____

Herman W. Morton

Department Commander

This is my presentation to Ohio Senators Brown, Voinovich, and their representatives during the Mid-Winter Conference 2007, in Washington, DC. Present were Sr. Vice Commander Robert Bertschy, 1^st Jr. Vice Commander Joseph Johnson, 2^nd Jr. Vice Commander Howard Brandt, Department Adjutant Frank Williams, and Mr. Leslie James, Supervisor, National Service Officer.

This was an opportune time to have our voices heard, and as DAV National Adjutant, Arthur H. Wilson has stated in the past, “…you must hold your representatives to task.” Each of us must carry the message to elected officials via email, phone calls and personal visitations, that DAV issues are concerned about the present and future health care of veterans and their families. We must present a unified front and never relinquish our task to be a voice for the voiceless. In addition, we must make ourselves available to elective officials with information, and the motivation to share and develop a common goal while serving veterans.

My Message:

We are the sixth largest Disabled American Veterans (DAV) State Department with 48,000 members. Our Mission Statement is narrow in scope; “… to care for Disabled American Veterans and their families.” We are strictly a service organization that helps veterans.

Ohio sends the fourth largest number of Military Reservists and National Guard members to support the War on Terror; therefore, we expect to receive a large number of injured and disabled veterans that will depend on health care for years to come. The government has a shared obligation to care for our troops, and not act as if it’s some sort of gift.

I understand the tendency to balance our needs with other interest groups, and the idea that “there is just so much money to go around,” as I was told last year, leaves us all with an empty feeling. There are those that equate medical care for veterans as social reform, medical welfare, or simply an entitlement, but the needs of veterans are outside and above the “wants” or “wishes” of lobbyists seeking special favors. Absolutely nothing should come before the care of veterans.

When I think of veteran needs, I think of the saying “if you don’t change something, nothing will change,” as are the cases for veterans trying to traverse the minefield of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) --- it is not easy and something needs to change.

Disabled troops receive the best of care while on Active Duty; however, once they leave active duty, there is a gap in the level of care they receive from VA. This is not VA’s problem alone; the VA is guided by a Congressional budget, which is discretionary, and that is our dilemma --- it does not provide the widespread security veterans need.

I understand the focus in Washington is on the Iraq War; however, we view care of veterans as part of the cost of war. As a Nation, how can we look at 7000 permanently disabled troops, partially blinded, many with brain and spinal injuries, that will need care for the rest of their lives, and tell them the amount of care they receive will depend on a budget?

DAV has tried to make Congress understand there is a peacetime VA and a wartime VA; nevertheless, it’s general knowledge that Congress has not produced an adequate VA budget for the past 10 years without a need to supplement that budget.

Discretionary funding is an insult because it keeps veterans off-balance and unsure where or when the next shortfall will happen. This is no accident; Congress should have made this correction by now. There must be a reason service organizations must beg each year, and the “protectors” of this country must stand in line waiting, for better health care.

The VA has the best medical care in the Nation, once a veteran is able to get in the system; however, with staffing as it is in many VA Medical Center’s, veterans are forced to delay services or simply stop going, and delayed care is denied care.

As a Nation, we will be able to care for more veterans if the image of the VA is viewed as being more accessible, and able to accommodate all of its veterans. The perception of the VA continues to be one of distrust for female veterans who feel less valued in the system, for veterans suffering mental health issues, and for homeless veteran without a place to stay, thus leaving them and many veterans with a sense of hopelessness. The DAV believes Assured Funding for the VA will provide adequate staffing and expanded services and the ability to better plan for the future.

Much is made of the recent increases to the VA budget, but this does not equate to the value Assured Funding will have securing the level of care all veterans deserve. Social Security and Medicare are classified as mandatory, as should be the VA budget. We often forget the VA supports the Department of Defense, and in a national emergency, is expected to support Homeland Security with civilian injuries, thus making Assured Funding all the more important.

This issue of full funding is so important to the veteran community; a coalition of national service organizations has joined forces to propose an independent budget to include Assured Funding as one of its key issue.

