November 2008 : Volume 9 - Issue 2 - Honoring our Veterans

Honoring our Veterans

National League Of Families Of POWs & MIAs: They Need Your Help

These are tough times. They require tough decisions. Decisions made with a tough but fair hand... a tough, but fair hand.

They Need Our Help

National League Of Families Of American Prisoners And Missing In Southeast Asia
1005 North Glebe Road, Suite 170, Arlington, Virginia 22201
PH (703) 465-7432 http://www.powmialeague.org/ FAX (703) 465-7433

October 16, 2008

Dear League Members,

This letter is to alert you to an alarming reality , without your immediate help, the National League of POW/MIA Families, our small non-profit organization that has effected such great change in our country, may soon be forced to close its doors.

A major part of our mission is closely monitoring and urging the support of governments,  U.S. and foreign , to achieve our longstanding objective: the return of all POWs, the fullest possible accounting for the missing, and repatriation of all recoverable remains of those who died serving our nation during the Vietnam War. Our cause requires national involvement and support, both to help fund our efforts and to participate in calling on elected and appointed leaders to honor commitments to leave no one behind, to make every reasonable effort to return these men to our country and to us, their families and friends.

With the support and action of some very dedicated U.S. officials, we've succeeded far beyond what anyone thought possible when formed in 1970; as of this writing, 834 US personnel have been accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, though much remains to be done.

Beyond our narrow, threefold goal, we have also offered the prospect of final answers to countless thousands of Americans who lost loved ones in earlier wars, setting the bar high on the need to stand behind those who served and sacrificed, and will serve and sacrifice, for our country. Due to the League's efforts, an unprecedented national accounting objective has set the example and now is emulated by other nations seeking answers on their own countrymen who served and never returned.

The League's success was evident most recently in the countless number of ceremonies held across our country and literally around the world to commemorate National POW/MIA Recognition Day, for most on September 19th, the date proclaimed by the President. Most observers would assume by looking at the vast sea of POW/MIA flags across our country that the League receives royalties and therefore has no funding challenges.

Though recognized by the U.S. Congress in law and successive Presidents by proclamation as having originated the POW/MIA flag, the League receives no royalties from their distribution. Though the League spends less than 10% on administrative and fundraising expenses, is a 501[c]3 nonprofit, tax-exempt (FEIN #23-7071242) organization, and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, U.S. flag manufacturers sadly don't even donate a small percentage of their profits to help sustain our efforts.

Our determination to meet the League's longstanding goals has never faltered, despite ups and downs in the attention level of our government and the American people. Some , both in and out of government , mistakenly believe that the League is US Government-funded. That false assumption is sometimes promoted by those making this and other such claims, trying desperately to undercut or destroy our organization. Their efforts have failed.

The reality is that sustaining an office (rent, storage, insurance, salaries, phones, postage, printing, Internet, etc.) in the Washington, DC, area takes money, about $12,000 per month, or $72,000 for six months, an amount that does not include special activities, such as public awareness brochures, delegations to Southeast Asia, and sending speakers around the country. Maintaining a viable presence in our nation's capital is central to the League's ability to represent the POW/MIA families to the Vietnamese, Lao, Cambodians and other foreign officials, as well as Congress, the national media and the Administration. There is no substitute for having our national office, but it can't continue without funds.

These are the facts we face, and this alarming reality is what prompted us to make a heart-wrenching decision. If unable to bring in sufficient funds by the end of this year - December 31, 2008  - to sustain our national office for at least six months, the League as we know it will be dissolved. There will be no other choice.

That is why we are turning to you, the members  families and concerned supporters  to appeal for donations. We know you must share our dismay and concern over the prospect of leaving the fate of our POW/MIAs solely in the hands of US and foreign governments, without the scrutiny and advice that the League has so consistently provided over these many years.

Generous donations are urgently needed, not only from League members, but other concerned citizens and organizations that recognize what the League has done for our country and why the League must continue. There is no organization that has done more to account for our POW/MIAs - unreturned veterans - still missing from the Vietnam War.

The League has generated  and continues to generate  productive results, whether advocating additional resources and personnel for field operations, new facilities, or to garner high level support wherever needed. Also important is our voice to the governments of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia with whom we maintain frequent contact. Examples are far too many, and over too many years, to list in this letter, but they are well known to those who care, deal with facts and know the region. Only a lack of funds prevents the League from doing even more to realize our goal.

Additional donations must come now, so please look to yourselves, and spread the word. Ask your friends, churches, businesses, veterans, professional athletes (NASCAR, NHRA, football, basketball & soccer teams) - really all Americans  to help now!

