VeteranAid.org

Today I attended the funeral of a very dear family friend who will be greatly missed by family and friends alike.

Hal was quite a character. A little rough around the edges with eyes that reflected a life that had been challenging at times. He had a deep, warm and rich laugh that was infectious, and he never met a stranger.

Always telling the same jokes over and over to anyone who would listen. He was a little ornery and loved to pull pranks. A “gotcha” kind of guy.

He was unpretentious and just about as down to earth as anyone could be – just your basic guy with an average life who just also happened to be a proud Marine in his prime, and gave all he had to his country.

I had never attended a funeral service with Military Honors before today. The backdrop was something scripted out of a movie. It was a chilly, rainy day with dark skies shielded by black umbrellas all lending to the heaviness to this day of sorrow.

I stood riveted as the Honor Guard performed the ceremony of removing the casket from the hearse and carried Hal’s flagged draped coffin into the sanctuary with the dignity and honor reserved for our service men and women, our veterans. The French doors to the left of where the casket was to be placed revealed a lone Guard member standing at the edge of the field at full salute as Hal proceeded on his journey to his final resting place.

The folding of the flag was the definition of “precision” with crisp snaps that echoed in the sanctuary, and when the young man bent to present the folded flag to Hal’s oldest son, it was a moment I won’t forget.

The remaining Guard members formed procession and joined the lone Guard in the field to perform the 3-volley riffle salute. In the sanctuary, one young, proud Marine stood alone at full salute in military dress as Taps was played for the grandfather whose footsteps he had chosen to follow in. The grandfather who was a simple man who did an extraordinary thing to all the lives he touched, and on this day was given the recognition for being a soldier and for a job well done.

Before being dismissed from services, the Pastor read a poem I had not heard before entitled “I Am the Flag” by Ruth Apperson-Rous. This pride, this sentiment written many decades ago represents what I witnessed today in the final salute to Hal Everett.

I am the Flag
by Ruth Apperson Rous

I am the flag of the United States of America.

I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.

There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.

My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.

Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.

My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.

My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.

My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.

My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.

I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.

I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home.

I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.

I am as old as my nation.

I am a living symbol of my nation’s law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

I voice Abraham Lincoln’s philosophy: “A government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

I stand guard over my nation’s schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.

I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every school yard has a flag pole for my
display.

Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.

I have my own law—Public Law 829, “The Flag Code” - which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations.

I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.

Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.

I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.

If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.

Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.

As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less.

Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.

Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: “One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.

God grant that I may spend eternity in my “land of the free and the home of the brave” and that I shall ever be known as “Old Glory,” the flag of the United States of America.

Given our current economic situation, the upcoming election and re-elections, I don’t know that I could do a better job of suggesting who should be held accountable. I believe Mr. Reese has said it all. - DB

The 545 People Responsible For All Of U.S. Woes

By Charley Reese (Date of publication unknown)
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don’t write the tax code. Congress does. You and I don’t set fiscal policy. Congress does. You and I don’t control monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 235 million - are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.

I excluded all but the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it.

No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislation’s responsibility to determine how he votes.

A CONFIDENCE CONSPIRACY
Don’t you see how the con game that is played on the people by the politicians? Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of Tip O’Neill, who stood up and criticized Ronald Reagan for creating deficits.

The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating appropriations and taxes.

O’Neill is the speaker of the House. He is the leader of the majority party. He and his fellow Democrats, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto.

REPLACE SCOUNDRELS
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 235 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted — by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility.

I can’t think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to defense overruns, that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.

When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in Lebanon, it’s because they want them in Lebanon.
There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take it.

Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist disembodied mystical forces like “the economy,” “inflation” or “politics” that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people and they alone are responsible. They and they alone have the power. They and they alone should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided they have the gumption to manage their own employees.

This article was first published by the Orlando Sentinel Star newspaper

Promises are easy to make, but often much harder to keep.

Both Presidential candidates are promising to “fix” what is wrong with this country, the challenges we face, and to take on “BIG” government to correct the problems. I think everyone is in agreement regardless of party affiliations that we as a nation are in much need of correction.

I have listened to every debate and while a laundry list of promises have been espoused by both candidates to include our economic crisis, border control, fuel independence, and so on, the one promise I have not heard is the one to take on the VA calling for a total housecleaning and reform so that our veterans do not have to do yet another battle after giving their service to our country defending our freedoms.

You can’t secure our borders, or protect our country without the fine men and women of our Armed Services. There is no America as we know it without them. We can’t defend ourselves let alone anyone else without their faithful service.

