I have been on Howie’s email list for a while and this recounting of CSP’s “promoting” is posted with his permission (certain emphasis mine):
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I was able to make the Veterans Town Hall meeting this morning, organized by congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, and I am glad I did, though I think some of those on the Podium are not so happy I did.
They had a panel of people from various support organizations at the head table and each gave a presentation of what their organization was about and what they are doing for Veterans – when I got my chance to speak I addressed that as nothing more than a Dog & Pony show, as to me it was more important that they listen to us than us to them. I suggested to the Congresswoman that she do such a Veterans Town Hall meeting in the future, in an evening session, with an open forum microphone where she and her staff, and any invited guests listen to us talk about what is important to us rather than have them brag about their accomplishments while Veterans are still hurting, and many have lost faith in these organizations. It is sad to hear and understand that our new generations are just as disheartened and neglected as us Vietnam Vets, so my hair stands up on the back of my neck when he hear all these people talk about all the money they are spending on taking care of Vets when I know much of what they say is only the rosy picture they want us to believe.
For example, much was said about Loans and Grants to to Veterans to start their own businesses, and if I finished off my rant, several of those on the Podium came to me and told me point blank that I hit the nail on the head. While much was said about SBA loans, it was never mentioned until afterwards by those who came up to me that in order to get those SBA loans you need a credit score of 650 or better and matching collateral. Most Vets, especially our newer ones, and those from the Guard and Reserve, have little or no chance of ever qualifying.
One former Manchester Alderman, Mike Lopez, tried to implicate that the falling membership numbers of the major Veterans organizations is because government agencies and support organizations are not promoting them to the new generations – of course that is nonsense and the real reason for the decline is that the younger new guys do not want to sit around a bar with a bunch of old guys and talk war stories. He went so far as to indicate that his post the night before held a dance with a band and that 150 people came to it out of a stated 1200 membership, and that this should have appealed to the younger guys. Really? Yeah that’s what a younger vet wants, to come for ball room dancing with a bunch of old farts. Even I wouldn’t come to that, as I refuse to get that old. Us Vietnam Vets will remember the way we were treated by the WW II Vets when we came back, so it sad to see that many of us have become just like them. If they want to know why they can’t get the new guys, they should ask them what it would take to get them to join instead of bragging about all they do that most of them could care less about, and blaming others for their lack of new membership.
Now as to my Rant – Well I am Fiscal conservative for sure, an one that really burns me up is to read, see, or hear that monies intended to help Vets are squandered, wasted, or fraudulently used/obtained by others. Our Wounded Warriors, because of our outrage over conditions at the Old Water Reed Medical Center were told, and we were all guaranteed that by closing that facility, combining it with Bethesda Naval, the problem is resolved. That is not true, as much of what is needed to handle all these Vets at Bethesda, now Walter Reed Army Medical Center, is still not in place and construction will continue into next year. This was clearly indicated in the recent outrage over the announcement that Wounded Warriors in Building 62, one of the largest buildings on campus if not the largest, do not have a dining facility convenient to them, so they were using their Meal Cards at the in-building Canteen (Warrior’s Cafe) and that because this was a for profit operation, in other words higher prices to feed them, the DOD decided to disavow them that privilege. The decision was reversed over public outrage, but thee is no excuse for there not being an operational dining or mess hall in or adjacent tot hat building as these troops are still on active duty and guaranteed three squares a day. Completely portable Field kitchens in Conex Boxes, developed by Natick laboratories in MA, are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan and going into storage in the California High Desert because they are no longer needed – really? These Wounded Warriors are Iraq and Afghanistan Vets who could very well use their services, and there are many assets available, both in active duty and Reserve units to provide for these Vets. The Army Cooking School, an award winning facility by the way, is just thirty miles away in Fort Lee, VA, and many Reserve units have field cooks that could use “On-hands training” in their MOS.
And then there is the recent disclosure of a VA grant system to Disabled Vets to enable them to start their own businesses – well the reports indicate that there has been millions in fraud, with people who were never disabled getting money from these grants, and even businesses already in operation for years getting “Start-up” money by people who never served and were never disabled.
It is important that we speak up, and not just accept that because they have many programs supposedly for Veterans that the services needed or desired are there. I will not be silent, or silenced, but don’t let me be a voice in the wilderness of quiet apathy.
Howie Howe is the Veterans Service Officer, NH Help on the Homefront (NH HOTH) Veterans Advocate
