veterans for Equal Rights, commenting on the recent release of a long anticipated Pentagon "2010 DoD Comprehensive Review Survey of Uniformed Active Duty and Reserve Service Members" regarding their attitude toward serving with openly gay personnel in America's armed forces, said that "the survey may very well reveal that today's patriotic young volunteers, honorably serving around the world today, are likely to show that they overwhelmingly believe in the equality they have sworn to defend and have not the slightest concern serving alongside fellow soldiers who happen to be gay."

Ingram noted that other recent scientific surveys such as the 2006 Zogby poll of active duty combat veterans demonstrated that nearly 75% had no issues serving alongside lesbian and gay personnel.  "The current Pentagon survey should reveal a similar result", said Ingram, who, along with other gay and lesbian veterans, met with the DOD's Comprehensive Review Working Group at the Pentagon in May where the survey was discussed.  "Secretary of Defense William Gates has ordered the Working Group to carry out this research", continued Ingram, "and DOD General Counsel Charles Johnson and General Carter Ham who head up the Working Group were committed to performing their duty as instructed. The questions are very extensive, and some of them have been viewed as biased, but AVER believes that a majority of today's service members will reflect an increasingly progressive attitude toward gay service."

AVER encourages active duty LGBT personnel to respond to the survey along with 400,000 other active service members invited to participate.  Some LGBT groups have warned gay and lesbian service members not to take the survey, but participants are not asked about their own sexual orientation.  LGBT personnel should refrain from indicating their orientation in the 'personal comment' sections of the survey in order to protect themselves from discharge under the current "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law which prohibits open gay service.

"There is nothing in the survey which even gets close to asking about whether you're gay", said Admiral Al Steinman, AVER's highest ranking member and one of the nation's leading experts on the issue of gays in the military.  "To deny the Pentagon the power of our voices on this critical issue is unwise", continued the admiral.  "If we fail to let the Pentagon understand what life under DADT is like for gay and lesbian service members by giving honest answers to these questions, we only hurt ourselves by allowing the opinions of those who oppose our service to have undue weight.  Repealing DADT simply means that all men and women who don the uniform in defense of their nation can serve under the same rules and regulations -- that is not a difficult concept to understand."

American Veterans for Equal Rights, founded in 1990, serves the needs of LGBT veterans and active duty service members, and advocates for the right of all Americans to serve in our nation's armed forces regardless of sexual orientation.

Today is Jack Strouss' 87th birthday.  Jack was born in Atlanta, GA, where he still lives today, on June 24th, 1923.  Jack was one of the three World War II veterans who lay a wreath this month in Arlington National Cemetery in honor of AVER's fallen.  Following are Jack's own words describing the event.  He wrote this up for his family and I asked if I could share it with AVER.  I have left everything exactly as Jack wrote it.

---

 

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY JUNE 11, 2010

The veterans organization to which I belong, American Veterans For Equal Rights – AVER, through the diligence of our National President, Mr. Danny Ingram, requested that our Veterans organization be allowed to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of our WWII Veterans from our organization, living and dead.  This honor was granted and the date of June 11, 2010 was given and to be held at 1:35 P.M. that date.

We gathered at the main gate of the cemetery well ahead of our schedule time as special permission had to be given for our vehicles to drive to the Amphitheater area as our WWII veterans could not walk that distance up the long hill.  With "handicap" tags for each vehicle (3) for our party of seven, we were given special "tags" that allowed our vehicles to the parking area nearest the Tomb Of The Unknowns.

Once there it was a short walk to a receiving room under the Amphitheater where we were to be "inspected" for proper dress at this hallowed site. We all had Military Uniforms or proper civilian or Clerical Dress.  Two of our party were Clerics.

At the time for our ceremony to begin the Sgt. At Arms who would lead us down the stairs and throughout the ceremony came and explained in detail what we would be doing as we followed him down to the Tomb.  We assumed that he was one of the Military that are assigned as perpetual guards for the Tomb.  He was quite tall, perfectly dressed in his uniform and very careful with his specific spoken instructions that we were to follow..

With us that day were three members of AVER who are WWII Veterans.  One from Florida, one from Georgia, and one from the District of Columbia. They all served in the European Theater of Operations in WWII.

They are:

Father John J. McNeill, Dr. Frank Kameny and Mr. Jack W. Strouss.

From here I, Jack Strouss, shall use "first person" to explain how the ceremony went from this point to the conclusion.

We followed the Sgt. Outside to the top of the steps that lead down to the Tomb.  There we were placed two by two with Danny Ingram and myself as the two leads behind the Sgt. Directly behind were Dr. Kameny and Father McNeill side by side.  The others in our party were allowed to follow down only to the last step.  We four were only allowed on the terrace level with the Tomb.

Hundreds of tourists visit the Tomb area each day and watch the sentinels as they march back and forth in 30 min. periods then the change of the guard occurs. The tourist area is restricted and is outside the stairs we used.

Fortunately I was placed to the left of Danny Ingram on whose left arm I steadied myself during the descent of the many steps to the Tomb Level. I had my walking stick, as did the other two Veterans but having Danny kept me from wobbling and even possibly missing a step on the descent.

Once on the Tomb level we followed the Sgt. to the edge of the black rubber type pad upon which the sentinels march back and forth.  Our wreath has already been placed near the Tomb before our arrival and the Sgt. then crossed the black pad area and brought the wreath up to our side of the pad.  He told us to place our hands on the wreath and to follow him.  I indicated to him that I had a walking stick, and he then said, "Hand" realizing I could not use "hands" as he had instructed.  So Danny and I put our hand and hands on the wreath.  Then Sgt. told us to follow him. He walked backwards over the black pad to the side quite near the face of the Tomb with us holding the wreath until he stopped and set it down.

It was only then that I could take a moment to look up and realize where we were and we were so close to the Tomb and it seemed to loom over us.  I had no idea it was so large or tall and seen from a distance, as everyone usually does see it, one has no feel for how large or small the Tomb is. I had been there before as a tourist and suddenly realized where I was standing.  Then I could read the simple Inscription on the side of the Tomb facing us:  "Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But to God."

Remembering that moment now is difficult to explain, however flashed through my mind were several names of departed friends, my WWII Buddies.  There was total silence as the tourist area has clearly marked signs noting that "complete silence and respect is required".  Then the Sgt. at Arms shouted his command:  "Present Arms", when we then saluted and Taps began to sound from the bugler just to our left.

I must admit that I had quite a few tears to shed during those moments.  It was indeed a very emotional moment that only one can experience who is in that exact spot at that time in the ceremony.  A moment that is clearly etched in my memory.

After Taps faded away, Sgt. shouted his "order arms" and our salutes came down and many tourists lowered their hands from over their hearts.  All of this is complete silence except for the commands from the Sgt. and the bugle.

I looked then at the Wreath before us and the inscription on the large ribbon that was woven in between the flowers:  "American Veterans For Equal Rights Honors Our WWII Veterans".   This was not just for the three of us present, of course, but AVER members who have gone on before us.

Then Sgt. softly told us to turn about, (fortunately not "About Face" as he could have as both Danny and I were in full Uniform, Sgt. realized that with my walking stick such a move would be impossible. For that I was grateful).  Then he simply told us to return to the steps for the return to the upper terrace where others of our party were waiting.

Again Danny's right arm, this time, allowed me to steady myself on the slow climb back up those many steps.  We did not try to move fast and finally reached the top.  Then we went back into the reception room (a memorial room in the Amphitheater) to meet with our party and a few invited well-wishers and photographers.  Many flashes were popping about and we three WWII Vets were asked to step up on a small raised platform in front of a large flag display for more photos of us.

After perhaps 15 to 20 minutes we finally were able to gather our party together and leave that room and at the request of our AVER Photographer, and were asked to go to a shaded lawn area for more photographs in an entirely different setting.

Our photographer, and others in our party, took photos all during the formal ceremony doing the best they could but not being allowed on the Tomb level photos of that time were, at best, taken from our backs or with a telescopic lens on the camera.

Fortunately it was not one of D.C. areas' very hot and humid Summer days, and we were comfortable in 85 degrees with low humidity as we made our way back to the vehicles for our return to the City.

I felt that while my memory was still sharp just a week after the Ceremony that I should make this written account for myself and anyone else in the future who might wish to read about this great honor that AVER had on June 11, Friday, 2010.

