Note: Some Veterans have always had problems in this country: homelessness, mental illness, and coping with stresses of military life generally. Now, veterans have their own court in Buffalo.
It makes sense. The spectrum of specialized courts includes drug courts, bankruptcy courts, mental health courts, family courts, gun courts, and truancy courts, to name a few. All have similar goals: to solve a cluster of problems.
The problem-clusters faced by veterans are manifold: dissolution, custody/parenting, benefits, substance abuse, mental health, even traffic issues caused by PTSD or the simple lack of civilian driving skills.
Pass this on to your`area Judges, officials.. this needs to spread across the US
also see this article: http://artvoice.com/issues/v7n9/dulling_the_impact_of_war
“Make no mistake on this,” Pirowski says. “It would be easier for these guys to go to jail and do their time. It’s not a soft on crime thing at all. They’re under strict community supervision and they’re held to a high standard.”
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Buffalo Veteran's Court, Only One In U.S.
Posted by: Josh Boose, Reporter
Created: 5/22/2008 8:34:14 PM, Updated: 5/23/2008 11:51:53 AM
http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=58115
There's a new program in Buffalo aimed at helping local veterans.
It's called Veteran's Court. It's a program designed by the Buffalo City Court to keep non-violent offenders, who are veterans, out of jail.
2 On Your Side's Josh Boose asked Judge Robert Russell, "Did you see veterans locally here, falling through the cracks in a sense?"
"We seemed to notice, here locally, we may have been working with veterans in a drug treatment court, we worked with a number of veterans in a mental health treatment track; however, when one veteran was working with one veteran, peer to peer, it appeared to increase our probability of success with that population," said Russell.
After a year of planning, Veteran's Court kicked-off in January.
Here's what happens: If a veteran is arrested for a non-violent offense, they can ask to enter Veteran's Court where they can get proper treatment, mentors who can help them and assistance with any military benefits from the Veteran's Hospital.
"It's a group that many may not have the same degree or understanding or appreciation for," said Russell.
There are some strict rules, if you're in the program you must remain sober, lead a law abiding life and find a stable job or schooling.
Judge Russell says there are no additional costs. The court expenses already exist and there are some volunteers.
"So there's no out of pocket expenses for the city or something like that," Boose asked Russell.
"No," the judge replied.
So far, Buffalo is the only city in the country to focus in on the needs of veterans like this.
Russell and Buffalo City Court Projects Director Hank Pirowski say it's something other cities are taking note of.
"Where do you see this a year from now," Boose asked Pirowski.
"One hundred vets without a problem in the next twelve to eighteen months and I hope to see 15, 20, 25 other veteran's courts open across the country," he replied.
Right now about 35 veterans are in the program. They are right in the middle of it now. Those who complete the program will graduate at the beginning of next year.
Veterans who need some help but are not violating the law in anyway can go through the program too. For more information about Veteran’s Court, call 716-845-2697.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Buffalo Veteran's Court, Only One In U.S.