Unless all of you step forward, donate generously yourselves, and ask for help, the League will not be able to continue. We're not giving up without a fight, but we can't do it alone. It is up to you, and we're appealing for your help. There is no more time to wait.

Hopefully and in faith, 

10 To The 100th Veteran Project: Submitted It Was

Google is having a 10 to the 100th Project: ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible. I submitted my entry, including a 30-second YouTube video. While the odds are great, with a little luck my entry just might make it into the finals. So here for your personal edification is my full entry. Enjoy! And, if my idea should make it into the top 100 (A selection of Google employees will review all the ideas submitted and select 100 for public consideration), I'll let you know in February, 2009, how you can help push it into the top 20!

Google's Project

Google Project 10^100 ( http://www.project10tothe100.com/)

Why this project?

Never in history have so many people had so much information, so many tools at their disposal, so many ways of making good ideas come to life. Yet at the same time, so many people, of all walks of life, could use so much help, in both little ways and big.

In the midst of this, new studies are reinforcing the simple wisdom that beyond a certain very basic level of material wealth, the only thing that increases individual happiness over time is helping other people.

In other words, helping helps everybody, helper and helped alike.

The question is: what would help? And help most?

At Google, we don't believe we have the answers, but we do believe the answers are out there. Maybe in a lab, or a company, or a university -- but maybe not.

Maybe the answer that helps somebody is in your head, in something you've observed, some notion that you've been fiddling with, some small connection you've noticed, some old thing you have seen with new eyes.

If you have an idea that you believe would help somebody, we want to hear about it. We're looking for ideas that help as many people as possible, in any way, and we're committing the funding to launch them. You can submit your ideas and help vote on ideas from others. Final idea selections will be made by an advisory board.

Good luck, and may those who help the most win.

Q: What criteria will be used to select the winning ideas? The following five criteria will be considered by the advisory panel in evaluating and selecting the winning ideas:

1. Reach: How many people would this idea affect?
2. Depth: How deeply are people impacted? How urgent is the need?
3. Attainability: Can this idea be implemented within a year or two?
4. Efficiency: How simple and cost-effective is your idea?
5. Longevity: How long will the idea's impact last?

Served Your Country Now Let Us Serve You... Project

Your idea's name: 

Served Your Country Now Let Us Serve You...

What one sentence best describes your idea? 

Served your country, many benefits exist, yet learning of and getting to these benefits can be daunting - we can help put you on the right track.

Describe your idea in more depth.

Having served your country, your service entitles you to many benefits provided by a variety of public and private sources. Yet the process of learning about and getting to these benefits can be daunting, with the 'directions' you are given often overwhelming and the 'answers' you obtain time and again misleading or downright wrong. The result, many veterans never learn of the benefits to which they are entitled. Or, once known, the veteran throws up their hands in disgust over their inability to cut through the red tape they must deal with.

As a current service-member or a veteran of military service, or as a veteran service officer to help your fellow veteran, using the information made available in the "Let Us Serve" project can efficiently assist you in locating the federal, state, county, and local government, veteran and non-profit organizations, universities, businesses, and (fellow) veteran service officers, all who have a personal interest in helping obtain the benefits the current service-member or veteran deserve, as quickly and as completely as possible.

The demographics of just Nassau and Suffolk counties (New York State) include a population of over 2.7 million that includes over 227,000 veterans (all population data from the 2000 Census), who live in over 295 communities; with over 20 veteran organizations, and; over 60 organizations whose purpose it is to provide services to military service members, veterans, and their families.

The services provided include: Addiction / Gambling; Bereavement Counseling; Children's Services; Educational Services; Emergency / Crisis Care; Emotional Support; Employment / Vocational; Era Specific Illnesses; Family Support; Homelessness; Housing; Military Sexual Trauma; Military Unit Organizations; Nursing Home / Adult Day Care; Social Security Issues; Traumatic Brain Injury; VA Medical Centers; Veteran Specific Services.

What problem or issue does your idea address?

While governmental and private business organizations exist whose function it is to provide military service members and veterans with the variety of benefits military service entitles them to, all too often many of the individuals at these organizations, with whom the service member and veteran have initial contact, are not fully aware of the nature or extent of the benefits their organization offers. Further, military veterans are often very opinionated as to from whom they will turn in order to receive the benefits they and their family need.

Yet there exists a nucleus of veteran advocates who, for the want of easily obtainable accurate and updated information, would be able to guide the veteran in obtaining the knowledge about, and the actual services available to them.

If your idea were to become a reality, who would benefit the most and how?