So how is it that the VA, the very government agency solely responsible for addressing our veteran’s needs, is being allowed to fly under the radar and is not named as one of the top agencies that need to be shaken up and restructured? A day of accountability called for?

I listened as Senator McCain said, “The veterans know I am there for them, that they know I will not let them down.” I was reminded of the number of contacts I made to the Senator over the last 3 years and way before he threw his hat into the ring as a Presidential candidate through his organization “Straight Talk America”.

Giving the benefit of the doubt, I thought the odds were high that he like so many was unaware of the Improved Pension, but that of all people who could probably best rectify that, I thought I had found the one voice who could and would. Who better to bring it to national attention?

I’m sorry to say that for all my efforts to contact him, I never received one response.

My final contact to Senator McCain, which also did not receive a response, is the following:

Senator,

As an elected official you are charged with speaking for those for who you were elected to represent as well as your responsibilities as a ranking member of the Armed Forces Committee.

For all the positions that you hold, you bring the unique combination of not only being a veteran, but the experience of having suffered at the hands of an enemy as a Prisoner of War, and know the price that is paid.

I have long admired and respected you for your character and sacrifice to our country, but it was indeed a great disappointment that no one on your staff contacted me or followed up with regards to my inquires and letters.

I contacted you several times through “Straight Talk America: thinking that you of all people would be the most responsive and supportive of my efforts to help inform our veterans and their families by disseminating information about this little known “Improved Pension” benefit with emphasis on the Aid and Attendance portion of the benefit.

I remember watching the news highlighting your release as well as other POWS returning home. I along with the rest of America held my breath as you stepped through that airplane door and safely back on US soil. I believe that every American cried that day.

I also remember running my fingers over the name engraved on the POW bracelet that I wore hoping that my soldier, Captain Calvin Mawell, had returned home with you.

For my contacts to you Senator, I had truly hoped for more.

Respectfully,
Debbie Burak

We are down to the wire and counting the days to the upcoming election, and I am still hoping for more. There could never be a more critical opportunity in this country to get this topic in front of the American people where it belongs. During elections candidates seem to have more time to listen to what the voters want or at least go through the motions of listening hoping to win your vote.

Don’t be silent - Speak up America! If you will be involved in any town meetings or rallies and have the opportunity to put this subject in front of your candidate, you need to do so.

This is the time to demand a reform of an agency that fails not only our elderly veterans on a daily basis, but ALL veterans who never suspected that the battles they faced while in service would be met with yet another battle with the least likely of foes - The government of the country it defended.

In today’s world of technology, communications systems are faster than a speeding bullet. Billions of pieces of data are searched with the click of a mouse, and presto-bingo your results are at your fingertips in 1.3 seconds.

Rotary phones, party lines, telegrams, manual typewriters and carbon paper were once our premiere means of communication, but are now considered fossils and are displayed in museums as relics of days gone by. Look how far we have come. There was no charge for friendly operator assistance, and today we have automated phone systems that prohibit human contact no matter how many times you press “0”. Must be one of the hidden costs of progress.

We have become an internet connected global community who rely on high-tech information sharing systems via you-tube, Yahoo news, text me, I-Pods, E-bay shopping, My Space, Google it, Face Book and Can you “Digg” it?

With all the advancements that have been made over the past couple of decades simplifying our lives yet challenging us to figure out how to communicate with these new gadgets, there are some who saw a way to make sure there would be NO sharing of information and created systems that were in a word, not “user” friendly and saw no need for tech support.

The VA took all this technology and built a fortress designed to pass as an actual “informational system” based off the model of a maze that really does not have an exit, and rather than write it in code, they wrote it in legalese just in case someone managed to penetrate the system. In all fairness, it is a government agency and “Top Secret” information needs to be protected from the masses - especially the veterans and their families. Totally understandable.

Did you know that the VA has a “Smart” phone and fax system? How clever is this? The minute you pick up the phone to dial the VA’s 800# the system recognizes the area code you are calling from, the first 3 prefixes of your phone number and routes your call to the nearest call center physically located to you. In the event that call center is extremely busy, (can’t imagine that) it will “smartly” route you the next closest call center and so on until your call goes into queue waiting for “assistance”.

Here is where it gets even better. The person that you finally connect with is on a time limit for how long they can stay on the phone with you. They don’t have time to listen to your hour long story that you have probably already told countless times, or how frustrated you are that you can’t get an answer, or the answer is completely different from the last one you got. Misinformation is an important component to this equation resulting in confusion, exasperation and giving up.