As President Lincoln said, “the role of government is to do for the people what the people cannot do for themselves.” It is an undeniable responsibility that the government has a moral obligation to care for those who protect this country, and to do so without hesitation, uncertainty, or regret.

I would ask you to consider being a co-sponsor on a bill making VA funding mandatory and help reform the way veterans receive care. The 1.3 million veterans in the State of Ohio are looking to you to help change what is considered a National disgrace. Our DAV National and Department offices stand ready to assist you with any additional information you may need. We fully understand how difficult this request may be. However, I must reiterate; not all veterans are being served under a discretionary funding. Thank you for your time and consideration.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Nat’l. Hdqrs., DAV (877) 426-2838

NSO Office, Cleveland (216) 522-3507

NSO Office, Cincinnati (513) 684-2676

Washington Office, DAV (202) 554-3501

Cincinnati HSC,

Sheila Clements (513) 475-6443

Dayton HSC, (937) 268-6511

Michael Muhammad Ext. 2962

Wade Park HSC, (216) 791-3800

Walter Dryja Ext. 3395

Chillicothe HSC (740) 773-1141

James Keller Ext. 7916

Columbus Clinic, (614) 257-5487

Michael Hackworth

Brecksville HSC, (440) 526-3030

Don Branford Ext. 7353

Warren Clinic (330) 392-0311

Youngstown Clinic (330) 70-9200

Ext. 105

Veterans Administration 1-800-827-1000

DATES TO REMEMBER

April 2, 2007 Mobile Service Office, Mercer County Chapter #76, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wal-Mart Super Store, 1950 Havemann Rd., Celina

April 9, 2007 Mobile Service Office, Marietta VA CBOC, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Marietta VA CBOC, 418 Colegate Dr., Marietta.

April 14, 2007 1^st District Meeting, 12 noon, to 2 p.m., bring covered dish, St. Timothy Episcopal Church, 8101 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati.

April 15, 2007 8^th District Meeting, Barnesville Senior Center at 1 p.m., Barnesville

April 15, 2007 7^th District Meeting, Alliance Chapter #50, 2 p.m., Alliance.

April 21, 2007 9^th District Meeting, Meigs Chapter #53, lunch at noon, meeting to begin at 1 p.m.

April 22, 2007 5^th District Meeting, Norwalk American Legion Post, Norwalk at 1 p.m.

April 22, 2007 6^th District Meeting, Trumbull County #11 at 2 p.m., Warren

April 22, 2007 10^th District Meeting, Lunch

At 1 p.m. and meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m., Senior Center in the Lincoln Village Plaza, 4656 W. Broad Street, Columbus.

April 28, 2007 DAVA Commander Brewster Testimonial Dinner, Holiday Inn, 2800 Presidential Drive, Fairborn, Ohio.

April 29, 2007 3^rd District Meeting, Memorial Hall, Lima at 2 p.m.

June 7-10, 2007 DAV Department Convention

The Midwest Hotel, Columbus

August 11-14, 2007 DAV National Convention,

Hilton New Orleans Riverside,

New Orleans, LA

October 13, 2007 2^nd District Meeting,

Additional Information as Date approaches.

October 19-21, 2007 Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio

March 2-5, 2008 DAV Mid-Winter Conference, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA

June 5-8, 2008 DAV Department Convention, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio

August 9-12, 2008 DAV National Convention,

Bally’s Hotel, Las Vegas.

October 10-12, 2008 DAV Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

June 4-7, 2009 DAV Department Convention,

The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

October 9-11, 2009 DAV Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

June 10-13, 2010 DAV Department Convention,

The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

October 8-10, 2010 DAV Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

NOTES FROM YOUR STATE ADJUTANT

Why is it that, opportunities only knock once?!? And, opportunities always look bigger going than coming!!

Let’s start with an interesting note from Paul Sullivan, a former project manager for the VA, who told a Congressional Panel that he helped develop a program to consolidate medical records with Department of Defense (DOD) but the program suddenly ended once VA Secretary Nicholson took office in late 2005. This brings to mind the recent flap where the DOD refused to share records with the VA until forced to do so when legislators intervened.