In the USA (Phase III and IV, see item 15), 8% to 15% of the population has served in the military -- over 26 million individuals. Looking at veteran family-units this increases to 25% to over 33%, or over 70 million, closer to 100 million individuals.

Phase I: Over 227,000 veterans with family units approaching 900,000.

Phase II: Over 1,300,000 veterans - family units approach 5 million.

As to Phase V, the sky is virtually the limit.

The project is designed to benefit US military, veterans, and their families (Phases I through IV) by efficiently and effectively providing benefit information. Eventually, this could be extended to any country who wants to participate (Phase V).

Further, this 'model' could extend into other areas as well. Any instance where everyday people are trying to navigate through an 'institution' that is supposed to help them, but....

What are the initial steps required to get this idea off the ground?

In order for "Served Your Country Now Let Us Serve You..." to get off the ground and become a reality, the initial steps must include the development of a scalable online organizational unit whose functions include the ability to identify and compile a managed, searchable resource for those who will use it services and of those who will provide the services.

This online organizational unit must be kept free from the 'overhead' that prevents the lack-of-understanding of services available and miss-information concerning for whom the services are available that plagues many existing hard-asset sources.

Looking at the USA, existing services are available at the hamlet or community level, the Town or aggregated community level, the County level (in Alaska it's Boroughs, in Louisiana it's Parishes), the Cross/Multi-County level, the sub-state Local Regional level, the State level, the Multi-State or National Regional level, and the National level.

Describe the optimal outcome should your idea be selected and successfully implemented. How would you measure it?

The optimal outcome, and its measure of success, would be the achievement of the initial four phases, followed by phase five.

Phase I: the development of online resources to provide 'services' at the community, Town, County, and the Cross/Multi-County levels for Nassau and Suffolk counties New York.

Phase II: Based on the positive results of Phase I, Phase II would include the development of additional Phase I sets throughout New York State and the expansion of Phase I sets within New York to include the sub-state Local Regional and the State level sets.

Phase III is the development of Phase I and II sets, in other states of the United States of America.

Phase IV is the development of the Multi-State and National Regional level sets, and the development of a National level set of resources.

Phase V, other countries.

You may also submit 1 YouTube video (max 30 seconds long) explaining your project. 

"As a veteran who has health issues as a result of my service in Vietnam, I am all to aware of the difficulties facing others as they attempt to obtain answers to even the simplest of benefit related questions. As a veteran service officer my own experiences help provide those missing answers to others. If only I had the information from this project available to me, when my benefit journey began."

If you'd like to recommend a specific organization, or the ideal type of organization, to execute your plan, please do so here.

Veterans Health Alliance Of Long Island (Phase I) is comprised of representatives from state and county government, the VA, veterans organizations, mental health and substance abuse providers, universities, and business who have a personal interest in supporting Long Island veterans through advocacy, and a broad array of services.

This Week's Almost Not Commented on Story

-- Shredding Our Confidence in the VA... Ya Think.

NEW VA FIGURES SHOW NATIONWIDE PROBLEM WITH SHREDDING CRITICAL DOCUMENTS -- VA finds hundreds of documents critical to veterans' claims in shredder bins across the country. From Rep. Bob Filner (CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs: "These guys remind me of the Keystone Cops!" "We will have [a hearing] during the week of November 17th: Shredding Our Confidence in the VA"

My Hicksville Trivia

Circa 1963, Trinity Evangelic Lutheran Church Missouri Synod on West Nicholai Street. Remember its youth organization called the Walther League?  The Walther League had roots that go back to the 1840s, and was named in honor of C.F.W. Walther, the first President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, who one time told a seminary class, "You cannot use your time to better advantage than by serving well the young people of the congregation!" During the same period, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Stephen, on Broadway just south of Old Country Road and Robert's Chevrolet, had a similar youth organization called the Luther League. The Luther League began with a local society founded by delegates of six Lutheran church societies in New York City in 1888. Both leagues held activities that were well attended by Hicksville High School members throughout the 1960s.

Lest We Forget

 Currently there are (at least) 5,196 (32 more since last month) Veterans of Modern Warfare who no longer will be "asking" our government for a dime . . .

Till next month be well... and remember, "Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"

 
--- --- Walt Schmidt Veteran Services Officer
- - --- TOBay's Veteran Services Division
- - - - "Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"
--- --- WorkDayTime: 516.797.7875 & 24/7 Voice Mail
- - --- Anytime: 24/7 Voice Mail 516.799.8300
- - - - Website: http://www.waltsdorsai.net/
Ken Sun - Weekly Column: http://experts.longisland.com/veterans

"To know yet to think that one does not know is best;
Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty."
- Lao-Tzu 71:1