Memorial Day - why we celebrate and remember

[Mushroom]

DEMAND they vote to FULLY FUND the Veteran's Administration

That will do no good. The VA has become a bloated bureaucracy that is more interested in maintaining their job and bonuses than they are in actually doing their damned jobs. They could have all the money they need, and it would still suck.

 

[Mushroom]

There are less dying now (35 per day) but I believe vets make up 7% of the population.

But it is a drastically shrinking population, especially as most of the WWII generation is now gone. And within the next decade or so we will have lost most of the Vietnam era. And at that point, the actual percentage that are veterans will shrink drastically. Down from 7% to likely 1% or less. The only reason that percentage has remained as high as it was is because of the huge number that served in WWII. And there are not many of them left anymore.

 

[okfine]

But it is a drastically shrinking population, especially as most of the WWII generation is now gone. And within the next decade or so we will have lost most of the Vietnam era. And at that point, the actual percentage that are veterans will shrink drastically. Down from 7% to likely 1% or less. The only reason that percentage has remained as high as it was is because of the huge number that served in WWII. And there are not many of them left anymore.

As time goes by it's inevitable. I'm going to the Ronald Reagan Library tomorrow and driving a Vietnam vet friend and his son to meet up with some others to see the Star Wars exhibit. On Monday we're going back for the Memorial Day service.

Exhibits

Exhibits.

www.reaganlibrary.gov

Ventura County sites plan 2024 Memorial Day commemorations

Everything from a Moorpark field of flags to a tall ship in Ventura is planned for Memorial Day events around Ventura County.

www.vcstar.com

 

[ReinyDays]

That will do no good. The VA has become a bloated bureaucracy that is more interested in maintaining their job and bonuses than they are in actually doing their damned jobs. They could have all the money they need, and it would still suck.

Yeah ... I know exactly what you mean ... many of those homeless living down by the river are waiting for their VA Hospital appointments ... just keep in mind, our operation here is one of the worst ...

The problem is not paying the doctors enough ... they're getting $6 million a year over at the Catholic Hospital ... if VA starts paying $15 million a year, we'll get better doctors in the VA system ... the expense of war only starts with ammo and trucks, we also have life-long care for the wounded ...

Well ... here's the bill for Afghanistan and Iraq II ... time to pay up ... the sad part is we lost both places ... just cowards in the Swamp ...

 

[lg325]

Just something to add we honor those who fell in service to our country, and it does me good to see those here at West Point who made the decision to step into those fallen soldiers' footsteps and carry on.

 

[Mushroom]

Yeah ... I know exactly what you mean ... many of those homeless living down by the river are waiting for their VA Hospital appointments

Oh, I honestly doubt that. And I worked for a non-profit in LA that specifically served homeless veterans. I volunteered with them for many years as well as lived there, and I worked several "Homeless Veteran Stand-Down" in the SF Bay area.

And as somebody who used to actively reach out to the "Homeless Veteran" community, it becomes immediately obvious that the vast majority that claim that had never served a day in their life. To be more accurate, your statement should have been

many of those homeless living down by the river claim they are waiting for their VA Hospital appointments

And trust me, have almost any real veteran talk to them, and we can normally spot the holes in their claims with ease. They can tell you what they did (most for some reason are combat arms), but be unable to actually remember what their MOS code is (or even more jokingly give the wrong one or a code from another branch). I have seen them make up units (2nd Battalion, 0 Marine Regiment is still my favorite), claim they were at bases that make no sense, one even claimed to have been a rank that had been discontinued before he was even born.

When I first worked with US Vets in the early 2000s, we sponsored the Stand-Downs at least twice a year. Generally Memorial Day and Labor Day, it was four days in which we tried to reach as many homeless vets as we could. And the first day, the turnout was always insane. Literally thousands of homeless showed up, all of them claiming to be Veterans. And at this time, verification from the VA took 2-3 days. But by the second day we would start to weed out those that never served. And by the final day, we might have a couple of dozen. And we would help a couple, the rest simply did not want to give up their drinking or drugs so we just sent them off cleaner with new clothes.

Now in the late 2010s, it had changed a lot. By then, the VA Rep could tell us immediately if somebody had served or not. And we turned away over 95% of those that showed up without letting them in. And once again, of the less than 100 we would take in from the entire SF Bay Area, less than 10 could we help. There are a lot of programs to help, both VA as well as state, local, and non-profits. But one thing is pretty much universal among all of them. Unless the individual is willing to be sober, there is nothing that can be done for them.

I bet if somebody from the VA was to go down, 99% of that "homeless by the river" are unable to provide any proof they ever served in the military. I have been homeless myself, and have worked for years to try and help the "real homeless Veterans". And in reality, they are really rare. The vast majority that make that claim are liars and frauds. And the majority of the rest are alcoholics and addicts, that can not be helped until they are ready to be sober.

 

[Auld Phart]

 

[debbiedowner]

 

[Auld Phart]

cute, but what does it have to do with MEMORIAL, DAY?

 

[debbiedowner]

cute, but what does it have to do with MEMORIAL, DAY?

They are dead veterans. They were American Legion.

Cute? You should really have seen them in person when they performed in all the parades back in the 50's.

 

[Auld Phart]

They are dead veterans. They were American Legion.

Cute? You should really have seen them in person when they performed in all the parades back in the 50's.

They are dead veterans.

did they die while in service?

 

[debbiedowner]

did they die while in service?

Apparently not.

 

[Auld Phart]

Apparently not.

then there is no reason to bring them up on MEMORIAL DAY!!

"Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day)[1] is one of the federal holidays in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.[2][3] "