Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 09/30/2002

Dear Sgt. Shaft I work for a  large city agency (Fire Department) and have recently been turned down for educational tuition assistance based on the fact that I receive Veterans Benefits. I served over five years in the Air Force and was discharged medically (Honorably) after an accident on the job. While on active duty, I like most veterans paid into the Montgomery GI bill expecting to use it after being discharged. I have applied for GI Bill this semester, but as of yet, I haven’t received my first payment.  It usually takes a couple of months to process. I also applied for educational assistance (tuition reimbursement) through the city that I work for. I was told recently by my employer that because I received Veterans benefits, I was ineligible to receive city tuition assistance. The form that I was required to fill out inquired solely about veterans' benefits. It did not ask about any other federal, state, local, or private assistance one might receive. I am a single 28-year-old veteran who works full time and goes to school full time. I can use all I can get just to survive. Is there anything that you can do to eliminate this blatant discrimination against veterans. I am scheduled to meet with the review board shortly. Thank you in advance

Christopher P
Firefighter/Paramedic
Albuquerque Fire Department

Dear Chris,
It looks like your fire department is giving you and other veterans a “royal hosing”. I have shared your letter with Chairman Chris Smith of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Admiral Cooper, Undersecretary for Veterans’ Benefits. I find it abhorrent that veterans like you should be penalized due to your honorable service and earned veterans educational benefits.

I also suggest that you look into the VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation program.

KUDOS
The Sarge is looking forward to joining Press Club Members, guests and the public at a National Press Club luncheon featuring John McDermott on November 6.

John McDermott has continued his work on behalf of veterans through even the busiest years of his career. 

An entire segment of John's recent public television special A Time To Remember was dedicated to veterans - featured songs included an a cappella rendering of "Danny Boy," and stirring renditions of "Christmas In The Trenches" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic." 

"The Veterans population is virtually ignored outside of one day a year," John explains, "So much of the music I sing really speaks to the veterans' experience and I feel a great deal of respect for the men and women who put their lives on the line for the sake of their country." 

John guest-starred in the 2001 National Memorial Concert special on PBS. Highlights included a moving tribute to the World War II generation and the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor with eminent journalist Walter Cronkite, and a 10th anniversary salute to the veterans of Desert Storm. 

In October of 2001, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society presented John with the prestigious "Bob Hope Award". "The Bob Hope Award" is reserved for those persons, who, through their life's work in the entertainment industry, have distinguished themselves by outstanding service to or positive portrayal of the United States Military. Additionally, in February of 2001, John received the Chapel of Four Chaplain's Humanitarian Award, which seeks to honor those who are dedicated to keeping alive the ideals embodied in the sacrifice of four clergymen who died in the sinking of a troopship during World War II. When the vessel went down four clergymen--a rabbi, two Protestant ministers and a Catholic priest--gave their life jackets to servicemen who had none. 

On October 12th, 2000, John attended the official opening of the Hope McDermott Day Program Center at the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Boston, MA. The Center, named in honor of John's mother is the first of what John hopes will be many program centers across the country that help veterans make the transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency. 

Veterans' Day, 1999 was a highlight of John McDermott's career, as the government and veterans community officially recognized his contributions. He attended the Veterans' Day Breakfast at the White House as a guest of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA). The VA also brought John to the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. John appropriately performed his song "The Wall," written by Vietnam Veteran Tim Murphy at the annual commemoration ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. This performance was broadcast nationally on C-Span, CNN, and the major news networks. Finally, John shared the Constitution Hall stage with Miss America 2000 Heather Renee French as the two performed the newly commissioned "A Veterans Hymn." Ending homelessness among veterans is the shared official cause of John and Heather.

In July 1999, John attended groundbreaking ceremonies in Washington, D.C. for the McDermott House, a transitional housing cooperative for veterans, named in recognition of his personal commitment to the universal betterment of veterans' causes. The facility, which will house as many as 40 D.C. area veterans, is a first-of-its-kind joint project of the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs and the D.C. Housing Authority. 

2002 and beyond will see John continue to work to honor veterans. He recently completed his first annual Remembrance Tour across Canada and the U.S. honoring those who served their country and his television special, "John McDermott - A Time to Remember" featured a moving tribute to veterans. 

For information and reservation for the luncheon, which will be held at 12:30 p.m. on November 6, contact Pat Nelson at (202) 662-7539 or e-mail: pnelson@press.org. Lunch prices are as follows: members, $15; guests of a member or the speaker $28.00; and general public, $35.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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