 

Alan J. Rogue
(April 20, 1959 - June 22, 2010)

Alan J. Rogue, 51, of 122 Claybrook Drive, died at 12:18 a.m. Tuesday, June 22, 2010, at the St. Elizabeth Hospital, Main Campus in Youngstown.

Alan was born April 20, 1959 in Mexico City, Mexico, a son of Jose Alberto and Reza Novello Tapia and had lived in East Palestine five years, coming from Denver, CO.

He had been employed in Customer Service Department at AT&T Wireless for three years. Prior to that, he had operated his own construction company and had served in the U.S. Navy as a medical corpsman attached to the U. S. Marine Corps. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, East Palestine and had served as national president of American Veterans for Equal Rights. He was also the chief steward for Communication Workers of America Local 4320.

Besides his mother and step father, Don and Reza Dietiker of Galveston, TX, he is survived by his husband, Jeff Rogue; his mother and father in law, Alta and Gary Johnson of East Palestine; two brothers, Trevor Curtis of Denver, CO and Christopher Smith of Houston, TX; and his two furry children, Baxter and Sophie.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Grace Lutheran Church with the Reverend Donald Pentz officiating. Burial will follow in Little Beaver Cemetery, Enon Valley, PA where the East Palestine Honor Guard will provide military honors.

Friends may call at the Van Dyke-Swaney-Rettig Funeral Home, East Palestine from 4-7 p.m. Friday and at the church one hour prior to the services on Saturday. Memorials may be made to the Grace Lutheran Church.

Obit originally posted by Family Care Services.

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AJ ROGUE
By James Apedaile

I met Alan J. "AJ" Rogue almost 20 years ago.  We first met on a softball team that I coached and played on.  He played 2nd base and I played shortstop.

AJ was a very caring and compassionate person. When I joined Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Veterans of America (GLBVA), now known as American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) I tried to get AJ to join, but he just wasn't ready to join the fight yet.  I think the scar of his discharge from the Navy was still to painful to deal with.

Later when AJ joined AVER he did so with gusto, becoming the Rocky Mountain Chapter President.  He went on to become the National Vice President and then President of AVER.  AJ believed in giving back to the community.  While serving as President of the Rocky Mountain Chapter, he organized the chapter to provide once monthly meals to a shelter for at-risk teens.

When the Gay and Lesbian Community Center needed to make an area for their youth, he volunteered the chapter to do the remodeling.  AJ, his partner Jeff and I did most of the work, along with a few other chapter members helping as they could.  We tore down and added walls, windows, and doors.  AJ, a General Contractor, organized everything.

As President of AVER, he successfully led the organization in moving from a 501c3 Non Profit Organization to add the 501c19 status so that we can also become a Veteran Service Organization. He gave speeches about Don't Ask Don't Tell and pride festivities, developed relationships with the Denver community, and made trips to D.C. to lobby for the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" (DADT).  Although AJ would have loved to see the end of DADT, he definitely laid groundwork for the accomplishment of this feat, and his handprints will be all over it when it finally happens.

AJ was quite successful in his life, and he was a wonderful Husband to his partner Jeff, who was beside him every step of the way in his journey of life.

AJ my friend, you will be missed by all of us.  We celebrate your life.

OPERATION GOLDEN EAGLE
American Veterans For Equal Rights
20th Anniversary DC Event in June
Honors LGBT WWII Vets

by Danny Ingram, AVER President

This June, American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) celebrates 20 years of working for LGBT equality in the US Armed Forces with Operation Golden Eagle, a series of events planned in conjunction with Capital Pride in Washington DC, the city where AVER was born in 1990.AVER members from across America will gather in the nation's capital Jun. 11-13, 2010, to commemorate the founding of AVER, the oldest nation-wide LGBT Veterans Service Organization in the United States.  The focus of the celebration will be LGBT World War II veterans, those men and women of the 'greatest generation' who defeated the forces of tyranny in the largest conflict the world has ever known and returned home to the United States to found the modern Gay Rights movement.  The anniversary event has been named Operation Golden Eagle in honor of the 'golden years' of these first generation LGBT Americans, many of whom wore on their uniforms the famous golden eagle patch (nicknamed the 'ruptured duck') to distinguish their status as a returning WWII vet.

A main event of Operation Golden Eagle will be a wreath placing ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery scheduled for 1:35p.m. EDT on Friday, Jun. 11.  The wreath placing complement will include AVER National President Danny Ingram, and three prominent gay World War II veterans: Fr. John J. McNeill, Dr. Frank Kameny, and Mr. Jack Strouss.