Stardust Radio Network
Star dust Radio network online
Memorial Day In Waterloo, New York Stardust Radio Network is proud to bring two of the network’s regular shows together in a special effort to reach across the globe from Waterloo, NY to the MidEast on this Memorial Day weekend, so that Americans at home can speak directly with deployed troops and express appreciation to these military members for their service. Hosts Gene Simes and Jere Berry of the VFVC show will be on the ground in Waterloo, NY while hosts Judi & Jeff of the United We Roll World Tour Show will be on the phone from the studios in Iowa and Florida, arranging the connections with our troops a world away. The broadcast of this event can be heard in the park in Waterloo, NY and on Stardust Radio at www.stardustradio.com or locally in Riverside, Iowa on 1690AM. This special broadcast on Stardust Radio will begin at 10:30am Eastern time / 9:30am Central time on Saturday 5/24/08 and again on Sunday 5/25/08. *Tune in every Tuesday between 2pm and 4pm Central time for the United We Roll World Tour Show to hear interviews with our deployed military members and real news both from and about our Heroes of Freedom, their families & Veterans. Call in toll free 877-213-4329. Memorial Day With ARMAD & Stardust Radio On Saturday 5/24, ARMAD (www.armad.net) will hold their annual Military Appreciation Day from 10am to 4pm Eastern time. This has become a very big event in Indiana and has sister groups that have sprung up around the country. This event will be attended by military units in addition to many civilian officials, celebrities, community members, families and media. Amateur Radio Operators will be setup to send messages around the world, including to/from troops and families. Stardust Radio is participating this year through the addition of a Chat Star room for ARMAD. This will allow family members and/or troops who can not physically attend the event in Indiana, to still attend thru Chat Star and to give messages for the radio operators to send on to troops around the world. To be a part of the ARMAD & Stardust Radio Memorial Appreciation Day: Go to www.stardustradio.com Click on the Chat Star white & gold box Download software - minimal space & no attachments Follow the on screen directions When In Chat Star, Go To ARMAD Room (See List Of Rooms On Left) *Signing up on May 24th may be very slow due to the anticipated activity and may reach maximum capacity at times – Your patience is appreciated.
from Colonel Dan
May 23, 2008
Veterans' Benefits Bill Wins Approval in Senate
By ROBERT PEAR
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/washington/23spend.html?partner=rssnyt&emc
=rss
WASHINGTON - Twenty-five Republican senators broke with President Bush and
voted Thursday for a major expansion of veterans' benefits as part of a bill
to finance another year of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The proposal, adopted by a vote of 75 to 22, also provides money for
extended unemployment insurance benefits and other domestic programs to
which Mr. Bush has objected.
The size of the vote surprised Republican leaders, provided fresh evidence
of the president's lame-duck status and suggested that election-year
politics had fractured Republican unity.
While 25 Republicans supported the proposal, 22 opposed it. Forty-eight
Democrats and two independents voted for the bipartisan measure, drafted by
two Vietnam veterans, Senators Jim Webb, Democrat of Virginia, and Chuck
Hagel, Republican of Nebraska.
The proposal on veterans' benefits was approved by a veto-proof majority,
with support from conservative Republican senators including Saxby Chambliss
of Georgia, James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma and John Thune of South Dakota.
The bill now goes back to the House, where its future course is somewhat
uncertain. The House had endorsed a similar expansion of education benefits
for veterans, but has also adopted policy measures to speed the withdrawal
of American troops from Iraq. The Senate rejected efforts to limit the
president's hand in Iraq.
Senators John W. Warner, Republican of Virginia, and Frank R. Lautenberg,
Democrat of New Jersey, said they were in the Senate today because of the
help they had received under an earlier G.I. Bill.
Mr. Hagel said the new legislation "fulfills the commitment that America
made in 1944, and has continued, to honor every generation of veterans since
World War II."
The White House and the Pentagon said they feared that the bill would
encourage men and women to leave the armed forces and enroll in college with
federal aid, at a time when the military already has difficulty retaining
troops to fight abroad.
But Mr. Webb and other supporters of the bill said the benefits would help
the armed forces recruit and retain personnel.
"There are no politics here," Mr. Webb said. "This is about taking care of
the people who have taken care of us."
Under the bill, veterans who have served in the armed forces for at least
three years since Sept. 11, 2001, could receive tuition assistance up to the
cost of attending the most expensive public college in their state, plus a
monthly housing stipend.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the new veterans benefits
would cost $52 billion in the next decade. The bill does not specify how the
cost would be met.
The bill won broad support with an assortment of domestic policy items,
including a moratorium on Bush administration rules that would cut Medicaid
payments to the states.
Governors of both parties oppose the rules, which would reduce federal
payments for public hospitals, teaching hospitals and services to the
disabled, among others. New York, which trains 15 percent of the nation's
doctors, would be particularly affected.