Every VSR (VA Service Rep) in all the 57 VA centers across the country are mandated to process 70+ calls a day. Otherwise they are penalized for under -performing. It is important to be able to justify the call volume and be able to say that the center is effectively handling and processing all inquiries. Don’t be confused that this has anything to do with actually helping 70+ veterans or family members. That is not the intent of the system. Remember it is about not sharing.

To take this to the next level, the person you are speaking with does not have an extension or direct number, so in the event you have to call back, and depending on where the “Smart” phone system directs your call this time, you get to start all over with someone who is way behind on their daily quota and tell your story to someone else. “If” they pull up your file and, depending on how good of notes were entered the last time you called, it can lead to a heated debate that you won’t win. Not that you aren’t smart enough to win, but the system was not designed for that outcome.

The VA implemented and paid for a “Mystery Caller” program in 2002 and again in 2004. The person performing the investigation made 1,089 calls to assess accuracy of information being given, professionalism, and courtesy.

As a standard the results when combined totaled 43% of answers given that were either mostly or completely wrong. That was after two years of the VA providing training to its employees.

The study actually showed that rather than improving over the dismal ratings of the ‘02 survey, in spite of the 2 years of additional training that ‘04’s survey ranked even lower in most categories. Sounds like a plan well executed.

Did you know that if you call the VA’s 800 number from a different state than where you filed for any benefit from the VA, that the call center you reach will tell you that they don’t have access to the file because you didn’t file in the state you are calling from? It’s a little confusing – read it again.

Remember we are in the technological age of information, so this response is an outright lie. The truth is that VSR will be in a lot of trouble for spending time on a call that is not being processed by their regional office. They can pull the file up, but they are not going to. They won’t offer to transfer you to the office where the file is being processed. They will say they don’t have that capability and cannot provide you with a direct number.

If you get lucky as I did while standing in the state of FL trying to call the VA regarding my mother’s application for Aid and Attendance, which I filed for in the state of Virginia where I live, you might get one of the brighter bulbs who suggested that since my cell phone was an (804) area code that I try calling the 800# from that phone. She informed me that calling from the line I was using was going to continually route me back to the Tampa Clearwater, FL VA office. Now all I had to do was try and figure out which cell tower in Tallahassee, FL was going to know that my mother had been transferred to Hospice, and that I needed the signal to be pinged to a cell tower in Virginia.

Given that you can’t physically go through a phone and smack somebody upside the head, I opted for another option. I relied on some dated technology and called 411 and said that I needed a non 800# for the VA office located on Franklin Street in Roanoke, VA to which she was able to provide the number that the VSR was unable to.

I immediately got through to someone to whom I explained the urgency and circumstances to. He took a deep breath, sighed, and gave me a phone number saying, “You did not get this number from me”, and hung up.

The gentleman who answered the phone of the number I was given was less than thrilled to hear from me, and I believe that the only thing he was focused on was trying to found out who the traitor was. I’m sure the security breach was noted.

When I began my mission to bring the VA’s Aid and Attendance benefit to national attention 3 years ago, I honestly thought it would be a pretty easy thing to do. I naively thought that if I simply sent out tons of emails and letters to all major media outlets they would have responded with “How quick can we get this story out there”?

“Millions missing out on up to $22,000 annually in tax-free money to offset the costs of care – Put it on the front page of every newspaper, broadcast it on the morning and evening news, and put it on the airwaves. Thanks for the tip we’ll get right on this!”

That train of thought would be more like something out of a fairytale, and is not the way it went down.

Obviously I went for the big guns first thinking they would be the best bet. That thought fits into the first part of the fairytale, so I then started shooting for the folks who maybe needed a rating’s boost and would be thrilled to lead with the story – Chapter two of the fairytale.

I have been asked the question hundreds of times “Who all have you contacted trying to get the word out”? Just to give you an idea of what lengths I have gone to with little to no response, here is a short list in no particular order of folks I have told how crucial the Aid and Attendance pension is and the difference it can make. It is a rather impressive list of those who chose to do nothing with the information and did not find it newsworthy.

Many of these folks have been contacted several times in hope they would be more receptive or reconsider – Part three of the fairytale.