McNeill, who served under General George S. Patton, was captured at the Battle of the Bulge, imprisoned in a Nazi POW camp, and received the Purple Heart, returned to the US and was ordained as a priest in the Society of Jesus.  Following the publication of his book "The Church and the Homosexual," a landmark work on gay and lesbian spirituality, Fr. McNeill came under the scrutiny of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, then headed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, who ordered him to remain silent.  After refusing a further order from Ratzinger, in 1988, to cease all ministry to LGBT people, McNeill was expelled from the Society of Jesus after 40 years in the order.

Harvard-educated astronomer Frank Kameny returned from fighting Nazis in WWII only to be dismissed from his position as an astronomer in the Army Map Service in 1957, because of his homosexuality.  Dr. Kameny went on to form the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC, one of the earliest and most influential gay rights organizations of the 1960s.  In 1971, Kameny ran for Congress from Washington DC as the first openly gay candidate for national office.  He was also one of the founders of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) and helped found the Gay Rights National Lobby from which the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) was formed.

Mr. Jack Strouss of Atlanta, also served under General George S. Patton in the European Theater of WWII.  Strouss' transport ship was torpedoed from beneath him in the English Channel, and he was rescued by a Free French frigate.  He went on to fight in the final drive to Germany and served in the Army of Occupation following the Nazi surrender.  When Strouss returned home to the US, he took a job working for the US Department of Civil Service, only to be fired during the infamous McCarthy era due to his homosexuality.

Fr. John McNeill will do a book signing at the Dignity Center, located at 721 8th Street Southeast, Washington, DC 20003-2802, near the Eastern Market Metro Station, from 10a.m. - 11:30a.m. EDT on Saturday, Jun. 12.  AVER members are encouraged to come meet Fr. McNeill, one of our most distinguished members, and help support his trip to DC for Operation Golden Eagle, which he is attending at his own expense.

On Saturday, Jun. 12, AVER will lead the annual DC Pride Parade as the event's official color guard.  World War II dignitaries will ride in designated vehicles in the parade, and all LGBT veterans are invited to join the color guard.  The AVER color guard will carry a special vintage silk 48-star World War II era national flag and a World War II memorial flag in honor of Operation Golden Eagle.

On Sunday, Jun. 13, AVER will staff a "Recruiting Station" at DC's Capitol Pride Festival to recruit new members for the AVER National Capital Chapter, which the national organization hopes to build as one of its most prominent chapters.  Members of AVER from all over the nation will help staff the booth throughout the hours of the Pride Festival.

To top off Operation Golden Eagle, members of AVER will present a "taps" ceremony from the main stage of Capital Pride with "all hands present."  All WWII veterans will be invited onto the stage to be recognized for their service.  The taps ceremony will honor all LGBT service members who have given their lives in the defense of our nation's freedom, especially Army Maj. Alan G. Rogers, who became was the first nationally-known gay combat casualty in modern US history when he as killed by an improvised explosive device while leading a patrol in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 27, 2008.  Rogers also served as an officer in the National Capital Chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights.

Planned events yet to be scheduled:

AVER will conduct a wreath laying ceremony at the grave site of Tech. Sgt. Leonard Matlovich, who was one of the first and most prominent gay service members to challenge the military's ban on gay service in the 1970's.  A recipient of both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, Matlovich's grave marker bears the famous words "WHEN I WAS IN THE MILITARY THEY GAVE ME A MEDAL FOR KILLING TWO MEN AND A DISCHARGE FOR LOVING ONE."  Matlovich rests in Washington's Congressional Cemetery where AVER hopes to establish a national LGBT war memorial in the future.  This event is not yet scheduled.

AVER hopes to sponsor a Saturday press event at the World War II Memorial featuring our three distinguished VIPs and other LGBT WWII veterans to speak on the injustice of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" issue and use their "gravitas" to help place a final nail in the coffin of the military's ban on gay service members.  In order to encourage WWII vets to attend the press event, AVER is offering free Lifetime Membership to every WWII veteran who participates.  AVER hopes this will be the largest gathering of openly LGBT WWII veterans in US history and one of the most powerful collective voices ever to target the injustice of the gay ban.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

Sponsor a WWII Vet: In order to make Operation Golden Eagle a success, AVER is in need of LGBT World War II veterans to attend the event.  Anyone interested in participating in June or helping sponsor a WWII veteran should contact AVER President Danny Ingram at president@aver.us.  Help is also needed in logistical support, including local transportation, an advance team to help with permits and locations, and funding.

