Veterans Day Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 09:09:32 AM EST
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Today is Veterans Day. The AFL-CIO Veterans Council provides these thoughts:

[. . .] While we take the time on Veterans Day of 2009 to reflect upon and honor the courage and sacrifice shown by our veterans as they continue the fight to defend liberty and freedom against those that seek our demise, I would urge all Americans, and especially all American policymakers, to similarly take heart of the particular plight of the veteran community during this time of extreme economic hardship in America. Today, figures from the U.S. Department of Labor show that the unemployment rate among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans stands at 11.3%, which is significantly above the overall rate of 9.8% for the nation as a whole. Approximately 185,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are out of work. [More. . .]

[....] That is why the Union Veterans Council is calling on the U.S. Congress to quickly enact an extension of Unemployment Insurance benefits coupled with an effort to strengthen and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) which will ensure protections for veterans claiming their former jobs when they return from active duty.
[. . .] It is time that we – as a nation – renewed our commitment to what President Franklin D. Roosevelt expressed in 1944 when he signed the first GI Bill:

What our servicemen and women want, more than anything else, is the assurance of satisfactory employment upon their return to civil life.

For today’s veterans, that same desire holds true.

We must take the proper steps to renew our commitment to those who have made the ultimate commitment to America. And aside from making sure that today’s military veterans have the access and wherewithal to receive the medical care [they and] their[s] so richly deserve, we must also ensure that they have a smooth and secure pathway to civilian life. And that begins with a job.

[. . .] So on this Veterans Day, we have the privilege of honoring these very special American men and women whose sacrifices and service are beyond most people’s comprehension. We owe them a great deal. First and foremost, we owe them our freedom. Secondly, we owe them our gratitude. And finally, we owe them the prospect of a secure and stable life upon the conclusion of their service.

Thank you—and God Bless America.

This is an Open Thread.

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Veterans Day Open Thread | 27 comments (27 topical)

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Thanks and praises... (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by kdog on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 10:14:35 AM EST

to those who serve and have served...eternal scorn for those who misuse and abuse that service.

Some Veterans Day listening....

Some Mother's Son

And here's a song I find so powerful (5.00 / 2) (#5)
by Cream City on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 10:44:17 AM EST

-- "Names on a Wall." I played it for my students yesterday, including so many vets -- and I just sent it out to an elist of Viet vets with whom I correspond weekly, and several are moved as well.

It's quite a day for our elist -- a day of celebration of survival as well for so many of them who have battled PTSD and help others do so today. One of my childhood friends has written a book about his battle that I recommend; see Mike Orban, Souled Out. He has a web page (easily googled with his name and book title) that is quite a resource, too.


Waited to get home... (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by kdog on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 05:25:26 PM EST

for sound...Thanks CC...so very moving, so very sad.

Obama's big Afghanistan decision weighing on my mind right now...I don't think its gonna be a good one. So much trouble in the world...


I am heartened tonight by (none / 0) (#21)
by Cream City on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 10:33:41 PM EST

early reports that would indicate that Obama is asking for a review and perhaps new strategy before sending more troops, if he sends troops at all.

Perhaps the lessons of Vietnam are being heeded -- have a winning strategy or get out rather than think that throwing more lives into the fray, throwing them away, is a strategy. What are the goals? Are they achievable by us, by more troops?

If this is what Obama is doing, he is not dithering. He is asking the right questions.


I'm thinking his trip to Ft Hood (none / 0) (#22)
by Inspector Gadget on Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 12:31:02 AM EST

and his greeting of the coffins, and his having to send Biden to Ft Lewis yesterday for the memorial for 7 Stryker soldiers who died in Afghanistan may have gotten to him.


And, as only the BBC reports (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by Cream City on Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 12:55:02 AM EST

and not any of our U.S. media that I can see yet -- our U.S. ambassador in Kabul has messaged Obama that no, nada more troops ought be sent to Afghanistan.

The generals are said to be furious at the ambassador. It signals a showdown between the Defense Department and the State Department. And it would suggest to me that the Secretary of State is giving power to her people on the ground -- a good thing, I think, for the president to be hearing from others who know the situation, not just generals.

Diplomats and generals can have different definition of what "winning" means. Presidents, too.


: Do Generals deal with anything beyond (none / 0) (#27)
by Inspector Gadget on Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 12:21:10 PM EST

war strategy? They are combat organizers, aren't they?
I would love to discover that Obama has finally figured out the power of the Oval office.