After the vote, Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said, "We
are one step closer to making sure these devastating regulations never see
the light of day."
The bill also includes money for housing and levees devastated by Hurricane
Katrina, heating subsidies for low-income families, the space shuttle
program, the Food and Drug Administration, biomedical research, roads and
bridges, federal prisons, grants to local police departments, aid to rural
schools, suppression of wildfires and preparations for the 2010 census.
The bill would extend unemployment benefits by 13 weeks nationwide, with an
additional 13 weeks for workers in states with high unemployment.
Congress also gave final approval on Thursday to a separate bill providing
more than $1.2 billion in tax relief to veterans and members of the armed
forces. The legislation includes tax cuts for members of the military who
are receiving combat pay, saving for retirement or buying homes. It would
help civilian employers keep jobs available for workers called to active
military duty.
Just before the Senate vote on veterans' benefits, President Bush, speaking
to soldiers at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, urged Congress to send him a
clean bill, free of extra domestic spending.
"Congress needs to pass a responsible war funding bill that does not tie the
hands of our commanders, and gives our troops everything they need to
complete and accomplish the mission," Mr. Bush said.
Jim Nussle, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget,
said the president would veto the measure because it included too much money
for domestic programs.
"It's disappointing and irresponsible that Congress has failed to complete
action on a bill that funds our troops prior to Memorial Day," Mr. Nussle
said. In linking domestic programs to war spending, he said, Congress is
pursuing a "cynical strategy."
But Senator Robert C. Byrd, the West Virginia Democrat who is chairman of
the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the administration's priorities
were bizarre.
"When it comes to Iraq, it appears that money is no object for President
Bush," Mr. Byrd said. "Yet when it comes to important priorities here at
home, he turns into Ebenezer Scrooge."
Friday, May 23, 2008
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Camp for Kids Coping With Parents at War
Camp for Kids Coping With Parents at War
On Saturday, 6-year-old Hunter Morgan went to camp for the very first time.
Trained counselors help children who have had a parent injured at war.
More PhotosBut this was no typical summer camp. Hunter spent the day at Camp Cope in San Antonio, a day camp specifically designed for children of deployed, injured and fallen service members.
More than 1.5 million troops have deployed in the last five years, meaning that as many as 700,000 children in this country have at least one parent deployed. And, according to the Department of Defense, there are at least 12,000 children with an injured parent. While their parents have been recognized for their service, these children are also veterans -- they each bear the wounds of war.
Hunter's father, Scott, was wounded in Taji, Iraq, in 2004, just two days before he was scheduled to return home. A mortar landed five feet in front of him, throwing him against a wall and shattering the femur bones in his legs.
"One minute I was standing there and I blinked my eyes and -- boom, bam -- I woke up and I was on the ground," Scott said.
Related
PHOTOS: Helping Kids Cope with Parents in CombatTop Docs Bring Hope to Scarred VetsCoping Through CampScott now has a titanium rod and plate in his legs, and difficulty walking. In addition to the damage to his legs, the explosion rattled his brain, leaving him with traumatic brain injury and memory loss. He also suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, and says he has even contemplated suicide.
"I feel like I left a part of me over there that can't be replaced," he said. "Now I get angry a lot, a lot more than normal."
Scott's wife, Melanie, can see the change in her husband's eyes. "He's not what he used to be," she said tearfully. "He's been hurt for four years, we've been together 10, and he's completely different. The anger is extreme and I've never had to deal with that."
Scott's injuries have left him with day-to-day physical difficulties that cause Hunter extreme anxiety. One day, when Melanie was out of the house, Scott fell down in the backyard and could not get up because he has very limited movement in his legs. This was traumatic for Hunter, who is so fearful that he is afraid to leave his father's side because he believes that something will happen to his dad.
"I want him to able to leave the house and not be scared that something is going to happen to me," Scott said.
