Finally, something comes out of the court system that actually makes sense:

Judge Orders Michigan Man to Scrub Veterans Memorial With Toothbrush
A Michigan man scrubbed a monument to U.S. troops with a toothbrush Tuesday while wearing a T-shirt that read "I Stole From Veterans" as part of a punishment for a scam to solicit scrap yards for metal, the Saginaw News reports.

A judge ordered Philip Kolinski, 73, of Carrollton Township, Mich., to wash the veterans monument outside the Saginaw County Governmental Center after he was found guilty of soliciting metal donations for a sculpture dedicated to Iraq War veterans that was never built, the Saginaw News said...

Get the whole story, and see a picture of him in his t-shirt, at Fox News

Labels: military scams, Veterans Affairs

WHEELCHAIR GAMES
U.S. Air Force veteran Daniel Young masters the slalom course, June 19, 2007, at the 27th National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Milwaukee, Wis., held June 19 to 23. More than 500 disabled veterans were at the games, sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America. National Veterans Affairs Office photo - More Photos

Labels: National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Paralyzed Veterans of America, photos, USAF, Veterans Affairs, Wounded Heroes

WASHINGTON (April 4, 2007) -- With the number of known living American veterans of World War I now standing at four, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking public assistance in determining whether others are still alive.

"These veterans have earned the gratitude and respect of the nation," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. "We are coming to the end of a generation that helped bring the United States to the center of the international arena."

Nicholson noted that VA usually knows about the identity and location of veterans only after they come to the Department for benefits. None of the four known surviving World War I veterans has been on the VA benefits rolls.

The Secretary asks members of the general public who know of a surviving World War I veteran to contact VA. To qualify as a World War I veteran, someone must have been on active duty between April 6, 1917 and Nov. 11, 1918. VA is also looking for surviving Americans who served in the armed forces of allied nations.

Information about survivors can be e-mailed to ww1@va.gov; faxed to 202-273-6702, or mailed to the Office of Public Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs (80), 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20420.

About 4.7 million men and women served in the U.S. armed forces during World War I. About 53,000 died in combat, with another 204,000 wounded.

The four known surviving World War I veterans are John Babcock, 102, from Puget Sound, Wash.; Frank Buckles, 106, Charles Town, W.Va.; Russell Coffey, 108, North Baltimore, Ohio; and Harry Landis, 107, Sun City Center, Fla.

Babcock is an American who served in the Canadian Army. The other three survivors were in the U.S. Army.


Recent VA News Releases:
To view and download VA news release, please visit the following Internet address:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel


H/T to Shelle

Labels: Veterans Affairs

Story Number: NNS070328-16
Release Date: 3/28/2007 5:17:00 PM

Special release from Naval District Washington Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The last surviving female World War I veteran, Charlotte Winters, died March 27 in Boonsboro, Md. She was 109 years old.

Winters served in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a yeoman, including service at a gun production facility at the Washington Navy Yard. She continued to work for the Navy in Washington until her retirement in 1953.

The Naval Reserve Act of 1916 enabled the Navy to begin enlisting women in mid-March 1917. Nearly 600 were on duty by the end of April 1917. That number grew to more than 11,000 by December 1918, shortly after the armistice. These women were popularly known as "Yeomanettes."

They all held enlisted ranks and served in support positions, mainly secretarial and clerical, and almost all served in the U.S. Many worked in government and naval offices, in defense companies and hospitals. They were all released from active duty in July 1919. Two of them ultimately became Naval officers in the Reserve, Capt. Joy Bright Hancock and Lt. Eunice Whyte.

Funeral services will be held March 30 in Boonsboro, Md., with interment to follow at the Mount Olivet Cemetery, in Frederick, Md.

The U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard will present military honors during the interment ceremony.



The Naval Historical Center has further information on the "Yeomanettes" at www.history.navy.mil/photos/prs-tpic/females/yeoman-f.htm.

For more news from around the fleet, visit http://www.navy.mil/.

Labels: Veterans Affairs, women in the military

Shelle Michaels, APR
Soldiers' Angels
National Public Relations Director
1792 E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, Ca. 91104

soldiersangelsprteam-AT-gmail-DOT-com
(615) 676-0239


For Immediate Release


Soldiers' Angels Leads the Nation in Support for the Veterans; Donate a VET PACK to a Hero in Need

Pasadena, CA March 29, 2007- The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) acknowledges that of the 25 million veterans currently alive, nearly three of every four served during a war or an official period of hostility. About a quarter of the nation's population, approximately 70 million people are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members or survivors of veterans. Soldiers' Angels encourages the nation to stand up and support the needs of our Veterans currently in hospitals, homes or shelters.