AARP (this was a no brainer or so I thought) No takers here.
Former VA Secretary James Nicholson
Senator John McCain
Senator John Warner

NBC Nightly News - some success with Trading Places segment
ABC
CBS
60 Minutes
Face the Nation
Meet the Press
Dateline
Fox News
Bill O’Riley
Geraldo – wild card - generally will take on offbeat subject matter - Nope
Oliver North
Leslie Stahl – I watched Leslie do a piece on kangaroos instead
Arianna Huffington

Joni Evans – wowowow.com
Today Show
Oprah
NY Times – actually had someone who needed the benefit but no story ran
Katie Couric – Free Speech – wrote and called
Lynn Doyle – It’s Your Call
Larry King
Dennis Miller
Dr. Phil
The View
Miami Herald
Montel Williams
Bob Shaffer
Diane Sawyer
Dana Priest – Washington Post

Every major and minor radio talk show outlet
Shawn Hanitty
Michael Savage
Dennis Prager
George Nory
Imus
Dave Berns
National Public Radio
The Whitehouse Project

Read over this list again and let it really sink in what each one of these names represents individually let alone collectively. Keep in mind that this is just the heavy hitters and no where near the total number of individuals and organizations contacted

I think it is fair to say that most names on this list won’t ever have to wonder how they are going to be able to afford to take care of their family member.

How many stories do you think come across their desks that represent an opportunity to make a difference for millions? To change lives for the better? To give someone their dignity later in life when they are frail and less able to do for their self? To help lessen a financial burden placed on family members, and to be able to afford a better quality of care.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being shocked that no one felt they had an obligation either morally or otherwise to step up accordingly given their positions and platforms. But the question that really begs to be answered is “why”?

I’d welcome anyone of them to enlighten me to that answer and to get their name off this list.

Sometimes it is the ending that actually fosters the beginning of something more than we could have ever imagined.

August 25, 2008

There is something about the anniversary of certain events that gives cause for reflection and acknowledgement. Today is one of those days. August 25th marks the 3rd year of my mother’s passing and my promise that her journey would make a difference. And so it is that I find August 25, 2008 to be an appropriate day to launch the VeteranAid.org blog as another means to share information and insight about the VA’s Improved Pension along with my ongoing efforts to be a light for someone else along the way. For I believe that often times the brightest light comes from our darkest moments.

I have always been outspoken, stubborn, and determined. Quick to confront what I found to be an injustice and to question what I thought was wrong. This website is a direct result of seeing an injustice, speaking out against what I believe is a disgraceful failure to honor, and being stubborn enough to believe that one person truly can make a difference.

I am a big believer in things being fated and directed by the Universe beyond our own will or control. It’s almost as if circumstances were put into place a long time ago to position me for this undertaking. What many don’t know is that this pension has been an entitlement for 57 years sitting idle. I find it curious that this pension and I share something in common. We are both 57 years old. It almost feels in a familiar way that this was destined.

Late one night shortly after launching the site I was questioning whether it was really feasible to accomplish what I had set out to do. Could I really bring this benefit to national attention?

Sometimes answers come in the most unlikely manner and when we least expect them. Such was the case this night as an email arrived in affirmation. There sitting in my inbox staring at me was a contact from a lady who lived in an Assisted Living facility in FL inquiring about the benefit. Her name was Lillian Frank, and by a rather odd coincidence my parent’s names are Lillian & Frank who while alive lived in an ALF in FL. In the most peculiar of ways, I had my answer.

Three years ago today, I was angry about the ending of my mother’s life and the VA’s refusal to expedite her claim releasing her accrued funds for burial. Angry that we had no other choices. Angry that a system is allowed to dishonor our veterans and their families and not be called into accountability.

Today I am still incensed at the injustice, still determined to bring about a change, but I am also mindful that there is a reason that everything happened the way it did. Had the events not played out in the exact order as they had, I would not have been called to ’step up” or have the blessings this effort has brought me.

Today my mom is in a better place and so are thousands of others who discovered this hidden benefit through this website. Thousands who were awarded Aid and Attendance or Housebound Pensions providing the financial resource to afford better care, a better residence and services.

From the day this website launched, it has been number #1 in the rankings on the topic of the VA’s Improved Pension Benefit covering Basic, Housebound, and Aid and Attendance. It has gone on to become the most respected, referenced, quoted, and “copied” on-line resource for the pension. There has never been a paid sponsored ad or any search engine optimization done. The rankings on this site are pure and have not been manipulated. I have no doubt that my mother’s hand has been part of what have often been unexplainable coincidences.

This has been an incredible journey allowing me to touch the lives of strangers and offer up this light of hope by simply sharing information.

It’s a light I intend to keep burning until the VA and our government does the honorable thing in exchange for the sacrifice of service.

As always, this is my mother’s gift to give, and I am simply the messenger.

I miss you mom……