And did you see the unscheduled (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by Cream City on Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 12:57:31 AM EST

detour Obama took from the ceremonies at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier to the area at Arlington with the graves of vets killed in Iraq and Afghanistan? A few families there to visit graves got quite a surprise -- and they and the graves of those vets, some under still-fresh ground, might have had impact on Obama, too.


send a care package to a soldier (5.00 / 4) (#6)
by Jlvngstn on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 10:58:26 AM EST

or a letter. I served in peace time and mail call was always the highlight of my day. Politics aside, a care package to someone who is far away from home and their family is like winning a mini lottery.

My daughter and I will be baking cookies tonight....

thanks to those who are serving and I hope you all return home soon....

I know that in Afghanistan right now (5.00 / 2) (#8)
by Militarytracy on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 12:44:15 PM EST

soldiers have a hard time even finding something for sale in the mobile PXs. Someone's going to enjoy your cookies.


How to send things to soldiers (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by caseyOR on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 03:31:18 PM EST

What is the best way for those of us who do not have family/friends in Afghanistan or Iraq get goody packages to servicemembers?

And what, in addition to the cookies, is needed by the troops?

I would happily send packages.


If you would like to keep it local (5.00 / 2) (#15)
by Militarytracy on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 04:12:14 PM EST

I would be tempted to support anyone deployed from your State's National Guard. They are less prepared for deployment and the hardship of it. Their families often end up taking a paycut too because the military pay to National Guardsmen seldom matches the pay from the job they left behind to serve. I would place some local phone calls first to some State National Guard units to see if they can give you an Any Soldier address to ship to your local soldiers. Make it clear that you want to help soldiers out front. The people in the rear, they get good food....if anything they can get bored but boredom isn't going to kill them. If no luck there I think that AnySoldier.com is the best link. They tend to work harder to get things to soldiers in the front instead of those in rear getting to sort through whatever comes in first (its just a reality of life). I try to keep things small, the packages ship faster and get less beat up. I like to send things you can easily add to coffee. Packages of hot chocolate soothe, have caffeine, and most them add them to their coffee when they have them available. It'll be cold soon. A good homemade cookie is coveted. A magazine or recent published book will find an owner, probably many because they pass things around. It is very dusty and dirty too in both Iraq and Afghanistan, so any cleaning wipe or baby wipe.


Thanks, MT (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by caseyOR on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 05:21:05 PM EST

I'll check out the local angle. Oregon National Guard units have deployed more times than I can remember, and are currently serving in both of our war zones. The governor just returned from a visit to Oregon Guard units in Iraq.

About the gov-- he hasn't been all that good a governor in terms of leadership and initiative for the state. He has, however, attended the funeral of every single Oregon servicemember,( National Guard, Reserves and active duty), who has died in Iraq and Afghanistan. He opposed the Iraq War, and is critical the way Afghanistan has been handled, but he is loyal to our troops. He is an example of what I see in many Americans (Congress excluded)-- dislike, disgust, distaste, disappointment where the wars are concerned, but concern and caring for the troops.


: Wow (none / 0) (#25)
by Militarytracy on Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 08:31:36 AM EST

If more leaders were this involved in the aftermath of our troop commitments, I can't help but think that how both Afghanistan and Iraq have been handled would have been different.

Can't speak to taste, but here's some of our list (none / 0) (#20)
by Ellie on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 09:10:00 PM EST

My sister's the wizard and her packing and delivery team is a sight to behold. (I'm mostly a gofer.

Tweaking to preference, each 10 x 12 x 4 basket is crammed with a huge assortment of stuff. (Thinking of the list that goes in there, I still don't know how the packing squad manages it.)

espresso, tea, instant chai masala, a personal tea/coffee presse
chocolates & caramels,
tinned butter biscuits and biscotti,
hot sauce, (or according to taste, vacu-packed "deluxe" items that might be hard to find to add to the mess hall meals). One vet gets a flask of extra virgin olive oil, dried porcini mushrooms, sundried tomatoes and anchovies. Another vet gets his favorite chutney in a tube.
smokes or tobacco & papers,
flash drives with music and audio books,
guided meditations for relaxing and fighting insomnia, and slide shows of greetings.
toiletries: peppermint foot powder, gel insoles, Roberts Borotalco (everyone seems to love the stuff), mint bodywash. Men. Love. Mint.