Children of deployed and injured service members gather for a special kind of day camp -- Camp Cope -- where they play games to deal with the stresses of their parents' service.
(ABCNEWS)
More PhotosScott also worries that his anger is hurting his son. Melanie tries to explain to Hunter that Scott's depression and rage are a result of his injuries, but she knows that Hunter doesn't understand and blames himself for his father's outbursts. To help him cope, she gave him a journal where he could write down his feelings.
What he wrote brought his father to tears. "Dear Journal," wrote Hunter. "My bad days are with Daddy."
"It just breaks my heart," said Scott. "I read it and I just sat there and cried."
Though Scott is getting treatment for his PTSD and depression, he and Melanie knew that Hunter needed help coping with his issues as well. That's why they sent him to Camp Cope.
The counselors at Camp Cope are experienced with the pain that children like Hunter go through as a result of their parents' injuries.
Related
PHOTOS: Camp of the BraveHeroic Iraqi's New Kentucky HomePHOTOS: Bob Woodruff's Miraculous RecoveryCo-founders Sarah Balint-Bravo and Elizabeth Reep designed the camp, which is in its third year, as a way to offer these children a variety of therapeutic activities to help them deal with the stress of having their parents deployed or wounded.
"They think that they're just there having a good time," explained Reep. "But the activities are indirect, and they help them to talk about what they've experienced, and to learn new ways to cope with that in a group setting where they're able to do that with other children of service members that have been injured or deployed."
"I learned about worry dolls. … I can place my fear there," said one child who attended the camp.
For Hunter, who is the only child at his school with a wounded parent, Camp Cope was an opportunity to meet others in the same situation and a first step toward opening up about his feelings.
"I can talk about my dad," he said Saturday after spending some time at the camp. "I know what to do if I get upset."
Balint-Bravo and Reep want to make sure this opportunity is available for other children in Hunter's situation and hope to expand Camp Cope as much as possible in the future.
"We plan to take this across the nation," Reep said. "We're not stopping until we see every child!"
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please visit the ABC link and see the photos and videos available there this is a great piece
Veterans Urged to Wear Medals with Pride
VA Official Press Release 23 May 2008
America Recognizes Military Sacrifices on Memorial Day
Veterans Urged to Wear Medals with Pride
WASHINGTON (May 23, 2008) - From concerts to somber ceremonies and a
moment of silence, Americans from coast to coast will recall the
sacrifices of military members who paid the ultimate price for freedom
on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.
"This is our nation's day to remember its debt to those whose sacrifice
in blood and battle secured a legacy of liberty for future generations,"
said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.
He reminded veterans to wear their military medals on Memorial Day, a
practice called the Veterans Pride Initiative launched by the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 2006.
The personal exhibition of service medals on patriotic holidays is one
way for veterans to show their support of the U.S. military and
particularly those serving in the Global War on Terror, and to inspire
conversation about military heritage with young people.
Information for veterans about the wearing of medals and how to replace
lost medals is available at http://www.va.gov/veteranspride/.
A tradition dating to the 19th Century after the Civil War and
originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is marked at VA
facilities across the country, especially VA's national cemeteries,
whose commemorative events honor about 1 million American men and women
who died in service during wartime periods, including more than 651,000
battle deaths.
This year, more than 100,000 people are expected to attend activities at
VA's national cemeteries, with color guards, ceremonies honoring
decorated veterans, and band and choir performances.
Some national cemeteries will feature an "Avenue of Flags" flanking both
sides of the curb line, usually along the main entrance road, sometimes
consisting of burial flags donated by the next of kin of veterans who
are buried in these national shrines. Other national cemeteries may
place individual flags at gravesites.
VA's 125 national cemeteries include 10 opened in the past nine years.
Another six cemeteries are under development. VA currently maintains
17,000 acres where 2.8 million gravesites are located. By 2010,
veterans burial space is expected to be available to 90 percent of
veterans within 75 miles of where they live.
