Plenty of news this morning on the appearance of the First Lady on the so called reality show 'The Biggest Loser' and I'll bet, as I haven't heard a peep, you won't get news on the past year of the 'Joining Forces' program today or the days to come.
Those that serve, especially in the wars of choice leading to long destructive occupations of others in their countries, don't serve just small groups around the country of those who understand, like the always have been volunteers in the VA hospitals and clinics, nor those that need to be led into doing something for that other one percent, they serve the whole country and the country 'must step up' as to the results of the service of the very few. A decade plus now, told to go shopping this decade, added to the decades previous, of no sacrifice while many still want to pay even less then that total lack of sacrifice, the underfunding of the Veterans Administration, into the collective treasury of the society while finding nothing wrong with the ever growing budgets in defense for newer technology wmd's and government intelligence groups failed policies. Especially, lacking sacrifice are, the wealthy and the corporations who profit handsomely from the service of that other one percent. And it's the duty, and part of the job, of those congressional and state representatives of the people to demand that sacrifice by the other ninety nine percent served!
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2012 – As First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden mark the first anniversary of their “Joining Forces” campaign this week, the two say they will continue to solidify its successes so a structured effort to help military families is a permanent part of American culture.
The pair reflected on the campaign’s success during an April 6 interview here with American Forces Press Service.
“This has been a phenomenal first year,” Obama said. “But the truth is, Jill and I have been working this issue since our husbands took the oath of office” in January 2009.
Obama and Biden, wife of vice president Joe Biden, said they’ve been amazed by the outpouring of support by American civilians. More than 100 companies have committed to participate in the administration’s goal of the private sector hiring of 100,000 spouses and veterans. They also noted a Joining Forces commitment from the nation’s medical colleges to better train civilian health-care providers in caring for war veterans and their families.
“We’ve seen Americans -- 13 million of them -- step up to pledge hours of service,” Obama said. “It’s been phenomenal to see a grateful nation step up to help military men and women who sacrifice so much for us.”
Biden, a community college professor, said she’s been gratified by progress in the education arena. Teachers colleges have incorporated military family matters into curricula to help teachers-to-be understand the unique challenges their students from military families face, she said. And more and more school systems recognize course credits of military family members who must relocate frequently, she added. read more>>>
I am a volunteer at the Palo Alto (CA) VA Hospital in the Poly-Trauma Ward.Advances in battlefield medicine have resulted in far fewer of our troops dying on the battlefield, however the flip side of that is that we now have thousands of more severely wounded troops that are surviving what would have been fatal injuries even 10 years ago.
ReplyDeleteIt is heartbreaking to see these wounded warriors (average age is 19-22) coming to terms with having to deal with these terrible injuries for the next 50-60 years. Many will need care 24/7,365 days a year, and most will never be "whole" again, and that care will almost always fall to a family member or spouse.
There is an old Indian proverb that says "we must live with our decisions for 7 generations"
The long-term costs of caring for these war heros is estimated to run into the TRILLIONS of dollars.