BAVF - Sgt. Shaft Column, June 2, 2010

Blinded American Veterans Foundation - PO Box 65900 - Washington DC 20035-5900

Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 06/02/2010 Caricature of Sgt. Shaft

Dear Sgt. Shaft,
I am wondering if there are any "Assured Victory" prints left. I recently saw the original at Arlington National Cemetery while visiting a friend. Please contact me ASAP. This memorial print is dear to me, and I really want a copy or two in the house.

Andrew via the internet

Dear Andrew,
Copies of the "Assured Victory" print are still available. This beautiful print by artist George L. Skypeck - which was signed and numbered in a limited edition of 500 copies - is available for a donation of $100, with proceeds going to help troops wounded in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and their families through the Blinded American Veterans Foundation.

Requests for this print can be made by sending a tax deductible contribution of $100 to the Blinded American Veterans Foundation, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, DC 20035-5900.

Shaft Notes
The Sarge is looking forward to joining the Blinded American Veteran Foundation and other invited guests on June 15 at the organization's 25th annual Congressional Awards reception, beginning at 11:30 a.m. in Room 334 of the Cannon House Office Building.

The recipients of the BAVF's "Buck" Gillispie Congressional Award are Congressmen Steve Buyer, Indiana Republican, and John Hall, New York Democrat. The Carlton Sherwood Media Award will be presented to The Aloha Boys and Leatherneck Magazine.

The George Alexander Memorial Volunteer Award will be presented to E. Lakis Karavangelos and Everett Alvarez Jr. The Corporate Volunteer Award will be presented to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Following the awards reception, the Aloha Boys will hold a concert for the general public at 2 p.m. in the Caucus Room of the Cannon Building.

The reception and concert will follow the annual Flag Day picnic on June 13, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Silver Spring, Md. This year's picnic will honor Martin "Marty" P. Hoffman.

The picnic will be an afternoon of fun and patriotism, with plenty of refreshments and, as usual, Lakis's famous New York hot dogs, Washington style. The Hula Monsters will perform Hawaiian-style oldies-but-goodies. For more information, call 202/462-4430.

The Sarge joins the Disabled American Veterans in urging a joint meeting of two House Veterans' Affairs subcommittees to facilitate the health care and disability claims for victims of military sexual trauma (MST).

"More collaboration is needed between the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense to address military sexual trauma and to identify better ways to treat and properly compensate veterans for conditions related to MST," Deputy National Legislative Director Joy J. Ilem said during testimony before the joint meeting of the House Veterans' Affairs subcommittees on Health and Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. "We continue to express a fervent hope that DoD is effectively addressing methods to prevent and, in fact, eliminate the incidence of sexual assaults and harassment within all branches of the military service."

Ilem testified that the prevalence of sexual assault in the military is "alarming," with 100,000 veterans reporting sexual trauma to VA treatment programs. In many cases, Ilem said, victims do not report the incidents until years after the act.

Veterans who do not report the assaults are frequently denied claims for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and adjustment disorders stemming from the trauma because of the lack of required documentary evidence to support the claim.

"Many of these veterans would be eligible for health care and compensation benefits, but they are unable to support their claims," Ilem said. "Women veterans are specifically affected."

Under new DoD rules, military sexual trauma can be reported by service members two ways - restricted and unrestricted. Unrestricted reporting creates an official record used for prosecutorial authorities. Restricted reporting allows for medical and mental care needed by the victims, but details of the assault are kept confidential.

"DAV's primary concern is that the VA be able to access the restricted DoD records documenting reports of MST for an indeterminate period," Ilem said. "We want to protect MST victims' rights and benefits when they transition to veteran status."

Many times, restricted records are destroyed after the victim leaves active duty.

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.

BAVF is a tax deductible organization, CFC Number 11282. Monetary gifts are gladly accepted and welcome.
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Please use the address listed below when sending your contribution via postal mail or including BAVF as a beneficiary on your will.