Gee. I’m sure glad the VA is on this like white on rice. When I read it, I almost blew coffee through my nose. After thinking back on the VA/US Military PTSD coverup in the last several months, this actually isn’t so hard to believe. 18 suicides per day must be measured in Mars days. They’re longer.

 Veterans For Change Newsletter dated 4/29/12

This past week was a bit tough for my family as we marked the sixth anniversary of my dad’s passing on April 24,2006 by visiting Riverside Memorial Cemetery this past Tuesday.

We all have loved ones we’ve lost to war or the effects of war, and we all make that journey to visit, and pay respect, to honor, remember and mourn our loss.

 Riverside National is the final resting place for more than 50,000 of our heroes and no different than most national cemeteries, Riverside has on average of 50-75 funerals per day.

Each time we go to visit dad we always see more and more new sections being completed and ready to take on more of our loved ones, this visit was no different.

 One section down and across the street was as section which was being worked on a few months before, and on Tuesday they were burying 23 more, all in a row in the newly completed section.

 I stopped for the longest time to watch, say a prayer, and wish them well on their final journey but as I stood there watching I was getting angry, upset, and disgusted watching cemetery staff as they played football with a small piece of equipment, then jostling caskets from the back of the transport van’s and funeral transport cars onto the lifts that lower the caskets into their final resting place.

 Riverside National Cemetery is a beautiful place, always growing, and maintained very well.  But what might just be a job to those who work there, they do need to stop and think how they would feel if their loved one were handled the way they were handling other families loved ones.

 I’ll be writing a letter to their director this weekend and will copy the IG’s office to see to it this doesn’t continue to happen, not just at Riverside but at any National Cemetery.

 Also, this past week I read an article on yet another Veteran we lost to suicide (Link below in Links to other Stories) which I feel could have been prevented, but because of the lack of compassion, concern, and caring on the part of a VA Staff member who was more interested in it being quitting time, pushed the Vet off to call back tomorrow.

 This Veteran like many others before him took his own life.  And what makes things worse about the suicide rate is a few months ago an article came out telling how we were losing 18 Veterans per day to suicide, but upon further investigation that number was so skewed it was pathetic.  It only was a small portion based only on eleven states not all fifty.

 Fact of the matter is we’re losing one Veteran to suicide ever 2.57 minutes and the reason we’re losing so many is because of this example as well as the long, slow, lengthy process of claims being reviewed and awarded in a timely fashion.

 The VA still says they are seeing Veterans within 14 days, but the fact of this matter is roughly 30-90 days and for routine appointments and sessions we’re looking at 3-4 months.

 And then we have the Army who without admitting they started this mess have told all Mental Health Staff to “stop looking for frauds!”

 Maybe if they had been focusing on finding the problems, dealing with them timely and professionally we’d not have all the problems we face today.

 But, finally they are adding services to cover families too for Veterans with PTSD.  At this writing I don’t have all the facts yet, and if it just includes the spouse or families too, but as we find out more this will be brought to you. 

The battle on Tricare, co-pays, increased fees is far from over and like many other organizations we’re still fighting.  And we still need your help, the help of family members and friends to Veterans alike.

Veterans-For-Change as well as USDR, DAV and many others are still asking for your support in making calls (one per representative in Congress) toll FREE to 866-272-6622.  We need you to call often, flood their phone lines and let them know we won’t accept nor tolerate increases. 

We’re all in this together and you can further help by visiting the USDR website and sending out all the pre-written E-Mails (see Legislative Action Alert below). 

In the battle field you’d never leave a man (or woman) behind and whether or not any of the pieces of legislation affect you directly or indirectly, won’t you please consider throwing your support for those who need them and help us to never leave anyone behind? 

If we don’t act this year and before election time, how much more will you lose in services, benefits, and care?  Can we risk it?

 On behalf of the Board of  Directors and volunteers we wish you and your families good health!

 Regards, Jim Davis

Founder & CEO

Veterans-For-Change

JDAVIS92840@SBCGLOBAL.NET