My sister started out just by keeping in touch and bloomed it out to a family & neighborhood effort.

Calling your local NG, as mentioned elsewhere on the thread, is a great idea. Participating in a drive when you can is good too, whether it's hands on, donating needed goods that you can get at a discount, be a driver or assistant in some way, or giving them some $$$.


: Oh Yeah....GEL insoles (none / 0) (#26)
by Militarytracy on Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 08:37:03 AM EST

After a few months of heavy walking, every pair of boots can use them. The boots they sent during the first two years were horrible. That was a contractor lobbying moment if there ever was one. The boots are better now, but ground patrols still are the rule.

We sent baskets to Afghanistan, Iraq (5.00 / 3) (#11)
by Ellie on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 02:47:21 PM EST

... and have our fingers crossed that they got there by today for friends & family in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Hope they're all safe and sound.

My sister does a drive and oversees the assembly every 12 wks.


Thanks Dad and thanks to all who served and (5.00 / 4) (#7)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 12:36:57 PM EST

are serving.

My kids were very excited to make care packages out of the lbs of Halloween candy they got this year.

Thanks to Jl to confirm how much they are appreciated.

Thank you to all Veterans (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Militarytracy on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 12:46:37 PM EST

Does Anyone Else Remember (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by CDN Ctzn on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 06:53:32 PM EST

when November 11 was called Armistice Day and was used to remember the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month when World War 1 ended? Do you remember how we wore poppies and remembered how war was a terrible thing to be avoided? Do you remember how it was a day that was set aside to remember peace?
But then, in the mid-fifties, at the rise of the military industrial complex, Armistice Day, a day that celebrated an end to the fighting and death and horror was seen as celebrating the wrong attitude towards war. And so we had the birth of Veteren's Day because, God knows, there were no other days available on the calendar.
So now, a day that was set aside to contemplate peace has become the poster child par excellant for war.

And there is (none / 0) (#1)
by CoralGables on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 09:24:49 AM EST

a very nice Veteran's Day article in today's Washington Post on Tammy Duckworth

Thank you to all the vets out there (none / 0) (#2)
by vicndabx on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 10:13:22 AM EST

serving or otherwise.

Open Thread news... (none / 0) (#4)
by kdog on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 10:36:18 AM EST

on the civil war thats raging...police chase leads to bad wreck in my neck of the woods. link

The suspects are jerks for running, but at least that is understandable when your freedom is at stake...the police taking chase at high speeds over a petty drug deal I can't understand, not for the life of me...it just ain't worth risking lives like that.

Here's a worthy cause (none / 0) (#10)
by Cream City on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 01:54:48 PM EST

-- and how my dad would have loved to take this trip with other WWII vets to see their memorial in D.C.: the Honor Flights.

It's also Remembrance Day north of the border ... (none / 0) (#12)
by FreakyBeaky on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 03:25:05 PM EST

... and they are in AfPak too, so let's don't leave them out.

As we honor the men and women who serve (none / 0) (#14)
by KeysDan on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 03:45:27 PM EST

and served in the nation's armed forces, it is instructive to reflect on this day's 1954 precursor, Armistice Day, marking the end of hostilities on the Western Front of the 'Great War' at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. The" war to end all wars" started with jubilation, continued beyond a time when any possible reasons for it passed for an inability to cut losses, and resulted in 40 million casualties. Militaristic and nationalistic fervor placed the fate of nations in the hands of incompetent politicians and cock-sure generals with their infallible military plans. Fear of socialism and other domestic factors fanned the flames. Of course, there were many unintended consequences for the planners: the abdication of the Tsar and communism, the fall of the Kaiser, the collapse of the Austria/Hungary and Ottoman Empires--and, for us, the fate of their irresponsibility is costly and continues. It has long been my hope that at a presidential debate someone would ask the candidates what they thought the causes of World War I were and what lessons should have been learned. The answers surely would be revelatory.

: Pretty pathetic (none / 0) (#19)
by jondee on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 06:53:48 PM EST

when "it's the conomy, stupid" looks more and more like an acceptable explanation for why we continue to fund the war machine.
To bookend Veterans day, I think we need a war profiteer and chickenhawks day. Maybe April first.
Except that the jokes been on us and alot of our veterans.