Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment
Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I read your column in the Washington
Times and enjoy it. I have a question. Are there any VA
hospitals in Michigan and if so, would you please send me a list of them? I
would appreciate it.
Carole H.
Internet user
Dear Carole:
You should visit the web site www.bavf.org and
link to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
I'm sure the VA will have a list
of names of Michigan VA hospitals for you.
Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I began reading your column in the Washington Times this past July. I want to
respond to the comments Mrs. CC made about the seemingly useless need for
military ceremonial public events and their role in today's military mission.
As a former Marine,
and an 8th and I alum, I echo your statement on rekindling America's pride in
their military by visiting parades and traditional military events.
While I was on active duty, my wife
had little appreciation for what I did or what the Marine Corps meant to America
and the freedoms we enjoy. After dragging my wife to the Evening Parade she
seemed to find some element of understanding and higher respect for what I did
and what service members around the world are doing every day. She was brought
to tears when the Marine Band played their closing songs and Taps was played
from the ramparts by the Drum and Bugle Corps bugler.
Events such as the Old Guard Drill or
the Evening Parade show Americans and their international visitors that today's
service members are much more than starched figures in pretty uniforms.
After watching more than 75 parades at
8th and I over my three-and-one-half year stint there, I still got chills down
my spine when the National Anthem and Taps began to play.
These parades are more than a show for
America's amazement or events for the brass to schmooze money out of
politicians. They are a way to build pride in an organization, increase
recruiting through traveling drill teams, and establish a baseline for history
and tradition within our organization.
There were countless times when I
spoke with former Marines in the bleachers before the parades began. Most of
them would detail their career activities to me, but it would always boil down
to the pride they felt in being a Marine. These old salts are like junkies going
for their annual patriotic fix.
We should all be so lucky to feel such
pride and desire for that feeling and carry that desire past the gates of 8th
and take action in our communities and government.
Thank you for your dedication to our
nation's service members.
Semper Fidelis,
Jerry P.
Germantown, MD
Dear Jerry:
The spine-chilling sounds of weapons of the Silent Drill Team and, of course,
the playing of Taps stir the emotions of this old jarhead, too.
Shaft Kudos
The Sarge is looking forward to attending ceremonies renaming the U.S.
Postal Service facility at 500 North Washington Street in Rockville, MD, as the
"Everett Alvarez, Jr.,
Post Office Building." In submitting the postal naming legislation, U.S.
Congresswoman Connie Morella
(R-MD) stated:
