To parade or not parade



To parade or not to parade, Citizen Warrior by Tiffany Madison for Communities @WashingtonTimes.com

DALLAS, TX, February 11, 2012 – As New York City and Foxboro, Massachusetts hoped to celebrate a Super Bowl win with a ticker-tape parade for their football champions, Paul Rieckhoff, accomplished Army veteran and Founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) issued a press release titled “If the Giants or Pats get a parade, shouldn’t Iraq vets?” His plea for a National Day of Action calls on the White House and mayors nationwide to coordinate a massive day of parades and community “resource villages” for Iraq War veterans. The idea of a parade for veterans of Iraq has ignited a controversy for both veteran and civilian communities, resurrecting complicated feelings.

Naturally, many politicians are in full support; parades are easy commitments. “This is not a victory celebration,” said Vincent Ignizio of The New York City Council. “This is a welcome home of a massive amount of troops that are coming home that served us with honor and those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.” Mitt Romney, Republican Presidential candidate agrees, “Whether that’s a ticker tape parade, or whether it’s a special ceremony somewhere else, welcoming our troops home is something they deserve.” Though the White House has sided with the Department of Defense’s comments that national parades were inappropriate while wars continue abroad, should momentum continue it would be wise to switch positions for political advantage. Nationwide fanfare celebrating the end of the Iraq War would surely remind voters which candidate brought the troops home in an election year.

Read more: To parade or not to parade | Washington Times Communities
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Citizen Warrior, Issues, Veteran's Issues
  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003406278912 Justin

    I’d like to invite you to take a look at Like’ it for TIME (LIFT). LIFT is a grossraots effort to get TIME Magazine to consider the military family as its 2011 Person of the Year.Rudy Giuliani was chosen for Person of the Year following the September 11 attacks because he “embodied what was really most important, what we learned about ourselves, which was that we could recover,” a TIME editor explained.The military family embodies what is most important, what we learned about ourselves, after a decade of war and multiple deployments: undeniable resilience and dogged support through year after year of painful, and sometimes permanent, family separations.With the kind of attention this campaign is trying to generate, the military family will become a topic of conversation among the general public, people will take a greater interest in their experience, that interest will lead to a desire for more education, and that education will lead to awareness and finally empathy. Empathy is needed if there’s ever to be change.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003406279704 Yar

    The VA contends that Service Medical Records (SMR’S ) are not rvaeelnt to claims becuase they are for periods that are not covered by the law becuase they cover periods preceding the eligibility period. This newest twist is covered in Vet. App. No. 08-4333, Frederick L. Payne, Appealant, v. Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Appellee. The VA states that evidence developed after separation is the legal evidence of record. If the VA decides not to address a issue covered by the service medical records then there will be no medical evidence of record after separation becuase the VA failed in its duty to provide a complete medical examination of all identified and unidentified medical conditions during the compensation and pension process.This is exactly what the DVA is argueing in this particular case, becuase they failed to address issues during the initial examination and then failed to adjudicate the claim because of a failure to issue a Supplemental Statement of Case (SSOC) due to irregulartiy in mailing. The DVA mailed the SSOC to the wrong address, and now take the position that the claims of the veteran are unwarrented becuase of a lack of evidence.I would certainly like the opportunity to discuss this again.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003406275730 Nanu

    I just moved from Black Mountain NC to the Dallas TX area and see that the IAVA is just as money hungry here as they are in states with bases. I’m sick of their begging emails and this is how they want to spend our money? No way, Jose. Like they need to waste money on parties. Fix our systems.

  • Judeena

    Fantastic Stuff, do you have a facebook profile?

  • bradley

    Good article.

  • Dennis

    IAVA just wants our money and political clout. Months later, glad nothing came of this.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003405768999 Oliver

    The VA efforts to stem the goiwrng tide of homelessness among the ranks of our returned/returning veterans is incredibly heartening. Many of our present homeless vets lost much or all of their financial traction while serving our country. That has been exacerbated by the countries financial woes. The 60 Mil over 40 states sounds skinny, but it is a start toward helping those few who have made such a major life sacrifice. Stratton VA, in Albany, N.Y. just took a major step in providing just such assistance, especially for homeless women veterans. God bless all of you working to fix this heartbreaking mess.William C. EigenUSAF ’56

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003405768628 Rahma

    I officially join the holsmees next Monday the 1st of August (holsmees as in not having a place to call my own moving in with my 74 y/o mother something I’m not proud of). I’m unable to work, my VA doctor’s have stated I’m unable to work and put it clearly in my medical notes. The Seattle VBA who is responsible for my partial disability pay of $1227 has taken 9 months so far to decide whether the VA doctors who’ve cared for me for four years can be believed before they shell out a full-time benefit. Nine months to see if the VBA agrees with the VA’s own medical system and no end in sight. Shinseki’s had enough time to fix the problem and it’s gotten worse. I wonder how many holsmees veterans have been forced to the street while waiting for the VBA to do its job?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003405769008 Sukar

    My suggestion on How to help neimilate Veteran Homelessness: PAY VETERANS THEIR BENEFITS PROMPTLY instead of putting them on a hampster wheel of denials. Veterans for Common Sense says it takes an average of 4.4 years for a Veteran to appeal his claim at the BVA. Many Vets can not wait 4 years for their benefits and become homeless while on the long waiting list. The VARO’s keep making the same mistakes, over and over again, denying Veterans and never learning anything from the court cases that reverse the denials.The Veterans Benefit Manual published by Lexis Nexus demonstrates that there are 22 common errors made by the RO’s requiring Veterans to appeal or forfeit their benefits. These common mistakes, repeated by the VARO’s over and over again, result in Veteran homelessness en masse.

  • http://www.sitementrix.com Betty

    Wonderful info here.

  • Nevada Rause

    I love the efforts you have put in this, thankyou for all the great articles .

  • Ellen

    W. Somerset Maugham: “The great tragedy of life is not that men perish, but that they cease to love.”

    We have stopped loving our men and women in military and it shows. What has happened? I think distraction and unlawful wars. I hope to change it. Thank you for this.

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