Directions to VA's national cemeteries and a guide to their Memorial Day
activities are available at
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/cems/2008MemorialDay.asp. General information
about Memorial Day, including its history, a commemorative poster and
activities links, may be found at
http://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/.
VA is a cosponsor with the White House Commission on Remembrance of an
annual Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. Eastern time, nationwide on
Memorial Day, a time to pause and reflect on the valor of the fallen and
the bond of freedoms that unite Americans. Many institutions will pause
their activities -- from sporting events to announcements in public
facilities -- to call the nation together to share its common bond in
silence.
Brave New Films and veteran issues
Dear Michael,
It's been a remarkable week for us. Thanks to your activism in spreading our videos and getting the word out about our campaigns, we've had tremendous success on several fronts:
Because of you, John McCain was compelled to reject the endorsements from bigoted pastors Rev. John Hagee and Rev. Rod Parsley today! We've been working with David Corn of Mother Jones for a while to tell the truth about McCain's pastor problem, since the corporate media wouldn't. By passing that video along, you helped us catch the media's eye and pressure McCain to reject those hate-filled endorsements—something that should have happened a long time ago.
Also because of you, the GI Bill for the 21st Century passed 75-22. Congress saw beyond John McCain's hypocritical, unfounded objections and is going to provide our vets the educational benefits they deserve.
passed the Senate yesterday with an overwhelming majority,
From the outset, we recognized McCain's hypocrisy in refusing to co-sponsor this bill. And so we teamed up with WesPAC and Vote Vets to create a highly successful campaign that generated over 35,000 signatures! Clearly, this proved to be an effective way to pressure Congress.
Another way you've made a real difference is in promoting The Real McCain 2, which has received an astounding 1 million views since we launched it last Sunday! If you haven't already done so, check out this immensely popular video and pass it to your friends and colleagues. It's the only way to get the truth out about McCain.
Finally, our $3 trillion virtual shopping spree has caught fire! It has drawn 1.4 million shoppers, hit #1 on YouTube News and Politics, and received praise from all over the Internet. This fun online game where you try to spend $3 trillion (what the Bush administration has spent on the war) has also attracted celebrity shoppers like John Cusack, Laurie David, Gloria Steinem, Phil Donahue, and even Michael Bailey.
But while 1.4 million is a tremendous number, our ultimate goal is to get 3 trillion shoppers! John Cusack, star of the film War, Inc. which opens tonight in LA and NY, is assisting us in that endeavor with this contest:
Whoever can get the most people to fill out a shopping cart by emailing their cart or sending a gift certificate, will receive a real gift certificate for free movie tickets to War, Inc. (Contest ends Memorial Day at midnight ET)
War, Inc. satirizes war profiteers, who in real life have made millions while the American public faces an Iraq War Recession. According to Cusack, "KBR, Halliburton and the other war profiteers have made out like bandits in Iraq, while taxpayers and their own workers get screwed." By going to see War, Inc. and playing the $3 trillion shopping spree you help connect the dots between the Iraq War, its profiteers, and our ailing economy.
But our work is far from over. The Bush administration continues to plunge us further into this Iraq War Recession; the corporate media continues its blind love for McCain; and Bush has already vowed to veto the GI Bill, despite the fact that it would make him the first president in history to deny benefits to vets.
Please become a $10 monthly subscriber, and help us continue creating the hard-hitting, accurate reporting that the corporate media won't attempt.
Have a pleasant Memorial Day!
Yours,
Robert Greenwald
and the Brave New Team
---
Brave New Films is committed to providing high quality political videos for free so they can be easily shared. Please support our work by becoming a monthly $10 subscriber. You can receive our latest videos on iTunes, Facebook and YouTube here, and it's always easy to stop receiving videos. Brave New Films is located at 10510 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 and info@bravenewfilms.org
