There’s growing recognition of the needs of women vets

There’s growing recognition of the needs of women vets

EDITOR:

Last Sunday, a letter from a Warren writer, “Women veterans deserve better treatment from peers,” chastised the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for not doing more to support women veterans. As the former national commander of AMVETS, another leading veterans service organization, I am proud to report that a major concerted effort is underway to address the needs of our women veterans.

AMVETS National Service Officers provide free counseling to veterans, men and women of all conflicts and eras, to help them file their claims and appeals to the VA for their earned benefits. In 2008, AMVETS NSOs filed more than 65,000 claims and recovered more than $410 million for our heroes and their families. Current VA data shows than more than 20 percent of the 112,000 women veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and many of these cases are a result of sexual trauma experienced while in the military service. Accordingly, AMVETS NSOs are trained to address the specific needs of this population, and 17 percent of AMVETS NSOs are themselves women.

As coauthors of The Independent Budget, a roadmap to guide Congress in providing sufficient, timely and predictable funding for Veterans Affairs, AMVETS has long advocated for improved resources to meet the needs of our women veterans. Additionally, AMVETS legislative staff is diligently at work on Capitol Hill advocating for legislation to benefit all veterans, women included. VA statistics show that the number of women veterans will increase by nearly 20 percent between 2008 and 2033 and AMVETS will continue to fight to ensure VA has the capabilities and specialized programs in place to treat the complex physical and mental health issues unique to our women veterans’ population.

In August 2010, AMVETS will hold the AMVETS Symposium for 21st Century Veterans during its annual national convention in Louisville, Ky. This event will address the most pressing concerns of our returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan in the areas of transition assistance, health care, education, homelessness and more. We will have a number of sessions that specifically address the needs of our women veterans.

By proactively seeking ways to serve our women veterans through all the above means, AMVETS has successfully attracted a significant number of women into its ranks. In the past decade, AMVETS has doubled the overall proportion of women in its membership and, as a result, has many women leaders at the post, department and national levels. I encourage your readers to learn more about AMVETS and its many programs by visiting www.amvets.org.

JOHN P. “JP” BROWN III

AMVETS Past National Commander

Boardman

It’s bad now, will get worse

EDITOR:

Our beloved country is near a catastrophe that I’m not sure can (or should) be averted. We have lost our moral and ethical compass in the respect that anything goes and a what’s-in-it-for-me mindset prevails. Our Christian-based foundations are weakening and our economy is sputtering to a halt due to a select handful of our legislators and other rich and powerful people who have run out of status symbols and dislike a middle class that can buy some of the things the wealthy can enjoy. Their response is to eliminate the enemy, which is the middle class, which they are doing quite nicely. We will have the rich and the poor.

We can begin a small revolution. Permanent unemployment is here, and I emphasize permanent. Without a job you won’t even be able to buy anything at the biggest supporter of communism, Walmart. You won’t have the money.

Many people will run out of all of the phony extensions of unemployment they are giving the people just to prevent riots. I suggest arming yourselves for your own protection. I suggest removing all of the legislators who think they are supreme and above the common people.

Aren’t you mad? I am. We had better learn to do with less, avoid foreign products, get on the backs of your so-called representatives and turn this country around before we go over the falls.

JOSEPH P. HILKO

Hermitage, Pa.

Zoning violations are no joke

EDITOR:

My father and mother bought property in Ellsworth Township in 1947. My sister, brother and I all married and raised our children here. Some of our children are doing the same.

Before a zoning variance meeting that was held Dec. 17 we found another flier in our paper box. The top it was drawn to look like a ticket with the words, “Admit one — Ellsworth zoning circus.” The last line read, “Come see the jugglers and clowns. The entertainment is free. Bring your own popcorn.” Of course it was unsigned, as were others we have received. I can only hope this was not written by any of our many friends in the township. The flier was written in very poor taste.

In our township we have residents who abuse the zoning rules by running businesses from their homes on residential zoned land. Many of these were started after zoning was put into effect. Some residents have from two to dozens of unlicensed cars, pick-ups, dump trucks and old pull campers on their property.

It seems to me we should look around the township at all zoning infractions. I would suggest energies would be better spent in helping our township in a more positive manner.

GERRY BANKS

North Jackson

Enough Traficant already

EDITOR:

Things are not the best in our area, but do we have to suffer more with The Vindicator constantly carrying articles about J. Traficant? I for one am tired of his face on the front page. Who really cares? He had his opportunity for years and blew it. He’s served his time, now lets forget about him.

There are enough senators with tarnished reputations in Washington, why should we even consider adding another to the mix. How about more about the good people, like Mayor Williams? If you must continue to bring up the past, concentrate on those who have and are trying to improve Youngstown’s image, not those how have destroyed it and goodness knows there are lots of those.

GARY POLLOCK

Canfield

Nelson’s as guilty as Jim

EDITOR

Every article about Jim Traficant carries with it the convictions he suffered.

A Dec. 31 story stated, “the jury believed Traficant took kickbacks from local businessmen”. In the same publication under Nation & World digest, there is an article about several attorneys general taking action against Nebraska’s political deal in the federal health reform bill.

As I recall, Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson stated that if there was any change in the Senate bill, he would retract his vote for passage. I don’t know about you, but this sounds like “bribery” to me. Shouldn’t this be considered a “kickback,” or does the federal government carry a double standard?

Paul Noble

New Middletown

It ain’t broke, why fix it?

EDITOR:

I just read where Allegiant Air is switching airports from Orlando Sanford to Orlando International Airport beginning March 4. There are plenty of people like me and my family who fly Allegiant and love the convenience of Orlando Sanford.

It’s really nice to go to Orlando Sanford from Youngstown. It sure beats going to a large airport like Orlando. I think there are going to be a lot of people like me and my family who don’t want to go through the hassle of a large airport. I’m sure there will be a lot of complaints about this change.

Not everyone who goes to Florida goes to Disneyworld.

RON LEPSESTY

Niles