Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 06/19/2008

Dear Sgt. Shaft
I'm a city councilor in Newburyport, Mass. I wanted to share an idea that I had with you in the hopes that you would pass the idea along to others that would be in a position to help make it happen.

I am suggesting that we set aside a day to recognize the sacrifices of the children of people serving our country. I'm thinking of the hardships the kids endure while their parent(s) are away fighting a war, etc. I'm not sure how the day would evolve whether it just be acknowledgement or actual help to the kids, but I feel we should do something.

Here is a link to my local newspaper that briefly describes the concept. www.newburyportnews.com/punews/local_story_139225152.html

I chose Feb. 20 because I also wanted to recognize and honor the passing of Abraham Lincoln's son, Willie, and make the day occur on the day he passed away at the White House while his father was serving as president. Willie sacrificed his life for our country just as much as his famous father.

I can also forward a copy of the letter that I sent to my federal elected officials, and Joshua Bolten (the White House chief of staff). I have not heard back from anyone since I only just sent it out last week. Not sure how much clout a city councilor has with them probably not enough hence the e-mail to you too.

Thanks, Steve Hutcheson

P.S. Newburyport Mayor John Moak is going to help me to make this a local or regional event if it doesn't happen nationally, but I would like it to happen for the whole country.

Dear Steve:
I fully support your great idea to recognize the sacrifices of these wonderful kids.

For your information, the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA), a nonprofit organization supporting the families of junior enlisted military personnel, has recently announced the scheduled release of "My Hero," a book comprised of entries from ASYMCAs 2007 Student Essay and Art Contest. Twenty percent of the sales of "My Hero" directly benefit ASYMCA programs that provide educational, recreational, social and spiritual support services for our troops and their families.

Each year, the ASYMCA holds a national contest inviting children of U.S. service members to write an essay about their military hero or to illustrate their military family in a drawing. "My Hero" is the first book to tell the stories of military children and how they are affected by their parents deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. The children wrote about the pride they feel for their country and their families and the unique challenges they face. A few children even wrote about the difficulties they faced when a military parent was killed in combat.

In light of the release of "My Hero," Sen. Pat Roberts, Kansas Republican, introduced a congressional resolution naming May 15 "Military Kids Day."

The ASYMCA, an affiliate of the YMCA of the USA, has headquarters in Alexandria, Va. For more information, please visit www.asymca.org.

Shaft Kudos

Kudos to Joy Ilem for her recent presentation of the views of Disabled American Veterans to the House Veterans Affairs subcommittee on health. Her testimony included DAV support for H.R. 5888, which would let more veterans get VA reimbursement for emergency treatment from non-VA facilities.

Under the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act, VA is essentially without authority to pay emergency expenses in private facilities for its own patients, unless generally they were service-connected injuries. Under prior law VA was authorized to pay for non-VA emergency treatment for a veteranīs service-connected disability, a non-service-connected disability aggravating a veteranīs service-connected condition, any condition of a veteran rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition, and a veteran enrolled in a VA vocational rehabilitation program.

The bill would amend subparagraph (b)(3)(C) of Section 1725 of Title 38, United States Code, by striking the words "or in part" where they appear in current law. Rescission of those would open the door for an otherwise-eligible veteran with minimal insurance coverage, such as a small medical rider on a state-required automobile insurance plan, to gain VA reimbursement for emergency care not strictly related to service injuries. Today, that veteran would be denied reimbursement, because he or she is covered "in part."

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-257-5446 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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