Now, we learn the deplorable situation uncovered at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC was almost entirely caused by bureaucratic and political/contractor haggling over repair/construction contracts!! No one had the wounded/disabled veterans best interests on their minds as they haggled/argued over other matters and cut the non-medical staff from 300 down to 10. Our National Commander Brad Barton has called upon the Defense Department to move Walter Reed injured soldiers to VA facilities closer to their homes. Commander Barton said “The brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for our nation deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. It is a travesty to treat them this way when there are much better options available.”

What kind of newspapers do we have in this country?? After doing a interview with JCS Chief General Pace, they consider his comment on the morality of homosexual activity more newsworthy than his views on Iraq & Afghanistan!! Today’s media apparently feel it is worse to hurt the feelings of a few gay troops than to publish sensitive data that could put all our combat troops at risk. The media seems uninterested in heroes. They are interested in depicting “victims” and publishing negatives while even remarkable acts of bravery and heroism are passed over in silence.

Thinking back to the events shortly after “9/11”, we were told that the War on Terrorism would be different…..that it would be a long, drawn out conflict that could take decades to win. America, at the time, understood and accepted this, knowing the type of enemy that we face. But, how do you win a “long war” against Islamic extremism if we have a short attention span???? This lack of patience is now our biggest problem!! When we take upon ourselves the task of rebuilding shattered societies, such as we have in Iraq, we must not be in a hurry!! We cannot win the War on Terrorism unless we learn to be patient! War takes patience and sacrifice, and we need to not forget that our entire country must support this War and War requires sacrifice by all our citizens, not just our military!!!

I recall a comment made by one of our troops “We are at War here in Iraq and Afghanistan but, Americans back home are not at War! They are more interested in Paris Hilton, Anna Nicole Smith or going shopping, ….in other words, they have lost their attention span and patience with the War, thinking their “support our troops” decals on their cars and SUV’s cover their butts”.

A new Wounded Soldier & Family Hotline was activated on March 19, 2007 at the direction of the Secretary of the Army. Calls will be taken from 7AM-7PM Monday thru Friday at: 1-800-984-8523. As additional people are trained the hotline hours of operation will be expanded to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The purpose of the call center is: To offer wounded and injured Soldiers & family members a way to seek help to resolve medical related issues and to provide an information channel directly to senior Army leadership so they can improve the way the Army serves the medical needs of our Soldiers and their families.

NEW OEF/OIF Coordinator: Debra L. Ulery has just recently been appointed as The New OEF/OIF Coordinator at the Cleveland Regional Office. Debra is especially interested in OEF/OIF Veterans who were seriously wounded and may have incurred difficulty obtaining service at Ohio VA Medical Centers for whatever reason. Debra may be reached at: debra.ulery@va.gov or phone 216-522-3530 Extension 3314.

It is heartening to learn that, in spite of the real “mess” at Walter Reed (which is a Army Hospital not VA), for the 7^th straight year the VA has earned higher marks for both inpatient and outpatient services than private hospitals, or federal health care facilities such as hospitals on military bases that come under the Department of Defense (DOD). Since I meet with officials from VISON 10 and Medical Centers and Clinics here in Ohio, I would certainly endorse and applaud these accomplishments. When touring VA Medical Centers here in Ohio, I have always commented that the VA facilities, Ohio Veteran’s Homes and Clinics are head and shoulders above their civilian counterparts.

As always, pray for our troops who are in harms way. God bless America and may he continue to bless the Disabled American Veterans. Never forget that……………………FREEDOM IS NOT FREE…it is bought and paid for by our Veterans who are not so unlike YOU and ME!

VA SEEKS BUGLERS TO PLAY ‘TAPS’

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs hundreds of volunteer buglers and trumpeters to participate in upcoming Armed Forces Day observances held at veterans’ cemeteries nationwide and overseas. The event, called “Echo Taps Worldwide,” will be held May 19. “Echo Taps” will take place at VA-operated national cemeteries, U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service national cemeteries and American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries located overseas. Volunteer buglers and trumpeters must register through the VA’s website, which is attached to the (http://www.echotaps.org/) “Echo Taps” website. The initiative also encourages musicians to perform as buglers at veterans’ funeral ceremonies year round.

