My editorial on Veterans Day printed today

[w8liftinglady]

I plan to have three done by Veterans Day.Wish me luck

http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2010/11/02/opinion/doc4cd03486786d1641999514.txt

Veterans Day is Nov.11. There are currently 23 million veterans in the United States. This can be broken down as follows:

Vietnam-era veterans (1964-1975) - 7.8 million

Gulf War One and Two veterans (Aug.2, 1990-present) - 5.2 million

World War II veterans - 2.6 million (1941-1945);

Korean War veterans - 2.8 million (1950-1953);

Peacetime veterans - 6 million

Many organizations exist to support veterans.As this is the 21st century, most have online resources and contact numbers. The following are proven successes that allow direct volunteer involvement from a grateful nation.

The Wounded Warrior Project

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/content/view/543/907

The purpose of The Wounded Warrior project is

1). To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members.

2). To help injured service members aid and assist each other.

3). To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members

There are many diverse volunteer opportunities.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans

http://www.nchv.org/howtohelp.cfm

The NCHV “is the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies that provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year.”

There are a multitude of ways to volunteer with NCHV, both on a local and national level-emergency shelters, Stand Down programs, mentor and counselor volunteers.

Disabled Veterans of America

http://www.dav.org/volunteers/Default.aspx

Through them, you may volunteer to drive Veterans to VA services, become a volunteer at veterans centers, as well as other local volunteers opportunites.

The VA Voluntary Service Organization

http://www.volunteer.va.gov/index.asp

There are a multitude of ways to volunteer both through the Veterans Administration and through The United We Serve initiative. A VA representative will contact you and let you know about things you can do in our area after you have completed the volunteer form.

Give An Hour

https://www.giveanhour.org/skins/gah/home.aspx

This organization provides free mental health services to veteran/active duty personnel from the Gulf Wars. There is an enormous amount of volunteer openings for professionals and others who would like to help.

As a grateful nation,we should show our gratitude with more than kind words. Many veterans need help getting to appointments, filling out forms, building adaptations, finding safe housing ... and someone to talk to. Their families can use support as well. I challenge all who can to volunteer an hour a week to support our veterans. It is the least we can do for ALL our veterans.

[DevonRex]

1. Wow. This is really excellent information. Not only that, but I will

volunteer. You put so much effort and heart into this. As a veteran, I thank you. Huge K&R.

[elehhhhna]

2. How's your stressy week going so far?

Good I hope!

[w8liftinglady]

3. I got through day1 well!

today will determine if I get to go back to work...oddly enough,I am very calm.go figure.

[w8liftinglady]

4. My next editorial will be to remind Americans of the continuing struggle of Gulf war 1 veterans

a freaking shame.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/129840.php
http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2004/08/15_bollyn_depleted-uranium-blamed-cancer.htm
http://msplaceddemocrat.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/gulf-war-i-illnesses-linked-to-pesticides-and-pyridostigmine-bromide-pb-pills/
http://www.desert-storm.com/soldiers/report1.html
http://rarediseases.about.com/cs/goldenharsyndrome/a/120801.htm
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/09/18/research-reports-gulf-war-illness-part-1/