Vets' Corner: Doing what’s needed
By Ron Verini
Friday, November 28, 2008 10:40 AM PST
This week, the Associated Press reported, “Defense Secretary Gates ordered his top department leaders to conduct a broad review to determine whether the military, National Guard and Reserve can adequately deal with domestic disasters, and whether they have the training and equipment to defend the homeland.”
In reviewing the article, the AP said, “This comes in the wake of an independent report that concluded the military is not ready for a catastrophic attack, and the National Guard does not have the equipment or training needed. Secretary Gates gave his leaders 25 days to submit their proposed changes with a budget to the 53 separate recommendations of the report.” We will report on the continuing developments of these assessments.
Sgt. Joshua Brennan died October 2007 in Operation Enduring Freedom. Calibur Graphics has a fundraiser for the Joshua Brennan Memorial Scholarship Fund. Cali Burzota is selling T-shirts with 50 percent of the proceeds donated to the scholarship fund, currently set up at Bank of America here in Ontario. Josh graduated from Ontario High School with the class of 2003. He played football and participated in track. Josh died in Asadabad, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when they came in contact with enemy forces during combat operations in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan. Please contact Burzota for more information, (541) 889-3334.
In the coming year, we must commit ourselves to honoring the sacrifices of our veterans. We must mobilize and get out and serve those who have served. Visit a veteran and listen to his/her story or help with citizen-soldiers of the National Guard right here in our local community, or sit down with a family that might need a hand. We must make a concerted effort to ensure all veterans are properly remembered and respected. Recent events have demonstrated now more than ever the crucial role the Army National Guard plays when called upon by our nation during times of need. Please reach out and give Guard members a hand when needed, and when they come back and need help with a job, open your heart. Help their families when they are deployed.
Entertainment for our troops provided by a DVD or CD you have given to Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida to be shipped to our troops in Iraq or Afghanistan is a great diversion them. When they get back from a mission, this is a chance for our troops to get a little respite.
Treats for the Troops and Pencils for Peace are in full force. We will be collecting throughout the holiday season and as long as our troops are deployed. Check out the Web site www.veteranadvocates.org, or give me a call to pick up products or donations. New or used is not a problem, so keep the donations coming, and this will support our troops in a big way.
A valued reader of this column directed me to a Web site: www.militaryconnection.com, and this online directory of resources has vital information on subjects like military education and benefits, including the GI Bill, employment opportunities, the latest military job postings, federal jobs and civilian employment opportunities. Seems like a good resource for many questions we might have from time to time.
“Patriotism is easy to understand in America. It means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.” — Calvin Coolidge.
Ronald Verini is a local veterans advocate who writes a weekly column for the Argus Observer. He can be contacted at (541) 881-8881, or pencilsforpeace@q.com, or P.O. Box 933, Ontario OR, 97914