Soldiers' Angels is taking the lead nationally by helping out the VA hospitals around the U.S. There is great need to support our veterans, not only those in the hospitals or homes but to provide outreach to the homeless Veterans as well. In trying to meet the needs of both the hospitalized and the homeless veterans, Soldiers' Angels has put together a VET PACK for a donation of $40.00( to inclyde shipping and handling) that will be sent directly to a vet in need.

VET PACK CONTENTS:
Large Backpack with pockets:
PJ pants
T-Shirt
Boxers
Socks
Knit Cap
Toiletries in vinyl zippered bag:
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Floss
Razors
Shave cream
Shampoo
Conditioner
Deodorant
Lotion
Comb
Nail Clippers
Lipbalm
Soap
Wetnaps
Tissue
Cotton Swabs
"Thank You for Your Service" card

People interested in providing our Veterans with a VET PACK can visit the web site www.soldiersangels.org to make a donation by credit card or by using PayPal. A VET PACK can also be purchases online at the Soldiers Angels Store and have it sent directly to a Veteran. Make sure that you put in the comments section "VET PACK". Checks can be made out to Solder's Angels at 1792 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, Ca. 91104. All donations are tax deductible.

Soldiers' Angels is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the support of the brave men and women deployed in support of the War on Terror in Iraq, Afghanistan and wherever we fly the flag of the United States of America. Founded in 2003 by the mother of a U.S. soldier, Soldiers Angels is a non-profit Internet community dedicated to ensuring that members of the military know they are loved and supported. For more information about Soldiers' Angels check out the website www.soldiersangels.org or contact- soldiersangels-AT-gmail-DOT-com

Founder Patti Patton-Bader may be contacted at (615) 676-0239.

Labels: Soldiers' Angels, Supporting the troops, Veterans Affairs

From Paralyzed Veterans of America:


Not Your Run-Of-The-Mill 14-Year-Old
Fun-loving 14-year-old Aaron Fotherington isn’t a paralyzed veteran. But he certainly shares the “go for it” attitude embraced so many of our young servicemen and women who are determined to live life to the fullest.


Find out more about wheelchair sports
Support Paralyzed Veterans

Labels: Good News, Veterans Affairs, Wounded

From MoveAmericaForward:

NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Robert Dixon
February 15, 2007
Phone: (916) 441-6197
Email: http://us.f810.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=robert@moveamericaforward.org

NATIONAL PATRIOTIC CARAVAN COUNTERS ANTI-WAR EFFORT

From California to Washington, D.C. March 8th – March 17th

A national patriotic, pro-troop caravan will cross the nation, traveling from California to Washington, D.C. to show support for U.S. troops serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The "THESE COLORS DON'T RUN" national caravan (organized and sponsored by the pro-troop non-profit group Move America Forward – http://www.moveamericaforward.org/) will depart San Francisco, California on the morning of Thursday, March 8, 2007, traversing the length of the state and then heading across the nation. The patriotic caravan will feature stops across the nation in major cities where pro-troop rallies will take place.

Leading the caravan will be Blue Star Mother Deborah Johns, whose son William is serving his 3rd tour of duty in Iraq; Gold Star Mother Debra Argel Bastian whose son, Derek, died in Operation Iraqi Freedom; Gold Star Father Joseph Williams whose son, Michael, died in Operation Iraqi Freedom; and John Ubaldi – a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan).

At each rally, participants will bring American flags – either a homemade one they created themselves, a store-bought flag, or a flag that has a special significance, history or meaning. The flags will be collected at each stop and brought to Washington, D.C. where they will be displayed to create a giant "Flag City" on Saturday, March 17, 2007.

The participants of Move America Forward's "THESE COLORS DON'T RUN" caravan will join with several other patriotic and pro-troop organizations for a giant patriotic rally in Washington, D.C. on March 17th. Among the participating groups MAF is proud to support in this display of patriotism are: Free Republic, Gathering of Eagles, Vets for Victory and Vets For Truth.

"There's been way too much negativity and doom-and-gloom mentality in this nation about our nation, our values and the missions our troops are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Melanie Morgan, Chairman of Move America Forward.

"We're sick and tired of the shameful subversiveness of the anti-war crowd and we decided it's time to give Americans a chance to respond with a positive, uplifting and patriotic response," Morgan said.




The Anti-war crows plans to assemble AT THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL. The idea of allowing this crowd to assemble at that wall is nauseating - especially given their past performance, during which Hero Joshua Sparling was threatened, insulted, and spat at.

If you are able, please consider making the trip to D.C. for St. Patrick's Day.

More details are available here:
Gathering of Eagles to Protect Vietnam Memorial Wall

Labels: Anti-War protests, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbats, Move America Forward, Supporting the troops, Veterans Affairs