Come to Washington and participate: AVER is hoping to make Operation Golden Eagle a tremendous experience for LGBT veterans of all ages from all eras.  For more information, continue to watch for news releases on the AVER National website at http://www.aver.us.  Most of all AVER is about honoring service, and we hope to take the opportunity in June to say "thank you" to all LGBT veterans for your service and your dedication to helping end the injustice of the ban.  Please join us in Washington, DC, the weekend of Jun. 11-13 as we honor our first generation and we celebrate the camaraderie unique to those of us who have served in the armed forces.  There is an organization for you as an LGBT veteran, and it is AVER.  Come see what we are about and consider membership in the only LGBT Veterans Service Organization recognized by the VA.

American Veterans for Equal Rights has partnered with Servicemembers United and Human Rights Campaign, plus a coalition of dozens of other veteran, military, and civilian organizations from all around the nation for Veterans Lobby Day in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, 11 May 2010.

May 11th lobbying by gay and straight vets to focus on repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" this year

http://www.VeteransLobbyDay.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Servicemembers United and the Human Rights Campaign announced expanded plans for a national Veterans Lobby Day to be held on May 10-11, 2010 in Washington, DC, as Congress begins to focus on the defense authorization bill - the likely vehicle for "Don't Ask, Don' Tell" repeal.  The lobby day, which will bring hundreds of gay and lesbian veterans and their straight veteran allies from around the nation to Capitol Hill, is expected to be the largest lobbying event on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to date.

"The next thirty days are going to be absolutely critical in the push for repeal of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law this year," said Alexander Nicholson, a former U.S. Army interrogator who was discharged under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and the current Executive Director of Servicemembers United. "We need every supportive veteran who is able to come to Washington to join us here on May 10th and 11th for this final push, and we are thrilled to have such an unprecedented coalition of pro-repeal and pro-military organizations joining us in this effort."

"This broad coalition coming together to urge Congress to end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' represents a powerful voice for repeal this year," said Jarrod Chlapowski, the military spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign.  "A wide majority of Americans, including democrats, republicans and independents recognize this discriminatory law hurts our national security and fails to live up to our values.  The time to end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is now."

Nearly 14,000 Americans have been abruptly fired from the U.S. military because of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law - including more than 800 mission critical specialists.  Servicemembers United and HRC have been jointly engaged in extensive field and grassroots organizing work across the country to lay the groundwork for repeal through initiatives like the "Voices of Honor" Tour, which organized in key states to highlight the costs of DADTand promote the voices of gay and straight veterans who support repeal.

Iraq War veteran Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Sen. Joe Lieberman, (I-CT) are championing this legislative repeal effort on Capitol Hill.

[As the number of partner-organizations grows with each passing week, CLICK HERE to see the most up-to-date list, as well as more information on how you can get involved]

There are millions of dollars waiting to be claimed by service members and veterans who were stop lossed, and time is running out! Those eligible must submit their claim by Oct. 21, 2010. The DoD Web site links to service-specific sites, where you ...

Published in Stars & Stripes by Jeff Schogol July 16, 2010 ARLINGTON, Va. — Twenty-two media organizations have sided with a radical church against the father of a fallen Marine who is trying to sue it for picketing his son’s funeral. The media ...

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Published in Record Gazette by Rees Lloyd Local Eagle Scout Robert Morgan has been named “National Scout of the Year” for 2009-2010 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Morgan, 18, the son of Chuck and Donna Morgan, received a $5,000 scholarship as ...

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Richard Wilson Homan, age 87, passed away on Monday, June 21, 2010 at his residence in Franklin, WV. Mr. Homan was born on January 14, 1923 in Sugar Grove, WV, the son of the late Dr. Virgil Ray Homan, Sr. and the late Leafy A. Mitchell Homan. On ...

WASHINGTON June 18, 2010 — The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. met with President Obama in the Oval Office yesterday morning to discuss issues important to America’s veterans, servicemembers and their families. Thomas ...