VETERANS’ PANELS SEEK HIGHER FUNDING

WASHINGTON – Funding for veterans health care would rise to $37.1 billion in fiscal year 2008, under recommendations from Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Democrats. That is $2.9 billion above the President’s request, and $4.8 billion higher than the current level.

“Time and again when Democrats were in the minority, they vowed to provide adequate funding for veterans health care if they were to regain control of Congress,” said Disabled American Veterans National Commander Bradley S. Barton. “Now that Democrats have the majority in Congress, it is heartening that some are willing to live up to that commitment.”

Barton noted that the Senate panel’s proposed funding for veterans health care also were above that recommended by the DAV and other veterans service organizations in their annual Independent Budget.

However, Barton noted that funding recommendations from Democrats on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee were disappointing as they fell below those in The Independent Budget.

“In the past, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.) often cited The Independent Budget as the benchmark for funding veterans programs and chastised Republican budgets for falling short of the mark, but now he seems to have abandoned that long-held position,” said Barton.

The Veterans’ Affairs Committees’ funding recommendations now go to the House and Senate Budget Committees, where a fiscal year 2008 budget blueprint will be crafted. That sets the stage for the annual appropriations process, which has often been delayed until well into the new fiscal year and has consistently under funded veterans health care and other programs.

“The DAV and other groups have long urged Congress to enact legislation that will provide a reliable, predictable funding stream for veterans health care. Assured funding will enable the VA to efficiently and effectively plan for and meet the growing needs of our nation’s sick and disabled veterans, both now and in the future,” Barton said.

The 1.3 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation’s disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation’s disabled veterans and their families. For more information, visit the organization’s Web site www.dav.org

KEEP ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR VETERANS IN WAR SUPPLEMENTAL

WASHINGTON – The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) has applauded efforts to add $1.7 billion for veterans health care and services as part of the $100 billion military supplemental spending bill funding the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Including this much-needed additional money for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the emergency funding measure is an acknowledgement that caring for our nation’s veterans is part of the continuing cost of war,” said DAV National Commander Bradley S. Barton.

Barton noted that the supplemental bill is still in the draft stage, but he urged lawmakers to ensure that the additional money for the VA remains in he final version that goes to the President for signature.

“We as a nation owe these brave men and women all we can give them to make sure that their life and sacrifice are not ignored or undervalued,” Barton said. “But given the strains already placed on the VA, I am concerned about our veterans’ ability to get quality health care and benefits in a timely manner. If our government continues to under fund VA programs, it will fail to honor America’s commitment to our sick and disabled veterans.”

GOLDEN CORRAL MILITARY APPRECIATION

Since 2000, Golden Corral Military Appreciation events have raised more than $2 million for DAV Departments. Golden Corral has donated millions of dollars in food and millions more in lost revenues to make this possible.

Last year, for the first time ever, the event surpassed $500,000 in donations raised for your organizations. Golden Corral wants to expand further on this success. But as they look at opportunities to further promote and improve the event, they’ve asked us to share stories highlighting how their support has helped us build better lives for disabled veterans and their families in your communities.

Any events or contributions your department or chapters have made could be considered for feedback, as we have all benefited directly from this event.

Has Golden Corral’s support helped you purchase vans for the Voluntary Service Program? Has the money allowed your department or chapters to provide comfort items to veterans in VA hospitals? Have funds enabled your department or chapters to assist veterans recovering from natural disasters? Did the support allow your organization to host holiday parties for sick or disabled veterans? With donations from the event, have you been able to continue or improve homeless outreach initiatives? Have you improved facilities for chapters?

It is critical that we are able to provide Golden Corral with specific examples, as we hope to continue and expand this worthwhile program.

We need dates of events and stories about departments and chapters utilizing Golden Corral’s support. These stories may be used in the future to publicize Military Appreciation Monday and improve the overall efforts. We also need points of contact who can help us tell the story to Golden Corral and possibly to the media later on.

We ask that every department respond as quickly as possible, so we will be able to provide Golden Corral with information they can use as they plan for next year’s event.

S/Anthony L. Baskerville

National Membership Director

Information Bulletin

IMPORTANT NUMBERS